thieves/pickpockets in Europe? (re: purses, jewelry, etc) -- long
Aug 10th, 2009, 06:32 PM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would bring whatever purse you are comfortable carrying. I had a large over the shoulder bag and a smaller cross body bag that I used interchangeably. I always kept the zipper part to the front under my arm. My theory was the pickpockets are going for the easiest target, and I didn't present them with that opportunity. We witnessed a pickpocketing on the Barcelona subway. It was an elderly woman who had her purse unzipped. The thieves bumped into her (I actually thought they were helping her onto the subway). The telltale sign was that one held back with his foot in the door so that as soon as the doors started to close they all ran out. He didn't get anything, but my husband saw his hand dip inside her purse. Just be smart about your belongings and aware of your surroundings and you will probably be fine.
As a safeguard, my husband and I carried different credit cards and ATM cards and had a third one in the safe at the hotel. That way if his wallet got stolen, I still had a useable card and vice versa. We didn't have any problems.
As for jewelry, I left my wedding ring at home in the safety deposit box and bought a really good fake one that was very simple at Nordstroms. To me, it was worth not having to worry about losing it. I did, however, wear my good watch and simple diamond stud earrings.
One thing to watch out for (this happened to us at least twice) are the scammers who "find" a wedding ring on the ground and try to sell it to you. We just walked away. My sister and her husband witnessed a man supposedly having a seizure on the Metro in Paris. My bro-in-law is a doctor and saw right through the act. They are convinced that he had an accomplice waiting to pickpocket anyone who might have been distracted trying to help this man.
We have stayed at the Tournabuoni in Florence and the Locanda Orseola in Venice and both are lovely hotels (the staff at the Locanda Orseola in Venice are possibly the nicest people I have ever met - they will greet you by name the minute you walk in the door! Barbara's breakfasts are divine . . . ). I definitely recommend using the hotel safe no matter where you stay. We always kept our passports in the hotel safe and brought copies with us while we were out seeing the sights.
Have a wonderful trip!
As a safeguard, my husband and I carried different credit cards and ATM cards and had a third one in the safe at the hotel. That way if his wallet got stolen, I still had a useable card and vice versa. We didn't have any problems.
As for jewelry, I left my wedding ring at home in the safety deposit box and bought a really good fake one that was very simple at Nordstroms. To me, it was worth not having to worry about losing it. I did, however, wear my good watch and simple diamond stud earrings.
One thing to watch out for (this happened to us at least twice) are the scammers who "find" a wedding ring on the ground and try to sell it to you. We just walked away. My sister and her husband witnessed a man supposedly having a seizure on the Metro in Paris. My bro-in-law is a doctor and saw right through the act. They are convinced that he had an accomplice waiting to pickpocket anyone who might have been distracted trying to help this man.
We have stayed at the Tournabuoni in Florence and the Locanda Orseola in Venice and both are lovely hotels (the staff at the Locanda Orseola in Venice are possibly the nicest people I have ever met - they will greet you by name the minute you walk in the door! Barbara's breakfasts are divine . . . ). I definitely recommend using the hotel safe no matter where you stay. We always kept our passports in the hotel safe and brought copies with us while we were out seeing the sights.
Have a wonderful trip!
Aug 10th, 2009, 07:45 PM
#42
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When traveling I always remove my jewelry and put it in the small zippered compartment of my purse when I am not going to wear them such as when bathing or sleeping. That way there is no chance I am going to leave any item in the hotel. It just takes a moment to do that and your jewelry is consequently safe. At home I always put any jewelry I remove back where it belongs in the jewelry box, even if I am going to put it back on in say 30 minutes later. My mother taught me that and it is a good habit to get use to.
