How were you robbed?
Jun 23rd, 2007, 03:57 PM
#42
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I agree with St Cirq -
Have been to europe more than 70 times and have never been roobed. And no one ever tried a scam except that silly flower scam in Spain. Who would just take a flower from some begar in the street?
I have met people/known people who were robbed or pickpocketed - and in my experience it was usualy because they were careless with their belongings (for example, setting a handbag and camera bag on the floor of a train station while buying tickets - or hanging their purse on the back of their chair in an outdoor cafe - or choosing to take an overnight train trip sitting up in a seat in an open car - and being surprised when their purse/wallet/passport were taken while they slept).)
Have been to europe more than 70 times and have never been roobed. And no one ever tried a scam except that silly flower scam in Spain. Who would just take a flower from some begar in the street?
I have met people/known people who were robbed or pickpocketed - and in my experience it was usualy because they were careless with their belongings (for example, setting a handbag and camera bag on the floor of a train station while buying tickets - or hanging their purse on the back of their chair in an outdoor cafe - or choosing to take an overnight train trip sitting up in a seat in an open car - and being surprised when their purse/wallet/passport were taken while they slept).)
Jun 23rd, 2007, 06:56 PM
#47
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Place: Santiago, Chile. Sunday noon. Main street near the presidential palace.
My wife's arm was in a cast and sling, the result of a fall.
Two young men came up to us from the front, two from the rear. Among other pedestrians, these four made a sandwich of my wife and me. One of those from the rear used a razor to slice open my trouser side seam and side pocket. He took $50 in Chilean pesos. All four fled. Luckily, I was not cut and my wife escaped their body-blocks. Nobody in the street crowd batted an eye.
Four young street thugs can easily take on two sixty-ish tourists -- any day.
My wife's arm was in a cast and sling, the result of a fall.
Two young men came up to us from the front, two from the rear. Among other pedestrians, these four made a sandwich of my wife and me. One of those from the rear used a razor to slice open my trouser side seam and side pocket. He took $50 in Chilean pesos. All four fled. Luckily, I was not cut and my wife escaped their body-blocks. Nobody in the street crowd batted an eye.
Four young street thugs can easily take on two sixty-ish tourists -- any day.
Jun 23rd, 2007, 07:03 PM
#48
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Sue xx yy = great advice, you sound like a professional friend!
Wombat = love and appreciate your stories of "hotel robbery" and other indignities. Truly, far more stuff is probably lost and left behind than is stolen. I have a friend who has had terrible luck with purses and wallets - though listening to the stories I have to say it always comes down to carelessness and just being a bit "disoriented." Sometimes, though, when it comes to purses, I'm tempted to borrow Elaine's question from a famed Seinfeld episode when she asked, re: the male anatomy, "How do you walk around all day with those things?"
OK, I've been actually robbed twice, not counting the sunglasses left on the dashboard or umbrellas left hooked on something while I did whatever it was I needed two hands for.
First was in DC. My friend parked his SUV in the lot across from his apartment building. The lot used by THE CHURCH RECTORY STAFF and one or two neighbors who rented spots, like my friend. We were just running in, so I naively left my backpack inside: with a video camera, walkman, tapes, etc. $1400 all told, and all gone half an hour later. Car was locked, but someone managed to squeeze open the "wing" window of this older vehicle.
Other time was here in NYC, on lunch hour. Times Sq area, crowds a bit heavier than normal as it was St. Patricks Day. Suddenly, I'm tripping and falling to the sidewalk. One guy has stepped in front of me and put his leg out, another behind me is pushing hard, a third has his hand in my front pants pocket. He is taking my money clip (heirloom from my GF and the only thing I hated losing that day, besides my sense of security!) with a grand $30 in it.
I jump up from the sidewalk and one guy (the one who pushed?) is right in front of me, blocking my way. I turn around and see no one behind me anymore, just the crowd (who undoubtedly thought I had simply fallen and gotten up). I turn to the left and see a guy halfway across broadway, and then note that the one who had blocked me had also melted into the crowd.
Felt like a scene from a movie, only in the movie they took my briefcase full of case/documents/diamonds.
From what I could gather, all the guys were wearing black jackets, like 50% of the people on the street. This was in the 80s, by the way, height of the crack days, when so much petty theft accompanied often by violence was happening.
