Pick Pockets
 

Is it as bad as I keep hearing from others? My husband and I will be in Madrid & Spain from 4/10 to 4/24.

Hi Imoy,

No.

If you consider the millions of tourists on a given day, then if only 0.01% are victims that comes out to about 100.

These hundred then tell everybody about it.

When was the last time someone told you, "I went to Spain and my pocket wasn't picked"?

Just take the usual precautions that you would in any large city.

I never hear stories of someone wearing a money belt being pickpocketed. I don't wear one...

... and I actually have been pickpocketed, both unsuccessfully... and successfully.

Live and learn.

Or live and (in some cases) fail to learn.

Best wishes,

Rex

Just keep your wits about you. My wife was pickpocketed in the Barcelona metro in the following way. We were going up an escalator next to each other, and two young men were riding up at the same time. No one else was around. The one in front of my wife was fiddling with his watch which happened to fall just as we reached the top of the escalator. He naturally tried to retrieve it clumsily, which meant that my wife was pushed agasint him and thrown off balance and in a panic, which gave his associate behind her a chance to pick her pocketbook while he helped stabilize her. They immediately returned the glass case which had "fallen" on the ground, which was the only thing they had picked out of her pocketbook. We had a near call in Paris in an isolated metro entrance, and I have seen some pretty fancy work on a San Francisco bus. So I wouldn't be more concerned in Barcelona than in any other big city.

That brings up my first rule:

Don't let anyone touch you.

I was never aware in any way of being touched by the thief who successfully picked my pocket at the Colosseum, ira.

I would not have known that it occurred when it did, but some others around me said to me - - I think you just got your pocket picked.

And the unsuccessful pickpocket was in a crowded "standers mass" on a jam-packed metro in Paris. I felt fingers in my pocket; nothing was taken. I yelled "No!" very loudly. And amazingly, I could never tell to whom the fingers belonged. It was not close (in time) to an opening or closing of doors. Spooky.

I was picked on a Paris metro train. Two young guys working together, one grabbed my wrist and pretended to look at the time on my watch. The other one unzipped my purse and had his hand inside when I caught on. I grabbed his hand and jerked it out of my purse. They just died laughing. Never even moved away! Luckily I wear a money belt under my clothing so there was nothing in my bag for them to steal but a few Euros, my map, pen and lipstick. But always be careful - they are very bold.

I was thinking of this for a personal-pick-pocket-plan:

Wear a pair of cargo pants, as many pockets as I can find in a pair. Fill each one with some small but noticeable parcel labeled "Sorry, you are not a winner". It seems a sporting approach.

Love it.... Imagine the look on their face when they figure what's happened! :))

That's too funny, Clifton!

oh oh. cargo pants in Paris??!! Fashion Police alert!
Seriously, I love cargo pants. I do look awful in them though. Alas, choices, choices.

I went to Spain (twice) and my pocket wasn't picked. Don't let fear overshadow your vacation. I read an interesting book not long ago titled, The Gift of Fear. The author said that sometimes people worry so much that they can actually miss the signs that a would be thief or attacker may send off.
Be alert but not afraid. Have a great time, Spain is a wonderful country.

Would putting a mouse-trap in every pocket be considered unsporting? :D

I agree that you shouldn't be afraid. Just be very careful. The 1 in a million wag is an understatement. When we visited the Al Hambra, my sister had her wallet stolen from her purse in the first half hour. She reported it and was told to come by at the end of the day. She got her wallet back. It was there with one or two dozen others. That was on my first trip to Europe. On my second trip, I was walking down the street in Paris in the middle of the day. Felt a rustle in the pocket of my jacket just as a man passed by. I turned around and 20 feet or so down the sidewalk was a man poking into the almost empty pack of cigs that he had just snatched from my pocket. Finding nothing worthwhile, he handed the pack back.

I found one article online just now saying that there are 50 to 60 reported pickpocket incidents at the Coliseum every day. At the main train station in Milan, they 1300 a month.

