I will be traveling to Frankfurt, Salzburg, Rome, Venice and Interlaken in July and I understand that the pickpockets are quite bad. Do you have any advice about the type of bag that I should use - would a small back-pack be good or would a hand-bag be better. Any other cautions? Thanks you in advance. Fiona

Any hand bag or fanny pack is an invitation to trouble. Shoulder bags are the worst. Spread your valuables around. Put some here, some there. As an old sailor, I formed the habit long ago of carrying things in my socks, even in my shoes. Documents and cash I carry in a pouch around my neck inside my shirt. A homemade money belt made of denim closed with Velcro goes around my waist inside my trousers.
The only loss suffered in more than 50 years was $50 in Chilean pesos I had just changed from U.S. dollars at our hotel in Santiago. Muggers slashed my trousers pocket with a razor knife. Luckily, all I lost was the cash. This on the main street of Santiago at noon, a block from the national palace.
Keep your eyes open for persons wearing raincoats draped over their arms, or carrying rolled newspapers, or shopping bags. Walk facing oncoming traffic, never alongside the curb, and away from doorways. Be "street smart" and you will have a fine time. Get careless...and learn the hard way.

Fiona: Wow, "Arizona" has certainly been around. Since you'll probably be avoiding places like Santiago, being careful and inconspicuous is usually fine. I've lived in Germany and have been to many countries in Europe, all without one loss. As with "Arizona", just don't invite theft. No open purses, bags, etc. No money (or other valuables)in wallets. I kept my money divided into two front pockets, one for my "stash" or larger sum and one for my "pull out" money, or smaller sum. Keep articles close to you while on a pay phone, reading subway signs, on trains, buses, etc. Keep it all in sight and try to avoid very close crowds, if possible and not a lot of flashy jewelry and you'll be fine. Have a good trip.

the best way i have found to carry money, etc. is to wear a pair of gym shorts with front pockets under my pants, as long as you don't stuff to much and create bulges you will be all set.
doug

Thank you all for your advice - I am not sure just what precautions I will take yet, however, I thank you for your ideas. Fiona!

My daughter and I just returned from a London, Paris, Rome trip and I had two pickpocket attempts on me in Rome in one day. No, I don't have sucker printed on my forehead. I could pass for French or Italian and I dress according to local standards, but when you are talking in a group you give yourself away. The first attempt was as we were getting on the subway. As the doors open the crowd bunches up and as I stepped into the car I felt a hand in my front left pocket. I probably wouldn't have noticed it ordinarily but for all the warnings I've seen in these posts I was alert and prepared. I was wearing nice casual slacks with vertical slotted pockets, not like jeans. Anyway, the instant I felt the hand I reached down with my left hand and grabbed a wrist while the hand was still in my pocket, it happened that fast. I'm fairly strong because my 17 year old son makes me work out with him, so I twist this arm around as I'm turning to see who is at the other end. It was a well dressed man in his mid 50's with a trench coat on. He's standing on the platform pulling away as I hold on from inside the car, waiting for the subway door to close on his arm. Finally he runs away when I come to my senses and let go. Later that day as we get on the subway again at exactly the instant I stepped through the door I felt two fingers try to get something out of the same pocket. I quickly turned and saw a young male with his hand reaching where my pocket had been. He left his hand out and made a motion as if he wanted me to continue farther into the train. He acted as if nothing was going on but as the doors shut he jumped out. Now I know I invited this attention because I had a map folded up in my front left pocket so the shape looked like a wallet and glancing into my pocket the edges of the map looked like money. I keep my valuables in a pouch that attaches to my belt and tucks into my pants. It holds my passport on one zippered side and my large bills and a slot for credit cards on the other zippered side. I also keep some smaller bills in a buttoned shirt pocket and some more in my back buttoned pants pocket. Don't take a wallet or a purse. The pouch was very comfortable. Also don't put anything else in those pockets because if you pull a map or something out the money may fall out unnoticed. I never felt unsafe anywhere but since I never saw any transit cops like in New York, I think the pickpockets know they can get away with it. What are you going to do, jump out to give chase just as the subway doors close and leave your traveling companions standing on the train not knowing what happened? It happens that fast. Don't wear a fanny pack either. Our hotel manager said that little kids will push a newspaper in your face and then one cuts the belt with a razor and they are gone. Try chasing a kid who knows his way around. Please don't let this scare you. We had a blast, didn't lose a dime, and have a great story to tell. Just always be aware of your surroundings. One last note, when my daughter got back to college a friend of hers had also been to Paris and had the exact thing happen to him with a pickpocket. Her friend realized it, turned around and said "Sucks doesn't it. Just a map." Anyway, have fun Fiona. David

don't wear a lot of expensive jewelry- you are making yourself a target. make copies of your passport & plane tickets and keep them separate from the originals - in case of theft it will make your life a lot easier.

