Rick Steves Pickpocketed in Paris!
Jul 11th, 2017, 10:32 PM
#41
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I assume Pal did not get the point that I consider Paris a destination that does not require any MORE vigilance than San Francisco or my daily commute on the subway in Berlin.
So I doubt that anyone who takes a reasonable miminum care of his or her belongings at home does not need to adjust his or her habits, IMO.
IF you come from a rural community where you leave your doors open, or leave you bag at the table when you need a trip to the restroom at the cafe, then you may want to add some extra caution when traveling to such crime scenes like Paris.
So I doubt that anyone who takes a reasonable miminum care of his or her belongings at home does not need to adjust his or her habits, IMO.
IF you come from a rural community where you leave your doors open, or leave you bag at the table when you need a trip to the restroom at the cafe, then you may want to add some extra caution when traveling to such crime scenes like Paris.
Jul 12th, 2017, 12:53 AM
#42
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Money belts can't be great if you do a lot of walking?
If it doesn't irritate your waist, it might get damp from perspiration?
I use a fanny pack which bulges with my big iPhone and wallet. Sometime I stick my older iPhone there too.
The zipper pulls are to the front so difficult to open without my noticing it. Of course you hear stories about people finding their bags of various types being slashed.
If it doesn't irritate your waist, it might get damp from perspiration?
I use a fanny pack which bulges with my big iPhone and wallet. Sometime I stick my older iPhone there too.
The zipper pulls are to the front so difficult to open without my noticing it. Of course you hear stories about people finding their bags of various types being slashed.
Jul 12th, 2017, 01:18 AM
#43
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In Hamburg I noticed a guy following me. I'd speed up. He'd speed up. I stopped at the traffic lights he would stop. I assume he's seen my camera. This went on for a few blocks. I'm good at slowing down so he should have passed me. At some point I saw a police car. So I walked up to the German police officer and the guy following me followed. I looked him in the face and he noticed the officer. Lets just say he turned around pretty quickly.
In Berlin something fairly similar. I was walking with my tablet in hand. A guy following me. Eventually at a set of lights I stepped back against the building wall and just waited. The guy realized I'd been watching him for quite a while and turned around.
Stuff happens. Keep your eyes open.
If you're reaching into your money belt during the day you're using it wrongly
In Berlin something fairly similar. I was walking with my tablet in hand. A guy following me. Eventually at a set of lights I stepped back against the building wall and just waited. The guy realized I'd been watching him for quite a while and turned around.
Stuff happens. Keep your eyes open.
If you're reaching into your money belt during the day you're using it wrongly
Jul 12th, 2017, 01:32 AM
#44
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Ive just been in Paris.. I never wear a money belt as I think they would be very uncomfortable and IMO unnecessary. I am very vigilant, moving in from the doors on the metro as much as I can. I use a regular zipped handbag on one shoulder tucked under my arm. In Paris I made a point of not using my good wallet but just a little zipped purse with a small amount of euros in if and one creditdebit card. Everything else was left at the apartment. If I thought I needed a bit more cash for the day for what ever reason I put it in my sunglasses case rather than my purse.
It is the day you are in transit when you are most vunerable..struggling perhaps with a case, an overnight bag and a handbag and getting on a train. I have two passports so put one in my handbag and one in the overnight, ditto with credit cards. Hedging my bets as it were. So far I've been lucky.
I also had the thought about boosting the money belt sales, perhaps they were lagging and what better way to put the wind up everyone?
New travelers need to make themselves aware of all the scams about, knowledge is power as usual.
It is the day you are in transit when you are most vunerable..struggling perhaps with a case, an overnight bag and a handbag and getting on a train. I have two passports so put one in my handbag and one in the overnight, ditto with credit cards. Hedging my bets as it were. So far I've been lucky.
I also had the thought about boosting the money belt sales, perhaps they were lagging and what better way to put the wind up everyone?
New travelers need to make themselves aware of all the scams about, knowledge is power as usual.