I think that it really is almost as bad as you hear. Statistically, my personal experience is not a good sample, but I've never been pickpocketed in the U.S. nor do I know of anyone who has. Haven't heard that it is a problem here in U.S. and haven't experienced it. Haven't experienced it elsewhere and the warnings elsewhere are not as strong as in Europe.

From personal experience I would say Spain and Madrid are WAY up there when it comes to watching out for pickpockets. We witnessed more petty crime in Madrid in 24 hours than we've ever seen in the last 10 years combined in Europe. That said, it's not so hard to be safe. Keep your valuables safe and look like you "own" the city.

Fashion police? I'm one of The Usual Suspects. Have even worn jeans. Gasp.

Oh, I don't think putting a mousetrap in at least *one* pocket would be unsportsmanlike. You almost have to - there should be at least one winner. We don't want any lawsuits. We'll just write "congratulations!" on the bottom of the trap, in marker...

I was in Spain last month and didn't have any incidents, and I am a female and was traveling alone.

I wore a money belt just in case, but I also had a small backpack and my cameras with me most of the time. Just be alert, and hold onto your belongings when you are doing things like standing on a metro platform. I also didn't stand too close to other people on the escalators, leaving a few steps between me and the people in front of me, etc.

Have a great trip. Spain is a beautiful country.

Karen

In five trips to France I have had two attemps by pick pockets. Both failed and both were in the Metro. I keep my valuables in a pouch that hangs around my neck and under my shirt and if I have to have my wallet with me I put a large rubberband around it and keep it in my front pocket. I will normally carry a small amount of cash and one credit card in my pocket while in Paris. Be constaintly aware when you are in the metro or a busy tourist area.

In all my travels I have only been pickpocketed once and that was while riding the Barcelona Metro and I was also not using my moneybelt that day.
I agree you should not live in fear...it is easier to "not live in fear" by taking reasonable precautions which include, as far as I am concerned, using a money belt.
Ira's recommendation to "never let anyone touch you" seems a little unrealistic since by the time they HAVE touched you they've already gotten what they want and are speeding away.
You can play it smart or go on your trip worrying...OR you can goon your trip NOT worrying and NOT playing it smart and then come back here and whine about how you were robbed, or pickpocketed, or scammed, etc., and that it happened even though nobody touched you!

Thanks to all for your replies, especially to Clifton and Angel UK. I appreciated the laughs.

In regards to wearing a money belt, or an under the clothing purse, My son, while leaving the Baptistry in Florence was approached by a woman holding an infant in her left arm. Begging with a bowl outstreched in her right hand, she got in close, and managed to undo his shirt, and get the money purse partly unzipped, with her LEFT HAND. the one holding the "baby" was a false arm, her real one was available to rob him. The "baby"was also fake.
Last week, as a friend and I were leaving the Baptistry in Florence, same scam.
I think they may watch people reach for their money as pay the admittance fee to the Baptistry. My friend also kept his money under his shirt.
I had just told him about the fake baby scam the day before, so he easily side stepped the woman.
Be careful

My husband had his wallet picked from his front pocket on the bus to the Vatican. (He's always said he'd know if someone tried his front pocket. Ha!!) That day we met a Swedish couple... the husband was wearing cargo pants and... yup... they found the right pocket...on the subway.
So, lessons learned. Also, I live in New York city and frequently you will hear bus drivers on the Madison avenue route warning passengers that p.ps are on board. Father of a friend(visiting NYC for the first time) was done in on the Mad Ave bus.

