Just returned from Prague yesterday and it was wonderful except that we were pick pocketed on the subway at the Malastranska Station (spelling not good)but close enough. Midafternoon station quiet till train appeared. Then as doors opened a group of young adults pushed in and circled our friend and stole his wallet. We confronted them and created a scene and they dropped the wallet without taking anything but that was sheer luck. So beware they were college looking young adults and they didn't appear until the train pulled in. It was a total of 8, one female and seven men. They were all dressed in black clothes, making ID difficult. The female had a mole on her face above her lip, dark shoulder length hair. So beware of your surroundings and keep your wallet out of your back pocket, preferably in a pouch inside your shirt.

Damn that sucks.
Thanks for the heads up,I'm heading there in May for a week.

You are right to warn travellers about the potential dangers on the Prague Metro. One @sshole eyed up my mothers purse on the escalator at the Muzeum station. Luckily, I stood between the would-be thief and the purse.

However, I must say that there were so many wonderful, helpful people that we met whilst using the Metro--people who went out of their way to help us use the ticket machines and showed us what train to take.

You have to take the good with the bad in any city, sweetie darling.

It's unfortunate, but this can happen anywhere. I had a similar experience in Paris, when I saw a group of young people surround and pickpocket a man as he was trying to get out of the Metro train. He wasn't as lucky as you.

I'm sorry to hear of your problem.

It is just plain risky to carry a wallet when traveling in Europe, or anything of valuable that is "accessible" to a pickpocket.

A back pocket is accessible - the pickpockets are well practiced in their "art".

Everyone should leave the big fat wallet at home and secure/conceal a bit of cash and a card or two while out and about.

Thanks for the heads up. We'll be in Prague in May.

Woody

For men velcro your pockets. It makes it difficult for the pick pockets. Buy an inside pocket that you can hang from your belt inside your pants (not a money belt)
Carry only what you need for that day.I had failed attempts in London,Paris,Prague,Madrid.
For the ladies,if possible do not carry anything of value in your handbag especially your passport. If you can, make a "boob bank". a small bag of soft cotton for pinning inside the bra. (my wife has made several, has never lost anything!)

In Prague, the problem is mostly on public transportation. Mitigate the problem by staying near the places that you want to see. Staying on Kampa Island, we used the tram just once in seven days, going up to the castle and walked back. Everywhere else, we walked. Prague is a very walkable city.

In Paris my daypack was repeated eyed by a man behind me in at a subway platform. I finally took it off turned completely around and stared at him. There was nothing of value in it but it made me angry.

My tip ladies: Take a purse that zips from either direction and use a bread twist to secure both zippers together.

The same exact situation in the Metro in Madrid this year. These were not Spaniards ( I am not saying they could have been Spaniards) but these were not I am almost sure they were Rumanians. Are they outsourcing pick pockets in Europe?

Sorry I meant they might have been Spniards but those thieves were not...

I always wear a money belt when I travel (although I don't wear one when I go to Boston which is a bit ironic because it's probably has more crime than many of the European cities that I visited).

I keep my passport, money, credit card, etc. in the money belt and maybe just keep a few dollars in my front pocket. I have never had an issue in anyplace that I have been.

Make copies of your passports/tkts/credit cards.
Wear a neck pouch and money belt. Don't carry anything!

Just got back from 2.5 weeks in Prague. Took trams, bus, metro, funicular & was OK the entire time. A woman attending our music festival was not so lucky. Had her wallet stolen from her backpack at the bus stop. This just goes to reinforce my belief that you should NEVER EVER carry your wallet in your backpack while taking public transportation. Of course, she was an easy target - Asian, reading a map, backpack not zippered correctly, standing still in a high crime area of town, etc. She stuck out like a sore thumb, and was the perfect target.

In Zizkov (Prg 3), at least 2 people from our festival had their laptops stolen from their hotel rooms (2 separate hotels). There is apparently a problem with Gypsies in the area, who run an electronic goods theft ring. The police admitted it. So, be wary of taking valuables like that along with you, and don't assume that anything is safe "locked" in your room.

Get a neck pouch and use it. Then try picking their pockets.

In May, we spent a week in Prague. The pickpockets work in groups and are very aggressive. Twice on the metro I found someone's hand in my pants pocket. (We never encountered this in our many, many trips to England, Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy or France.)

Be sure to take all precautions.

Woody

Of course, one should never let down one's guard. I was in Prague for 5 days in July and used the metro extensively. Just kept very aware of not getting too close to anyone while on the escalators to the trains, stay away from large groups (sometimes hard!), and always used my neckpouch or money belt inside clothes (yea, I've seen people wear them over their shirts...). I kept a watchful eye and was pleased not to see any problems while I was riding, though not denying pick pocketing occurs! Bottom line is, be alert and take precautions!

Americans traveling abroad should never EVER be without their passport on their person. Make three copies of the information page. Leave two with safekeepers back home and put one in the backpack/suitcase that you will be leaving at the hotel, or put it in the safe, if there is one available. If something happens to your passport, you can take the copy to the American embassy to have it replaced. But you should always carry your passport with you. However, I agree very much that backpacks, fanny packs, wallets, side pouches, purses, etc. are not advisable. I like the boob pouch idea, incidentally. Being female, I frequently exercise the merits of bra storage. Sock storage doesn't work bad either and these days they are actually make shoes with storage compartments built into them. I've also found that the very front small pocket on five pocket jeans is safer than one might think because it is so snug to your person that you really have to dig and adjust in order to get to anything in it.

Fortunately, I've never been pickpocketed before. However, I have been eyed a few times and I agree with the person who recommended staring potentials down. I've found that a don't-even-think-about-messing-with me, I-totally-mean-business expression goes a long way to discourage some people. Although, I'm sure some of the true professionals are not likely to be diverted by mere looks.

Funtimes4all wrote: "I'm sure some of the true professionals are not likely to be diverted by mere looks."

Many of them are. Not so much an intimidating "don't mess with me" look, but more "I am aware of you" look. Pickpockets are sneak thieves who prey on the unwary and inattentive. Why tackle somebody who is clearly alert when there are so many dozy marks out there?

It can be different with muggers but, fortunately, they are are less common.

I live in Prague and have never known anyone who has gotten pickpocketed. I carry a purse every day and just make sure it's under my arm and closed. I am American, and I know I stick out (it is inevitable, no matter what we try!), but I still have never been targeted.

I think here the key is to stay aware and don't stand in the middle of the metro or tram with an open map or talking loudly. You will notice that the Czechs don't talk much on public transport...that's why everyone spots the tourists immediately. Just be alert and act like you know what you're doing. And enjoy it!