That day they also destroyed a good pair of pants, besides giving me a good physical trauma from the "shock" of being assualted. Gave me a great appreciation for what it must be like to be the victim of a truly violent crime. Made me feel weird on that block for many years. Made me finally give away the jacket I was wearing, as it simply had an unpleasant association.
I know that being a NYer for so long has made me both less paranoid and less vulnerable when I travel. If I haven't seen it all, I've heard about it. There is NO REASON to pull out more than minimum cash in public - even in a store, which can be a place where you are watched by another "customer" (I think the guys who got me saw me pay for my lunch)
Having come to NY from Nebraska, though, I know what it is like to be unschooled in the ways of con artists. Best thing to remember is that when someone seems to be in trouble in a way that professionals should be dealing with, go get one. Don't assume that you, a foreigner, can solve their problem. And since you're smart enough to be reading this thread, you are already aware!
Bon voyage and bon chance!
Wombat = love and appreciate your stories of "hotel robbery" and other indignities. Truly, far more stuff is probably lost and left behind than is stolen. I have a friend who has had terrible luck with purses and wallets - though listening to the stories I have to say it always comes down to carelessness and just being a bit "disoriented." Sometimes, though, when it comes to purses, I'm tempted to borrow Elaine's question from a famed Seinfeld episode when she asked, re: the male anatomy, "How do you walk around all day with those things?"
OK, I've been actually robbed twice, not counting the sunglasses left on the dashboard or umbrellas left hooked on something while I did whatever it was I needed two hands for.
First was in DC. My friend parked his SUV in the lot across from his apartment building. The lot used by THE CHURCH RECTORY STAFF and one or two neighbors who rented spots, like my friend. We were just running in, so I naively left my backpack inside: with a video camera, walkman, tapes, etc. $1400 all told, and all gone half an hour later. Car was locked, but someone managed to squeeze open the "wing" window of this older vehicle.
Other time was here in NYC, on lunch hour. Times Sq area, crowds a bit heavier than normal as it was St. Patricks Day. Suddenly, I'm tripping and falling to the sidewalk. One guy has stepped in front of me and put his leg out, another behind me is pushing hard, a third has his hand in my front pants pocket. He is taking my money clip (heirloom from my GF and the only thing I hated losing that day, besides my sense of security!) with a grand $30 in it.
I jump up from the sidewalk and one guy (the one who pushed?) is right in front of me, blocking my way. I turn around and see no one behind me anymore, just the crowd (who undoubtedly thought I had simply fallen and gotten up). I turn to the left and see a guy halfway across broadway, and then note that the one who had blocked me had also melted into the crowd.
Felt like a scene from a movie, only in the movie they took my briefcase full of case/documents/diamonds.
From what I could gather, all the guys were wearing black jackets, like 50% of the people on the street. This was in the 80s, by the way, height of the crack days, when so much petty theft accompanied often by violence was happening.
That day they also destroyed a good pair of pants, besides giving me a good physical trauma from the "shock" of being assualted. Gave me a great appreciation for what it must be like to be the victim of a truly violent crime. Made me feel weird on that block for many years. Made me finally give away the jacket I was wearing, as it simply had an unpleasant association.
I know that being a NYer for so long has made me both less paranoid and less vulnerable when I travel. If I haven't seen it all, I've heard about it. There is NO REASON to pull out more than minimum cash in public - even in a store, which can be a place where you are watched by another "customer" (I think the guys who got me saw me pay for my lunch)
Having come to NY from Nebraska, though, I know what it is like to be unschooled in the ways of con artists. Best thing to remember is that when someone seems to be in trouble in a way that professionals should be dealing with, go get one. Don't assume that you, a foreigner, can solve their problem. And since you're smart enough to be reading this thread, you are already aware!
Bon voyage and bon chance!
Jun 23rd, 2007, 07:08 PM
#49
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Had my pocket picked in Barcelona. Walking down the street and a very nice man pointed out that a bird had pooped on the back of my jacket. He had a bottle of water, and happened to have some napkins. He was nice enough to brush off my jacket, getting rid of the bird poop and my travelers' checks at the same time. I was lucky, since he got the travelers' checks, but not my wallet.
A few days later, I was on the subway when someone dropped his keys in front of me. As I was bending down to pick them up, I noticed his hand going into my pocket. That time I managed to stop him.
