ira

Hey K1,

> I would be careful of gypsy looking people especially while travelling. Wouldn't people do that?<

You are digging the hole deeper.

I suggest that you reconsider what you have said.

ira

Whenever I put something in a pocket I close the pocket with a safety pin or two.

november_moon

I have a hard time with money-belts too. And yes, I am more than aware of all of the different types. I own the waist belts, the neck pouches, etc. and have tried them all. The one that works ok for me is a small silk sleeve, just large enough for a couple credit cards and some cash. It has a snap so I can attach it to my bra so that it hangs from the center of my bra, in the front, and rides against my upper abs.

I have never found anything large enough to conceal my passport though that I could wear though.

The neck pouch has 2 issues - one is that because I am short, if I wear the pouch below my boobs, it sticks out the bottom of my shirt, but if I cinch it up higher, it has to sit in front of my boobs and then the outline is visible through my clothing. The other issue is that the neck strap is visible, especially with summer tops that have open neck lines.

The waist belt - again because I am short - there isn't enough space between the waist of my pants and the top of my butt to conceal the belt under my clothing. It sticks up above the waist of my pants and then just will not stay put I have to continually adjust it because it always rides up. And, even empty, with the thinner material of summer clothing, you can see the outline of the belt through my clothes anyway.

chartley

Phone concealed in your bra, all pockets secured with two safety pins, and a backpack worn back to front. How did they know I was an American?

Ackislander

This is a hoot.

The daypack in front thing is extremely common among young backpackers, who are by definition tourists and don't give a rap who knows it. It would look weird on an old geezer or geezette, though it might make them look too poor to bother with.

The phone and credit card and/or can in the bra thing is very popular with college girls going clubbing on Boston. The phone is carried alternatively in the cleavage or tucked into the side band of the bra, just in front of the armpit. Since it is useless for being secure, it must be another fashion statement.

It is ludicrous to believe that a trained professional thief cannot discern whether you are wearing a money belt or neck safe. The question is whether or not it is worth going after. It probably isn't if there are enough people leaving purses, camera bags, and electronics on their chars in restaurants.

Bamaman

I once was pickpocketed at the foot of an escalator in Paris Metro when a guy in front of us "tripped." Those behind us tripped all over us.
Now, no billfolds are carried and we use a money belt under clothes. My wife has nothing on her. We carry relatively cheap cameras, and any smartphone is always in a zippered inside pocket.
My wife walks close behind me when in train stations and metros.
We are very proactive in our security. Anyone that gets in "our space" will not be treated courteously.

dulciusexasperis

Tourists will always look like tourists.
Tourists will always be carrying valuables somewhere.
Tourist will always be pickpocketed regardless of where they carry those valuables.

Money belts? Watch around minute 17 of this video and see how simply a good pickpocket opens one and takes the cash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia2b54srRZM

The reality is that if a pro decides to steal from you, they will succeed no matter what you do.

dwdvagamundo

dulcius--if all they take is the cash, I can live with that as I don't carry much. But as I've said on another thread, we've had no problems since we started using them.

So what you do recommend?

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#555555>"Money belts? Watch around minute 17 of this video and see how simply a good pickpocket opens one and takes the cash."</font></i>

Many of us have seen this video before. While the video is entertaining, and helpful to newbies, nothing about the money belt portion rings true, except the wearer is wearing his improperly.

Again, a money belt should not be used in place of a wallet. There should be no reason why the zippers of a money belt should offer easy access to anyone besides the wearer. For waist wearers, the money belt should always sit below the waistline of your pants, preferably under or below an exterior belt. For bra wearers, god help any strange man who dares to touch me near my chest. I excel at kickboxing.

For that matter, god help any strange man who invades my space the way the men in the video do. I've never been on a crowded bus or subway train in Italy, and I have no future plans to be on one. If you know how to pay attention in public while sightseeing or how to avoid these group-style thefts, you don't need to be a victim of crime.

dulciusexasperis

Again, tourist will always look like tourists.
Tourists will always be a prime target for opportunistic thieves.
Tourists will always get robbed. The only question is of how much and how often.

The media is quick to trumpet, 'Thousands of tourists get pickpocketed in Spain each year'. What they are not quick to add is 'thousands as in a mere 5 thousand out of 1.2 million visitors each year'.

