Pickpockets in Europe?
 

We've read some information on here and elsewhere that pickpockets are a problem in Europe. How do we guard agianst it happening to us? What are the easiest things we can do to keep it from happening? It doesn't take much to ruin a whole vacation. Where are pickpockets more prevalent? <BR> <BR>It will be me, my wife and our 13-year-old daughter. We plan on going to Paris, Germany (Nuremberg, Munich, etc.) and perhaps either Rome or London, if possible. <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Feel free to e-mail me if you have trouble posting here.

Pickpockets, on whatever continent, are prevalent wherever there are lots of people with their minds elsewhere than on their surroundings and personal property. That makes tourists, wherever, prime targets. Your holiday is a thief's workday. <BR> <BR>Keep nothing more than you can afford to lose in your outside pockets. A "money belt" of whatever kind (bra, belt, shoulder holster, ankle holster, etc.) is a safe place for most money, credit cards, passport. Don't hang packs, whether waist or over shoulder, on your back. Don't set luggage or camera bags, etc., casually beside you more or less out of sight waiting for trains, planes or lunch. Stay aware of what's going on around you. <BR> <BR>Train stations, crowded buses, subways ... all prime hunting ground. <BR> <BR>For an example of considerations in Rome see www.twenj.com/romesafe.htm <BR> <BR>Important to note that in general most find large cities in Europe much less threatening in all ways than large cities in the US.

I'll be darned. I agree with Ed twice in one year. Not bad. <BR>I urge you to read what Ed had to say. <BR>He knows of what he speaks. <BR> <BR>I had this experience in Paris boarding a Metro train. <BR> <BR>As I approached the car, a young man was pretending to read the route map posted above the door. As I entered the car, he moved into me, all the while acting like he was reading the map. <BR>He timed his move so skillfully that he squeezed out the closing doors just as he brushed by me. I thought nothing of it, but my wife said "What's with that guy?" Well, he was trying to rob me. <BR>That is what was with that guy!! Another passenger, who spoke English so well I think he was an American, asked <BR>"Is everything still in your pockets?" <BR>All was there. <BR>I do not know if he rejected my wallet because it was so skinny, or because it was in a pocket that zipped shut. <BR>Had he stolen my wallet, he would have had $7.00 US and my voter registration card. The good stuff was tucked away elsewhere.

I was in Paris 2 weeks ago & had an encounter with a group of pickpockets in the subway. I was foolishly gawking at a city map & trying to figure out how to use the system. A group of short picketpockets---they looked like 8 or 9 year old gypsy girls crowded around me as I entered the subway car. They were very dirty and had sweaters wrapped around their hands & forearms (like mufflers from years ago). I don't know if they got inside my purse, but I had only a hairbrush, lipstick, etc. there. All my money, credit cards, & passport was in the neck pouch. When I looked sternly at them & shooed them away, they quickly retreated. Their objective was to quickly rob me as I brushed past them upon entering the subway car. I would be quickly gone & so would my money. The American tendency would be to smile at such young children, but I had a similar experience in Peru & was prepared. Good advice in any city (which I fail to do too often) is to not be openly carrying a city map and looking totally lost. <BR> <BR>

Duke, Ed's advice on this is excellent. (Ed, loved your line: "Your holiday is a thief's workday.") <BR> <BR>Don't be paranoid about pickpockets...but be aware. <BR> <BR>Personally, I never carry things like my passport or airline ticket with me, even in a "money belt." Instead, I alway keep them in my locked luggage in the hotel room and have never had my luggage broken into. <BR> <BR>However, that prompts me to ask people here, once again, if that's ever happened to anyone; has anyone has ever had valuables of any kind stolen from *locked* luggage in their hotel room? <BR>

I totally agree with Ed and capo. We too leave our passports and tickets in our hotel either in locked luggageor the in room safe. We each carry our own seperate credit card, same airline mileage card but our own individual accounts, our airline BA has a family plan so allthe mileage goes to one account anyway. Keep an extra different card with the passports. Make sure you have a copy of your passport and ticket numbers seperate from the tickets. we also keep our credit card numbers and the telephone number of the credit card company at the hotel.We hardly ever need cash, so never carry more than $20.00USD in our wallets, Clean you wallet out before leaving home. I don't even take my drivers lic. david takes his only if we are renting a car. Keep money, credit cars in seperate places. I even went so far as to sew strips of Velcro on david's back pants pockets. Even he can't get into them sometimes! Carry your wallet somewhere different than you would at home. David's jacket has a zippered inside lapel pocket. Confuse thiose little boogers!! A stern look from a 6'5" man really makes them run, especially when you are not shy about using it even if they are innocenT!