Jul 12th, 2017, 01:34 AM
#45
I also wear a fan*y pack in Europe. My wife says it makes me look big and not too bright - someone the crooks might wanna stay away from.
There aren't many pickpockets left in North America:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/c...pocketing.html
There aren't many pickpockets left in North America:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/c...pocketing.html
Jul 12th, 2017, 02:45 AM
#47
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I wear the same cross-body bag all over Europe (or Africa, or anywhere) that I used to wear in the USA. Wallet is always deep inside it in a zippered compartment. I probably check that everything is in order anytime I take public transportation, go to a public event, enter a tourist site, visit a market, or get into or out of my car, but apart from checking regularly I do nothing at all different from what I did when I lived in the USA. I am aware of my surroundings always, listen in on nearby conversations, always have a few euros in my pocket to pay for immediate purchases, dress in local clothing (which doesn't mean much except that I'm not sporting kahkis and trainers and baseball caps or other give-away sartorial hints), never leave my bag or cellphone on a chair or table, and generally maintain an aloof presence when in big cities (I have no worries at all in towns and villages).
Seems to me that wearing a "fanny pack" is a dead give-away that you're a frightened tourist. Meaning, a target. Instead of "equipment," better to learn to be vigilant and totally aware of your surroundings.
Seems to me that wearing a "fanny pack" is a dead give-away that you're a frightened tourist. Meaning, a target. Instead of "equipment," better to learn to be vigilant and totally aware of your surroundings.
Jul 12th, 2017, 02:57 AM
#49
I have a cross body purse but don't put everything in my bag. I split up cards. I have a Jack Wolfskin lightweight jacket that has the best interior zipped pockets. I love that coat. If it is a bit cold out I don't even carry a purse but take a shopping bag with me for the market. Last trip to Paris I got asked directions three times. I think it was the shopping bag. I live in Fl and worry more here.
Jul 12th, 2017, 03:38 AM
#50
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It's not a good idea to keep your wallet in a front pocket with your hand on it. That's a reliable indicator of the location of your wallet. A good thief can easily make you take your hand out of your pocket long enough to filch the wallet. A little shove that throws you slighty off balance, or a squirt of water (or worse), will make you instinctively raise your hands. That couple who shoved Andrew in Riga apparently knew where to go for the wallet. They maybe hwd noticed earlier that he kept his hand in that pocket.
In the winter, a man can usually keep a wallet in an inside pocket, preferably zipped. In the summer, some sort of cross shoulder bag, held to the front, and with the wallet well concealed inside, is better than any pocket.
And you shouldn't take your wallet out in any very public place, including a metro station. Keep a small amount of money loose in a pocket to pay for metro tickets and the like.
In the winter, a man can usually keep a wallet in an inside pocket, preferably zipped. In the summer, some sort of cross shoulder bag, held to the front, and with the wallet well concealed inside, is better than any pocket.
And you shouldn't take your wallet out in any very public place, including a metro station. Keep a small amount of money loose in a pocket to pay for metro tickets and the like.
Jul 12th, 2017, 04:01 AM
#51
My husband looks like Clark Griswold when traveling, camera hanging and all. We have thankfully not been pickpocketed yet but we are headed to Barcelona and Lisbon in September so I think I will have him wear a money belt while traveling from place to place. If we ride tram 28, we will not have anything on us!
I have not worried much about pick pocketing here in the US but I am more careful in big cities. I think just being American looking over in Europe makes me a target. Also the fact that there is no help from law enforcement there. Pickpocketing is accepted as part of every day life.
Also, front pocket is not safe. My good friend lost his wallet out of his front pocket right in front of me at the Kentucky derby. I actually grabbed the thief's hand but the wallet had already been passed into the crowd and I suddenly wasn't sure of what I saw. Cops told me later it was a good thing I let him go. My friend never felt a thing.
I have not worried much about pick pocketing here in the US but I am more careful in big cities. I think just being American looking over in Europe makes me a target. Also the fact that there is no help from law enforcement there. Pickpocketing is accepted as part of every day life.
