eurogals

Nikki: Getting on a Circumvesuviana train in the Naples train station, my husband found his way blocked by a large crowd of well dressed men. He had to push his way to get on the train, then they all disappeared as the doors closed and his wallet was gone from his front pocket.

This is exactly what happened to my husband in 2005, but it was young teenages playing tambornine.

Got money from a deep front pants pocket.

Dukey

Sometimes the key to robbery success is distraction and that distraction can come in many, many forms.

It happens totally without warning and it happenes even when you think you are on absolute and full alert.

There always seems to be some "new" form of it.

IMO the answer is keeping money and valuables where it is pretty much impossible for anyone else to reach quickly. This is why things such as moneybelts secured under clothing remain so effective.

Encantadora

There are many ways to get robbed and they vary from country to country, and year to year etc. Without being paranoid just accept it as a fact of life and be prepared for the inevitable and not let it ruin your vacation or your desire to travel. There is a good article here:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/theft.htm

massagediva

Well,I was recently inducted into "the club." I was in Bangkok in April.This was during the Thai New Year (Songkran)holiday,so I was becoming accustomed to being accosted by people with Super Water soakers and pails of water at every street corner(Happy New Year!Happy Mildew!)Anyway,I was with friends touring the incredibly gorgeous Grand Palace complex.It was 10:30 in the morning,but it was already hot hot hot and super crowded.

To add to that,I was going to be changing hotels in a couple of hours,so I had things with me I don't ordinarily carry-passport,credit card,about $150 in cash.Anyway,our little group(six of us)came out of one of the temples,and I realized my bag was open.What a sickening feeling that was.To make a long story a little less long,I reported the theft to the lost&found /security people(which I thought was a total waste of time) and when I arrived at my hotel an hour or so later,there was a message from the Grand Palace that they had my wallet-sans cash,but passport and credit card in tact!!!!!I was one happy camper.

aneckc

My wife and I were at a restaurant in Prague last summer. Service was awfully slow and dinner took over 2 hours. My wife made a cardinal sin and left her purse behind her seat. Sure enough sometime during dinner her purse was lifted. The restaurant owners could offer no help. We checked all of the trash bins near the restaurant to no avail. The local police did not speak any English and were absolutely no help. Someone made out that day because my wife had her $3000 diamond necklace in her purse. We still get sick thinking about how foolish we were and our loss.

ira

Story from a neighbor:

He and his TC got onto a train and went to their compartment - 1cl dbl.

There were two men in the compartment.

They said, in English, that this was a reserved compartment.

The men spoke no English.

Lot's of hand waving and trying of different languages.

No result.

Friend decided to get the luggage out of the corridor, brought in a large suitcase, and gestured that he wanted to put it on the rack.

Compartment is now crowded.

Lots of shuttling about.

Friend, TC and 2 suitcases are now in compartment. Camera bag with money and passports and the two men are now in corridor.

Friend, while putting suitcase onto overhead rack, realizes what has happened. Yells to TC.

TC tries to get out of compartment. One of the men blocks the door while the other runs off the train.

Once accomplice is off train, man blocking door runs off train.

Friend gets to doorway in time to see man with camera bag hand it off to a third person.

Lessons learned:

1. Never let go of important stuff.

2. If strangers are in your seats, wait for the conductor to come and set things right.

Myer

I used to depend on dumb luck. A couple of trips back I developed a strategy.

I decided that I am a tourist and they're professional thiefs. Who has the advantage? Also, i want to enjoy myself. That entails not spending all of my time protecting my valuables and also not losing my valuables.

i use a money belt for the longer term things such as passports and extra cash. I don't go there during the day.

I have a very small zippered pounch that has a belt loop and slips down the front of my pants. Unless I lose a lot of weight, nobody can reach down there.

In the pouch I carry a credit card and about 100 Euros. I use the credit card as required and slip it back down the front of my pants.

In my pocket I carry a street map and about 20Euros for casual purchases.

On my first trip after implementing this approach i was pickpocketed at the Madrid flea market (first time). I saw it happening but it was too fast. They got (and returned) my empty sunglasses case and street map. It was sticking out of my back pocket. They didn't get the 20Euros in my front pocket or anything else.