Pickpockets love stationary targets. When you stop to read a map or anything else that might need your attention (like looking up at a train platform schedule) make sure you are leaning up against a wall -- it isn't that hard to do and can save you a lot of trouble. When dialing a phone face out as much as posible. Go into a train, not just in the door. If you have to cary a wallet use two safety pins and a length of ribbon or string to pin it to the inside of your pocket. When you get your pocket slashed you'll feel the tug that the thief doesn't expect and you'll always put the wallet back after a transaction rather than leave it on a counter.

We have travelled all the major cities in Europe, Asia, (and frankly, the US cities scare me most) We have NEVER had an incident...knock on wood. The important thing is, do not act like a tourist. Don''t make eye contact with anyone, flash money, cameras, keys to autos, maps, jewelry, etc. Dress like a bum, spread any money you have around your person (some goes in our shoes) and don't cash but one or two traveller's checks a day. Keep passport nexyt to your skin, and keep a copy of it somewhere in your luggage. Act like you know where you are going and proceed with a purpose. Don't stop if children or youths approach you, but blow a loud whistle. Stay where it is lit, and take a cab if you feel unncomfortable. Keep eyes peeled to see if you are being followed. If so, duck in a store, hotel or pub and wait to see. Overall, it is unlikely you will have trouble...we never have, so go on, enjoy yourself.

Lee is right on target! Leave your wallet at home! When visiting the tourist destinations, pile your maps and tourguides into the simplest bag possible (plastic with hand-holes). You cannot outsmart the pickpockets, who are very practiced at their "craft". Leave everything you don't need (especially your good jewelry) at home. When heading out for the day, take only what you need. Keep your cash, credit cards, and so forth, in a pouch between you and your clothes. And, no where else. Zippers, safety pins, tiny combination locks are useless! The PP's will be able to tell what you've got where by your body language (think "protecting"). For the ladies, there's a nifty one that can be worn around your neck or waist, and another that can be attached to your bra straps and hangs against your abdomen. If you wear slacks mostly (and for the gents), there's a version that's oblong (and large enough even for airline tickets) that loops over your belt and hangs between you and your slacks. Best to leave your extras, along with your passport (carry a photocopy) and airline tickets in the hotel safe. Based upon what I've read and heard, the PP's will not assault you, they take only what is easily accessible. So, just make sure anything important to you isn't - and they'll target folks who ignore all the advice (and there will be plenty of them). It's an excellent idea to spread photocopies of your passport amongst your belongings, along with a couple of extra passport photos. This make is much easier and faster to obtain another one should that be necessary. Also - know where you're going. Plan your route before you leave and know how you're going to get where you're going. It's best to carry your camera in a bag that does not look like a camera bag (or even a small paper shopping bag with handles under your maps and tour guides). Forget anything that has a "Sony" or "Minolta" emblem. When you have it out, keep it around your neck with one strap under your arm. Never leave it on a table in a cafe or even with the strap around a chair leg. It is absolutely impossible to "not look like a tourist" - a map, your clothes, your camera, will give you away. I disagree with "not making eye contact". Stare down anyone within your "personal space". Give the impression that you are totally observant. Some countries (including some cities in the USA) have VERY stiff penalties for PP's who target tourists. They will not approach anyone who might recognize them later...only the oblivious folks. It is excellent advice to go way beyond the door of a subway train in the cities. The PP's jump on at one stop and off at the next - and know exactly when the train will suddenly slow down and you will be completely distracted by looking around for something to hang onto - while they grab you and hop off (happened to my husband in Paris - took JUST the cash from his wallet in his fanny pack in front of him - I am still astonished!) If you follow all the recommendations you've received here, you'll never know the pickpockets are around.