Also, front pocket is not safe. My good friend lost his wallet out of his front pocket right in front of me at the Kentucky derby. I actually grabbed the thief's hand but the wallet had already been passed into the crowd and I suddenly wasn't sure of what I saw. Cops told me later it was a good thing I let him go. My friend never felt a thing.
Jul 12th, 2017, 04:12 AM
#52
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*****I think just being American looking over in Europe makes me a target.***
Unless you wear a "Star Spangled Banner" then know one can tell by looks alone.
***Also the fact that there is no help from law enforcement there***
That is insultive. Do you know what the law says what has to be done when taking the robbers to court? Do you understand how to report a robbery? Do you know how those who come to the USA are treated when robbed?
Once again some members on this forum are writing as if Europe is just one huge country. Shock horror it is not.
Unless you wear a "Star Spangled Banner" then know one can tell by looks alone.
***Also the fact that there is no help from law enforcement there***
That is insultive. Do you know what the law says what has to be done when taking the robbers to court? Do you understand how to report a robbery? Do you know how those who come to the USA are treated when robbed?
Once again some members on this forum are writing as if Europe is just one huge country. Shock horror it is not.
Jul 12th, 2017, 04:14 AM
#53
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As I am taking my first-ever trip to Paris late next month, this is a very timely thread. I had been wondering what to buy to take as a purse/bag/wallet for the trip. I hadn't yet purchased anything so would appreciate any tips or advice.
Jul 12th, 2017, 04:39 AM
#54
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After a decade, my cross-body purse is in need of a replacement. Suggestions for favorites? St. Cirq?
We have never been pickpocketed in 17 trips to Europe, most of them in Italy and Greece, but had what we assume was a close call in Naples about a decade ago. We had spent the day visiting Paestum but were staying in Sorrento, so we had used the Circumvesuviana commuter train to get into Naples and then a regular train to Paestum. Reversed the process on the way home. My DH had a backpack with guidebook, some printouts on the ruins, water bottles, snack, sunscreen, the like. Also in the pack was our Nikon camera bag but not the actual camera - that was carefully stowed in my cross-body purse. Somehow between exiting the regular train on the way back from Paestum and navigating to the Circumvesuviana train area, the backpack was opened... and so was the camera bag inside! Nothing was taken - I imagine it must have been a disappointment to find only tourist junk and an empty bag. But we were pretty agog that someone managed to get the pack open and unzip the camera bag inside too without DH feeling a thing. Impressive in a disconcerting way! We also thought it was odd that the camera bag was unzipped... why take the time to do that instead of swiping the whole thing?
We are headed to Sicily next summer - brushing up on precaution tips after spending the last several trips mostly in rural Tuscany where the risk is quite low.
We have never been pickpocketed in 17 trips to Europe, most of them in Italy and Greece, but had what we assume was a close call in Naples about a decade ago. We had spent the day visiting Paestum but were staying in Sorrento, so we had used the Circumvesuviana commuter train to get into Naples and then a regular train to Paestum. Reversed the process on the way home. My DH had a backpack with guidebook, some printouts on the ruins, water bottles, snack, sunscreen, the like. Also in the pack was our Nikon camera bag but not the actual camera - that was carefully stowed in my cross-body purse. Somehow between exiting the regular train on the way back from Paestum and navigating to the Circumvesuviana train area, the backpack was opened... and so was the camera bag inside! Nothing was taken - I imagine it must have been a disappointment to find only tourist junk and an empty bag. But we were pretty agog that someone managed to get the pack open and unzip the camera bag inside too without DH feeling a thing. Impressive in a disconcerting way! We also thought it was odd that the camera bag was unzipped... why take the time to do that instead of swiping the whole thing?
We are headed to Sicily next summer - brushing up on precaution tips after spending the last several trips mostly in rural Tuscany where the risk is quite low.
Jul 12th, 2017, 05:12 AM
#56
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I wear a little sort of flat purse thingy around my neck, under my shirt . It holds the passports and credit cards and big money, but I keep about 50 whatevers in my pocket. I hate travelling with that albatross in summer, but it works.