I also noticed that zippers on my backpack were opened several times at this place. If they want a sweatshirt or umbrella they can have them. it's time they were replaced anyway.

Dukey

As I said, it is all about distraction...

mari5

Interesting thread! For a first time European traveler it might scare them off....and I would hope that is not the case.
It may not always work, but looking around, being AWARE,AWARE of what other people are doing. and snugly hold that cross the body shoulder bag next to you.....IF one is in a crowded situation.
The gypsies CAN be a distraction,so avoid and "scurry" away and be aware!
Certainly some places are worse than others....and of the three you mentioned in your original post.. I would say that Turkey is the safest.
Of course when robbery happens it IS a very big deal.......but statisticaly I would think the ration is VERY small for robbery, considering the millions and millions of people that travel every year.

tdk320n

Before retiring a had a profession that required me to trave to Europe and Asia several times a year. I never had any problems except for one time. I was in Florence attending a trade show and while walking to the show I was stopped by a very dirty looking gypsy woman and her equally dirty child. They were begging for money. I never stop for gypsies beging since i have heard many sad tales. Well i had a feeling of guilt overcome that I was so lucky and blessed so I stopped and decided to give them some lirea. I took out of my purse a small change purse to give them some money. While doing this the child tried to grab me to thank me, I pushed him away, gave them money and walked away. I later stopped for lunch at a favorite cash only place and discovered that myh change purse was empty.I was missing about $100 in lira . I know that the gypsies took it. How they did it I am not sure since I am really a very careful and wary person. Now when I get these guilt feelings about my good luck, I write a check to a legitimate charity.

julies

I was hit in a totally empty Paris metro station wheret here were no guards. Midmorning on a weekday and we were going through the turnstiles. All of a sudden 2 guys appeared out of nowhere and lo and behold all of a sudden the turnstile won't work. One made a show of pushing and shoving the gate so as to help me, and I got through. When I caught up with my husband who was about 10-15 feet ahead of me, I realized my purse was unzipped. This was a healthy back bag with a zipper that is essentially under your arm. Luckily for me, I carry virtually no cash or cards and I also have any money that I do have with me zipped deep in another interior pocket of the purse. They didn't get a thing, but it made me realize how good these guys are.

In Istanbul earlier this month we were on an EXTREMELY packed tram when I heard my husband loudly shout in English, "Get your hand out of my pocket!" He was wearing cargo pants, and someone had tried to open the mid-thigh pocket assuming there would be something valuable in there. Didn't get a thing because we too use the underclothes moneybelt supplemented by the money pocket that hangs down from a belt and is worn hanging down in front under your clothes.

The main point is that these things happen in an instant and so quickly that you are almost not aware of it.

Now, for the one time I was pickpocketed and someone did get something. It was years ago here in the US in Boston. Two 12 or 13 year old girls had followed me through the linens and china department in Filenes. I was a tad suspicious because what kids that age are interested in linens. Sure enough I went down to the street corner and while waiting for the light to change, my wallet was taken out of my purse. I screamed! The traffic cop made chase as did some Navy Shore Patrol guys. I ran down the street following all of them, and the girls were caught. Turns out they had just been released that day from an overnight in the juvenile jail where they had been kept for doing the exact same thing the day before. The saddest part to me though was that the parents of one of the girls hadn't even noticed she was gone overnight.

suze

I have never been robbed. Let's see... I think I've been out of the U.S. maybe 35 major trips so far in my life.

That said, I have managed to lose money a few times thru my own discombobulation or carelessness.

kaneda

Despite my efforts I have been robbed 3 times in Mexico (lots of pick pockets) which included a little old lady behind me on the bus who stole a cardigan I had. 3 times in Bangkok. It was once a safe city but is very bad now for pick pockets. I had something stolen in Varanasi from my hotel room and also in Portugal. I have had people try it in Madrid and New Delhi. I was worried about it in Peru and Venezuela which have bad reputations but had no problems.

wombat7

I tried to put my own perspective on this from the "I was robbed" view point - but Suze's post made me remember the one time in my life when I was robbed while traveling - location? Orlando airport. Sorry to add to the "tut tut" I was pickpocketed theme - I agree with the posters who have said "be prepared but don't be paranoid". Chances of it happening to you are pretty low if you are sensible.