Third time was at the Magic Castle in LA, the world's only private club for Magicians. Some guy started talking to me and the people I was with. When I walked away, he returned the wrist watch he had taken from my wrist. At least at the Castle, they return it.
Last time was in Casablanca. I was sitting in a cafe, hoping to get the plane to Lisbon, when a man came up to warn me about pickpockets. He put his arm around me and....
A few days later, I was on the subway when someone dropped his keys in front of me. As I was bending down to pick them up, I noticed his hand going into my pocket. That time I managed to stop him.
Third time was at the Magic Castle in LA, the world's only private club for Magicians. Some guy started talking to me and the people I was with. When I walked away, he returned the wrist watch he had taken from my wrist. At least at the Castle, they return it.
Last time was in Casablanca. I was sitting in a cafe, hoping to get the plane to Lisbon, when a man came up to warn me about pickpockets. He put his arm around me and....
Jun 23rd, 2007, 08:55 PM
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dncdave, you have my sympathy ...
My similar story flips the reality:
I was driving in Italy with a significant other, and we stopped at a town I knew from a previous trip. I wanted to show things I had told about, so we wandered around, chatted with the owner of a bar where I had had my coffee daily while there before, etc.
Turning a corner looking for a friend's house, I was shat on royally - I mean a PINT of it - by a pigeon or condor or whatever it would be to produce that amount. Fortunately I had a t=shirt under my nice, clean, new-for-the-trip shirt that was suddenly not too pretty. Took it off, wiped my head as well as I could, and then headed for a nearby fountain to tidy up.
Did it bring me the proverbial good luck? Well, I didn't get robbed, so ...
My similar story flips the reality:
I was driving in Italy with a significant other, and we stopped at a town I knew from a previous trip. I wanted to show things I had told about, so we wandered around, chatted with the owner of a bar where I had had my coffee daily while there before, etc.
Turning a corner looking for a friend's house, I was shat on royally - I mean a PINT of it - by a pigeon or condor or whatever it would be to produce that amount. Fortunately I had a t=shirt under my nice, clean, new-for-the-trip shirt that was suddenly not too pretty. Took it off, wiped my head as well as I could, and then headed for a nearby fountain to tidy up.
Did it bring me the proverbial good luck? Well, I didn't get robbed, so ...
Jun 23rd, 2007, 09:05 PM
#51
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<i>Last time was in Casablanca. I was sitting in a cafe, hoping to get the plane to Lisbon, when a man came up to warn me about pickpockets. He put his arm around me and....</i> Ingrid stared him down.
Jun 23rd, 2007, 10:14 PM
#53
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On my first trip with thereislechat, she did not know about the flower scam. I had to pull it from her hand and when the 'vendor' would not take it back, I threw it on the ground and crushed it. Harsh justice, but thereislechat learned and has thanked me.
Jun 23rd, 2007, 10:18 PM
#54
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tomas...you just slay me! 
Alas, once mugged and severely beaten as a naive Chicago 9-yr-old (three 13-yr-old girls)losing my aunt's transistor radio in the deal. (So you KNOW how long ago THAT was! hahaha)
And my favorite week where on Monday I'd lost my job, Tuesday my husband left me and on Wednesday evening, I was robbed...at gunpoint...of my new car and purse, etc.
Houston. 1982. But I was happy my two young children (1 & 3 at the time) were safely removed from the vehicle before his gun went off and he drove away in my new car.
I can tell you that since this incident so many years ago...I have NEVER let down my guard. Not paranoid...but always AWARE. I once drove home from our local grocery store and passed my own driveway. My then-teenage daughter asked what I was doing. I told her someone had followed us all the way from the grocery store and I wanted to make sure it was a coincidence. (It turned out to be.) She couldn't figure out how I could talk to her the whole way home and still realize someone was following us! I wish she and my other adult daughter could be so aware without having to suffer the terror of being robbed at gunpoint!
No problems in England or Ireland and I anticipate none for my upcoming trip to Paris and Italy.
Alas, once mugged and severely beaten as a naive Chicago 9-yr-old (three 13-yr-old girls)losing my aunt's transistor radio in the deal. (So you KNOW how long ago THAT was! hahaha)
And my favorite week where on Monday I'd lost my job, Tuesday my husband left me and on Wednesday evening, I was robbed...at gunpoint...of my new car and purse, etc.
