I'm sure it does happen, but I have never felt unsafe anywhere in Germany (or Austria either) where I have traveled.

Sorry - it is possible for locals to pick out tourists in NYC - and it is primarily based on how they're dressed - not on how their persons look - since we are a very diverse city.

Tourists from other parts of the US usually dress like - well - let's not get into that discussion again. And tourists from europe are easy to pick out as well - they tend to wear either sandals with hairy brown socks, distinctly "european" shoes, or heavy tweeds/jackets in the middle of summer.

And there are in fact pickpocket rings in the city - primarily young people - many from Latin America - where $50 or $100 IS a lot of money. And they do prey on the tourists as described above.

I think a major difference is that American who wear backpacks in europe don't in the US - can't understand why - thus making things much harder for the thieves.

Yes, nytraveller, I already said that. I wrote: "although it is possible to spot tourists on the streets in New York, they really aren't so noticeable as they are in Europe."

And yes, there are pickpockets who prey on tourists in Times Sq. etc., but it's just not so common as it is in Spain, for instance -- where it is also blamed on South Americans -- or in Venice, where it is blamed on Southern Italians.

Anyway, I see plenty of Americans carrying backpacks in New York. I still think it is the case thieves know that most people aren't carrying much of real value in their bags. Better to just punch somebody in the face and grab their Ipod, or flash something that looks like a weapon and demand that we hand it over.

New Yorkers are a pretty cooperative bunch when accosted by people they think look scary and might be armed.

I often watch tourists who seem to invite pickpockets. Once, I observed an American tourist on a bus in Rome whose wallet was visibly hanging out of his pocket and an Italian boy was going to steal it (obviously not well trained). I warned the tourist, but he considered me as a kind of robber and chose to ignore me, so finally the boy got his prey.

Well, Germany is pretty safe and probably much safer than Rome. Howevers, it is always wise to be a little careful on packed underground trains or in congested areas in pedestrian zones, particularly around people performing in the streets.

BTW, 63% of caught pickpockets in Germany have a foreign nationality while 9% of the residential population are foreigners.