Then everyone reads Rick Steves and goes out to buy a moneybelt thinking it will make them safe. Wrong.

First, the odds are very low. Most travellers never get pickpocketed in their lifetime regardless of how much they travel. But for those who are robbed, the statistics (very few available actually) lump them all into one category. They aren't all pickpocketed, in fact the majority are robbed I'm sure in some other way.

It makes sense to try and limit your potential loss but you can do that simply by not putting everything in one place. Whether it is a pocket, a handbag or a moneybelt makes no real difference. I would say that having cash, cards and passport in 3 different velcroed pockets is more secure than having all 3 in one moneybelt.

But in the end, tourists will always behave as tourists behave and some will get robbed. As much bad luck as bad planning probably. As I said, the simple and viable precaution to take is to not carry everything in one place.

I never carry more than $50(in local currency) in cash. I don't take more than that out of an ATM at any one time. Someone can grab it out of my hand as I take it from the machine and it's still only $50 they will get.

That's all I ever carry in the street when staying somewhere. The only time I have more to lose is when actually moving from A to B. Then I have to carrying everything on my person obviously. So my passport is in play on those occassions only.

A traveller needs only three things when travelling. A ticket to B, credit/debit cards and a passport. That's 3 secure pockets. Anything else doesn't really matter. Steal my suitcase and I can replace everything in it. If you carry irreplaceable valuables in it, you asked for it.

IMDonehere

I think fair-minded Gypsies should start an promotional campaign and put money into tourists pockets. Then people would start to admit they were tourists and stop fooling themselves that they do not look like tourists.

BTW besides the clothes-
Hairstyle
Wristwatch
Mein-people who live in a location walk around differently than people who are sightseeing
Eyeglasses
Who you are with at certain places and at what time of time.
Overhearing the language you are speaking
And of course the upside down map and tourist guide

Holly_uncasdewar

You forgot Shoes.

IMDonehere

Yes, I did.

fmpden

Txt

janisj

<B>november_moon:</B> I have the same issues -- short - etc. Is your neck pouch like this one w/ a toggle on a long cord?

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75336...id=34644952617

If so try this: Extend the cord all the way and put it over your head and then put the cord down around your waist - then shorten w/ the toggle so it fits comfortably. Then arrange the pouch to one side so it sits behind your jeans front pocket. I HATE a neck pouch and a true money belt is too hot/uncomfortable, but using a neck pouch this way is very comfortable and no one can tell you are using one. It becomes a hidden pocket inside your clothing.

fables

I have a dumb question. In all the threads about pickpockets on travel sites I never hear mention of any law enforcement presence either uniformed or undercover. It would seem some of these struggling economies depend on tourism and would be worried about a decline in tourism due to a petty theft reputation. I myself would donate $5 a day for each of the days I visited Paris and Rome to help pay for some policeman in very loud colored uniforms just to stand outside the Louvre or Termini Station. What am I missing ?

iris1745

I was PP on the Metro in Paris. Five kids jumped on the train, I was holding my wife with one hand and a pole with the other. They quickly jumped off before the doors closed. Not too long after I discovered I was missing 14 hundred FF, about $200US at the time.

I was upset, but quickly recovered and had a great day with friends.

Lost no sleep.

Going again to Paris with my GC for my 80th and their graduation from college. One from grad school and the other with one semester to go for her 4 year degree.

Things happen everywhere.

MmePerdu

I have a passport-sized pocket I made for myself which I pin inside my clothes to the waistband of my skirt or pants. I pin it in with a diaper pin and a flap then folds over the pin and is fastened with velcro so the opening is toward my body. Besides the passport, it holds credit cards and currency and is easy for me to access in, say, a ladies room, if I need to. I dislike having strings around neck or waist so this was my solution. Made of cotton, I've been using it for years, don't travel anywhere without it.

dulciusexasperis

There is no end to the products that someone will come up with to separate people from their money.
http://www.clevertravelcompanion.com/


Yet again, I read comments about putting money, cards and passport all in one place. Dumber than dumb.

Iris1745, why on earth were you carrying $2000 in cash on you?

dulciusexasperis

Next up is the 'what do I do with my money, cards, iPhone, etc. when I am at the beach and want to go in for a swim?'

That one usually draws a similar rash of dumb ideas.