Houston. 1982. But I was happy my two young children (1 & 3 at the time) were safely removed from the vehicle before his gun went off and he drove away in my new car.I can tell you that since this incident so many years ago...I have NEVER let down my guard. Not paranoid...but always AWARE. I once drove home from our local grocery store and passed my own driveway. My then-teenage daughter asked what I was doing. I told her someone had followed us all the way from the grocery store and I wanted to make sure it was a coincidence. (It turned out to be.) She couldn't figure out how I could talk to her the whole way home and still realize someone was following us! I wish she and my other adult daughter could be so aware without having to suffer the terror of being robbed at gunpoint!
No problems in England or Ireland and I anticipate none for my upcoming trip to Paris and Italy.
Jun 23rd, 2007, 10:34 PM
#55
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Sarge - YIPES
Crazy how it can seem like they're all ganging up on you at times.
You remind me of the night I came out of a party (in Omaha, lest we think there is some 'safe' zone) and found my new VW on it's side in the parking lot of the building. Ha. Ha. Ha. My friends helped me roll it back onto the wheels, not that I could get the door open. Again, could have been worse - I've never had a car roll over while I was in it, at least.
A friend of mine in OMaha had his entire house almost emptied while he was away for a weekend. And it's such a nice town!
Well, Sarge, I hope the years since have been better to you. Truly! And you had the right attitude about the car vs. kids. By the way, did the insurance co replace your new car?
Crazy how it can seem like they're all ganging up on you at times.
You remind me of the night I came out of a party (in Omaha, lest we think there is some 'safe' zone) and found my new VW on it's side in the parking lot of the building. Ha. Ha. Ha. My friends helped me roll it back onto the wheels, not that I could get the door open. Again, could have been worse - I've never had a car roll over while I was in it, at least.
A friend of mine in OMaha had his entire house almost emptied while he was away for a weekend. And it's such a nice town!
Well, Sarge, I hope the years since have been better to you. Truly! And you had the right attitude about the car vs. kids. By the way, did the insurance co replace your new car?
Jun 24th, 2007, 10:24 AM
#56
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I'm not surprised by the story about Chile,. Crime of that sort is rampant in Latin America. It simply isn;t in europe - unless you wander into a really bad neighborhood at night.
One thing I think people don;t do is yell and scream. There seems to be some sort of tabu about causing a scene. If I thought I was being robbed I would scream my head off (police is generally understood) and miscreants may decide you aren;t worth it.
But - I still think being alert is really all you need (in europe).
One thing I think people don;t do is yell and scream. There seems to be some sort of tabu about causing a scene. If I thought I was being robbed I would scream my head off (police is generally understood) and miscreants may decide you aren;t worth it.
But - I still think being alert is really all you need (in europe).
Jun 24th, 2007, 10:48 AM
#57
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Last month, my daughter had her purse stolen in a bar in Paris. She was sitting at a table with friends, placing her purse at her feet when she wasn't holding it (MISTAKE! MISTAKE! Keep your purse attached to you somehow.) She noticed a young gypsy woman at a nearby table with lots of random stuff spread out in front of her; shortly thereafter some people joined that young woman for a brief time and left. My daughter's purse was gone, and when she and her friends started looking for it, one of my daughter's friends suggested to the other young woman that one of her friends had taken it, and she agreed that they might have. Pretty brazen, bur effective since there was no way of proving anything. Moral: Keep your purse attached to you, and keep a close eye on whoever is near you; if they look suspicious, be suspicious and take precautions.
Jun 24th, 2007, 11:50 AM
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Sometimes unfortunate things happen when you travel--and they're so outweighed by all the great experiences, that you just can't let it ruin your trip! Even streetwise people can be had--forgive yourself.
That said, about ten years ago, I was on a packed bus in Rome--no room to move an inch. My handbag was wedged under my arm in a death grip. Behind me, a non-Italian bloke had a large package in his arms and kept poking me with it. When I arrived at my destination, I realized that over a 15-minute period, he had zipped open my bag a bit at a time until he could get his hand on my wallet and extract it, hidden by the package.