Witnessed the most satisfying attempt at pickpocketing in Paris a few years ago. I rarely ride the metro because you cannot see anything . . but it started raining and I got on the Metro at the Louvre, and struck up a conversation with a Russian (I was living in Moscow at the time) . . He was a big strapping fellow and halfway thru the conversation, as he was looking over my shoulder, he lunged at a guy who had his hand in a woman's backpack . . he picked the guy up by the back of his neck, spun him around and delivered what can only be described as a blow to future generations of this guys family . . of course, he dropped to the floor and started vomiting . . his partner in crime made the mistake of trying to defend his compatriot, and promptly had most of his fingers, one of his arms broken and his jaw dislocated . . all this was on a packed car, with a couple of dozen passengers frozen in fright, then subsequently applauding.

The two poor devils got off the metro at the next stop while we all laughed at them. . We got off because of the smell in the car and I complemented the Russian on his response and offered to buy him a drink. . which he accepted. Turned out he was part of Yeltsin's security ( by now Yeltsin was a private citizen) and was on his day off.

All in all one of the most rewarding Metro rides I have had.

Rich

Also, be very careful in flea markets in Paris. We watched two thieves basically stalking two female tourists one afternoon while they were shopping, until I couldn't stand it anymore. I walked up behind the thieves, close enough so they knew that they were being watched, and made eye contact with them while the ladies turned down another isle. The thieves then took off -- looking for easier prey, I'm sure.

Flea markets are a perfect environment for thieves. The shoppers are distracted, they are carrying cash and the isles are narrow. You are always bumping up against someone.

have been to europe 50+ times and have never been pickpocketed or seen it happen to anyone else. Have seen only 2 incidents of street crime.

In Madird in the Plaza Mayor two young boys (12/13?) apparently stole a magazine from a news stand - and I saw them brought down - literally tackled by a pair of cops. Who then stood there screaming at them for several minutes, retrieved the magazine and let them go. (Perhaps it was porn they were too young to have?)

The other incident was an obviously stoned young man with the munchies who grabbed a handful of salad from the plate of a young woman eating in a sidewalk cafe in Paris. He was so stoned he just stood there muching on the salad and looking goofy. The young woman (she and her companion were both dressed in beautiful black suits with matching pumps etc - obviously junior execs out to lunch) and her companion started screamng and the cafe proprietor ran out with a broom and beat off the young man. then replaced the salad.

Both incidents were really funny at the time - and even more so in retrospect.

I have experienced only one attempt at picking pocketing - here in New York. Three very inept young women surrounded me in Macys and under cover of holding up a couple of blouses to look at tried to confuse me and get into my purse. They were so bad it was obvious what they were doing; I dropped the hangar I was holding pulled my purse in front of me and screamed "security". They were arrested almost immediately - and apparently did have wallets etc from other customers.

I think the key if this kind of thing happens is to yell/scream police, point at the person who did it and create as much fuss as possible. Don;t be afraid to look silly - just cause a gigantic scene. That will give you the best chance of getting your stuff back - they'll drop it rather than risk being caught with it.

We have not (yet... fingers crossed) had problems in our travels in Europe. While money belts are good, they are awkward in terms of easy access so it is nice to have some cash and other items available.

On one trip we were worried about the potential and a friend had extolled the virtues of Tilley's "travel trousers" (which had saved him from being pickpocketed in Barcelona). We didnt want to buy an entire travel wardrobe, so I came up with a low-cost parallel:

I made slight (and temporary) modifications to our clothing - I sewed a velcro strip 1/2 inch inside and running almost across the entire opening of one pocket on each pair of trousers/shorts etc. that we took (sewed on, not stuck on since the "stick" doesnt hold well). Pockets still lie flat and the velcro isnt visible. The pockets are fairly easy to open if you make the velcro a bit shorter than the pocket.

I dont know if anyone tried to get into a pocket, but the slight "tug" required as well as the slight noise of velcro opening should at least make the process conspicuous to you, but wasnt loud enough that it was noticed by anyone around us.

Grandma

>My husband had his wallet picked from his front pocket on the bus to the Vatican.<

Which brings up my second rule: Put safety pins on your pockets.

never been pickpocketed in Europe.
By have been 3 times here in Wilmington!
My new rule: I should be more alert here as I am there.