I have lost things on my travels - but nearly all can be put down to leaving things in the hotel room when I check out, leaving things in the rental car etc etc. So I guess what I am saying is that my stupidity/forgetfulness is more dangerous than pickpockets. -

I have lost things on my travels - but nearly all can be put down to leaving things in the hotel room when I check out, leaving things in the rental car etc etc. So I guess what I am saying is that my stupidity/forgetfilness is more dangerous than pickpockets.

Luisah

<< ... contacting the local embassy, calling your bank, and - this is the important part - contacting the family member, friend or neighbour back home, the one with whoom you left your passport photocopy, etc.>>

Good advice, but you should make a few copies of the front page of your passport and your credit card information and keep them in your suticase or hotel safe. Don't keep them all in the same place. Then you can contact the embassy and the credit card company immediately yourself. It's not a bad idea for a relative or friend to have the info but keep in mind the time difference when calling home. You could have the problem resolved before their day begins.

nukesafe

For a change of pace ----

Years ago we were staying in a coastal village in Spain. Took twin daughters out in their stroller for a ramble along the front and, as it got warmer during the day, took off my sweater/jacket and draped it over the push bar.

Later in the evening I realized the jacket must have slipped off. Too late to look for it that night, so I went out the next morning to retrace my steps. Found the jacket carefully folded over a low wall beside the busy path, where some kind soul had picked it up and left if for me.

Money, papers, and a pen were still in place some 20 hours later.

I'd like to think that would still occur today.

suze

I have a second hand similar story in Mexico, where people I met on the plane left a backpack with papers and money on the floor outside the cambio at the airport. Made it to the hotel before they realized, hopped a bus back to the airport, and it was still sitting on the floor where they'd left it.

llamalady

In the Mestre carpark we stowed our luggage in the rental car and then the four of us drove the three hours to Varenna.

When we unloaded the car my DH's backpack was missing along with his
digital camera, charger, I Pod, Suduko book and sweaty running gear he'd stuffed in the top.

Called the carpark 'just in case' - and
it had been turned in. Asked the fella
if he'd check to see if the valuables were still there to save us the trip back.........when he opened the zip and
ran into the sweaty tee/shorts he refused to go further! So DH and friend backtracked all the way to Venice while my friend and I went shopping in Como.

Everything was there! So instead of a smoke screen you might wanna try a stink bomb! along with an honest Italian.

When we talked about how sad the consequences could have been he said the thing he'd miss the most was the
Suduko book. Go figure.

Pegontheroad

My sister had given me her passport and credit card to put in my money belt. Good thing she did, as a very slick thief got away with her purse, in which she had stowed her camera.

We were in a (sort of) outdoor restaurant in Barcelona's covered market, La Boquería. A young man asked us if the food was good and then walked away. We thought his leaving was odd, and my sister checked for her purse and saw that it was gone. She said her purse had been on her lap.

In Copenhagen, I foolishly left a Coleman-type lantern on the floor of the back of my (locked) car. In Florence, my car was also locked, but a thief somehow got in and emptied the trunk. Luckily he didn't know that this particular car had a trunk in front as well.

I have of course been robbed of minor things at home as well. I assumed that my cheap flashlight and some cans of Pepsi would be safe in my unlocked car, but I was wrong. Recently I forgot to close my garage door and some gas was siphoned from my car. However, I never have had my purse stolen or my pocket picked in the good old U.S.of A.

hopscotch

I have had a few attempts on my goods in Europe. The most brazen was the "goo on the back of my jacket" stunt. And the gypsies have come after me a couple of times.

I've never used a money belt and see no need for it. I think that they are false security. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially in places where tourists congregate, e.g., museums, public transports, tourist offices. If you are bumped or if an unusual distraction happens near you, as noted often in the posts above, go on red alert. Do not be an obvious mark. Do not donate to any beggar, no matter how pathetic they have costumed themselves. Do not engage in conversation with anyone approaching you on the street. They are all professionals. The pickpockets are everywhere you want to be because that is the only way they can make their living.