Fortunately, at my hotel I had copies of my credit cards (both sides) plus the telephone numbers to call. NOTE: 800-NUMBERS DO NOT WORK IF CALLING FROM OVERSEAS. BRING ANOTHER NUMBER WITH STANDARD AREA CODE TO CALL IF NEEDED!
Also, AMERICAN EXPRESS can replace lost/stolen credit cards within hours, and as they say, I wouldn't travel without one. Visa and Mastercards are issued by many different banks and (I don't believe) they can be replaced as quickly overseas.
ONE OTHER ROME SCAM TO REPORT: while at the Coliseum, I was taking some photos of the Arch of Constantine and there were some gypsy kids nearby. Perhaps they thought I was trying to photograph them, but a few minutes later a Japanese tourist kept pointing to the back of my coat. Removing it, I saw that I had been "marked" with a squeeze bottle of tomato sauce. While cleaning up the mess with tissues, I kept my purse around my neck--perhaps they were hoping to remove my valuables while cleaning my coat. So, it cost me a drycleaning bill, but I had my purse at least!
That said, about ten years ago, I was on a packed bus in Rome--no room to move an inch. My handbag was wedged under my arm in a death grip. Behind me, a non-Italian bloke had a large package in his arms and kept poking me with it. When I arrived at my destination, I realized that over a 15-minute period, he had zipped open my bag a bit at a time until he could get his hand on my wallet and extract it, hidden by the package.
Fortunately, at my hotel I had copies of my credit cards (both sides) plus the telephone numbers to call. NOTE: 800-NUMBERS DO NOT WORK IF CALLING FROM OVERSEAS. BRING ANOTHER NUMBER WITH STANDARD AREA CODE TO CALL IF NEEDED!
Also, AMERICAN EXPRESS can replace lost/stolen credit cards within hours, and as they say, I wouldn't travel without one. Visa and Mastercards are issued by many different banks and (I don't believe) they can be replaced as quickly overseas.
ONE OTHER ROME SCAM TO REPORT: while at the Coliseum, I was taking some photos of the Arch of Constantine and there were some gypsy kids nearby. Perhaps they thought I was trying to photograph them, but a few minutes later a Japanese tourist kept pointing to the back of my coat. Removing it, I saw that I had been "marked" with a squeeze bottle of tomato sauce. While cleaning up the mess with tissues, I kept my purse around my neck--perhaps they were hoping to remove my valuables while cleaning my coat. So, it cost me a drycleaning bill, but I had my purse at least!
Jun 24th, 2007, 12:17 PM
#59
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I think those Gypsy children must work full-time at the Coliseum. When we were there, they tried to distract us by making kissing noises at us. One of them had a piece of paper she was holding over her hand so that we couldn't see it.
We'd read a warning about this kids in Rick Steves, so we knew what they were up to. We yelled at them and they left us along.
We'd read a warning about this kids in Rick Steves, so we knew what they were up to. We yelled at them and they left us along.
Jun 24th, 2007, 12:40 PM
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I was at my car dealership the other day having my car repaired. Their waiting room is open and adjacent to their showroom - nice place.
I sat down at a table next to the window and started to read the newspaper. Some woman with a baby stroller proceeded to pace up and down next to the window behind me. I thought nothing of it. She moved closer and closer to me and was maybe three feet away from my back. I kept hearing the stroller wheels rolling louder and louder and still thought nothing of it.
But getting annoyed, I got up, took all my stuff in hand and went to look at the display cars. (There was no baby in the stroller!)
She pretended to go and look at the display cars as well.
Really creeped me out, so I went to sit in a chair with its back to the wall and putting all my stuff on my lap. She left after about five minutes.
These people are experts at creeping up on you unnoticed.
I sat down at a table next to the window and started to read the newspaper. Some woman with a baby stroller proceeded to pace up and down next to the window behind me. I thought nothing of it. She moved closer and closer to me and was maybe three feet away from my back. I kept hearing the stroller wheels rolling louder and louder and still thought nothing of it.
But getting annoyed, I got up, took all my stuff in hand and went to look at the display cars. (There was no baby in the stroller!)
She pretended to go and look at the display cars as well.
Really creeped me out, so I went to sit in a chair with its back to the wall and putting all my stuff on my lap. She left after about five minutes.
These people are experts at creeping up on you unnoticed.
