Pickpocket Defense

[Macedonio Heninger]

Manytourists get indignant when pickpocketed or ripped off. If it happens to you, it's best to get over it quickly. You're rich and thieves aren't. You let your guard down and they grabbed your camera. It ruins your day and you have to buy a new one, while they sell it for a week's wages on their scale. It's wise to keep a material loss in perspective.

There probably aren't more thieves in Europe than in the US. We just notice them more because they target tourists. But remember, nearly all crimes suffered by tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Be aware of the possible pitfalls of traveling, but relax and have fun. Limit your vulnerability rather than your travels.

Secure your bag, gadgets, and other valuables when you're out and about. Thieves want to quickly separate you from your valuables, so even a minor obstacle can be an effective deterrent. If you're sitting down to eat or rest, loop your day pack strap around your arm, leg, or chair leg. If you plan to sleep on a train (or anywhere in public), clip or fasten your pack or suitcase to the seat, the luggage rack, or yourself. Most zippers are lockable, and even a twist-tie, paper clip, or key ring is helpful to keep your bag zipped up tight. The point isn't to make your bag impenetrable, but harder to get into than the next guy's.

One way to minimize this risk is to keep valuable devices attached to you or your bag (this also reduces the chance of accidentally leaving something behind). For instance, a phone case/lanyard combo has a strap that you can loop around your chest or wrist, even when using your device. You can also use a lanyard to attach gadgets to your day pack (if there's no interior attachment point, feed straps through zipper pulls or a sturdy safety pin hooked to the inside of your bag).

Leave a clue for honest finders. Accidents happen, and even the most cautious traveler can leave something behind. Maximize your chances of getting it back by taping a tiny note with your email address or travel partner's phone number to any item you really don't want to lose, making it easy for a kind soul to return it. (For phones, you could use an "If Found, Please Return To" note as your lock screen, or tuck your business card inside the case.)

Use a Bluetooth tracker. If you're prone to leaving things behind, or just want to be extra careful, consider tucking an AirTag or other Bluetooth tracking device into your bag or attaching one to your phone.

Keep your wits about you in a crowd

Most pickpockets tend to operate within crowds, and for good reason. People are usually distracted and in a hurry when in a crowd and are used to some degree of jostling from the press. Crowds offer plenty of cover and a good getaway without raising a ruckus.

Train stations, public transport, markets, and public events are common hunting grounds for pickpockets. Take extra care when attending large events or even on your normal daily commute. Make a habit of keeping your hands in your pockets to make valuables less accessible. For women, keep your purse in front of you so you can keep your eyes on it. With the right travelling properly handled, you can keep your belongings safe.

Place your items and cash between your pockets, hidden pouches, and bags to give yourself a safety net. A good rule of thumb is to keep the money you actually expect to use for the day in your wallet, where you can access it easily. The rest (like extra cash and credit cards) you can keep in your money belt.Avoid putting things in your back pocket

The idea that pickpockets can lift valuables out of your back pocket has some truth to it. Many pickpockets tend to come from behind, out of your line of sight. Skilled ones are light-fingered enough to snatch your wallet without your notice, more so if you have big pockets.

At The Centre for Security Training & Management, we pride ourselves on producing trustworthy and well-trained security specialists to help keep both public and private establishments safe. Give us a call now at (416) 750-4747 or email us at in...@centreforsecurity.com for answers to your queries.

This article was co-authored by Archana Ramamoorthy, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Archana Ramamoorthy is the Chief Technology Officer, North America at Workday She is a product ninja, security advocate, and on a quest to enable more inclusion in the tech industry. Archana received her BS from SRM University and MS from Duke University and has been working in product management for over 8 years.

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Tip: There are clothes with hidden wallets and pockets that are designed specifically to foil pickpockets. ExOffico, Voyager, and SCOTTeVEST are the most popular brands that make clothing with hidden pockets.

Keep your money in multiple places, not just your purse. Some pants have zippers on the inside as well. You can put your money in them. You can even put it in a neutral-colored infinity scarf with a zip. Nobody will know that your money is there or pull it out because it is an infinity scarf. In this way, your money can be safe.

Popular public transit routes: In every major city, there is usually a main bus, tram or Metro line that is commonly frequented by tourists because of their accessibility to main attractions. The bus 64 in Rome for example is often referred to as the Pickpocket Express!

Beaches: Do not ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, under ANY circumstance just leave your valuables out on the beach while you go for a swim. It is baffling to me how many people do this. If you must, consider bringing a portable safe and locking it somewhere secure.

PS: some folks carry their passports with them at all times, but I avoid doing this because to me, my passport is more secure locked up in a safe than it is in my purse (which might get stolen by someone looking for quick cash).

It sounds like common sense, but if you walk around with that shiny new iPhone in hand, with a string of pearls around your neck and a throng of Louis Vuitton shopping bags, yes someone is probably gonna want to rob you (like, I probably would).

Buy small locks: Little combination locks are one of the handiest travel accessories you can own. You can easily get 2 for less than ten bucks on Amazon (like here) and then bring them with you on all your trips.

Buy a hidden passport scarf: Yes, my mind was totally blown when I found out these existed! They actually make hidden passport scarves these days that are meant to conceal your passport, cash and valuables. These scarves are not only quite fashionable, but provide a secure spot to hide anything worth taking. You can look at some of the options here.

Basically the pickpockets will walk around with a little paint that they squirt on unsuspecting tourists, and then they help you clean it up (while stealthily taking your wallet and valuables off your hands).

So sorry that happened to you, Christina! But the positive is that you got a great blog post out of it ? I was pickpocketed once in Bali. Even though the zipper on my purse was super hard to open they managed to steal my phone. So as you mentioned, some of them are pros. I will definitely follow your advice when I travel through southern Europe this summer!

My travel purse has a thick cross-body strap and a strap INSIDE to attach to your keys. I actually attach my wallet to that strap so that my wallet cannot be removed. Of course they could take my whole purse, so most of my valuables are in a money belt. As Rick Steves always says, never carry more than you can afford to lose.

Great tips! While Paris we had a woman come up to us saying she had just found a ring and wanted to know if it was ours. I grabbed my wife and ran away as fast as we could as this is yet another scam! Years ago I met two different guys in Italy who had their backpacks stolen, with everything inside. Have to be vigilant at all times! Sad how some people make a living out of robbing other folks. Thanks Christina!

Another tip is to NEVER hang your handbag or backpack over the back of your chair at any restaurant or outdoor cafe; as an airline crew member we travel abroad weekly and several of my colleagues have learned the hard way that this makes it so easy for thieves. I loop my handbag strap over one of my legs under the table while dining; a little inconvenient but worth it to know I have control of my valuables. Also, keep an eye on your luggage/handbag when checking into an hotel; never leave it unattended as pickpockets are in hotel lobbies as well. And your tip about never leaving your phone on the table while dining is spot on.

As reported by wptv.com, Florida law enforcement agencies are warning residents about the risk of pickpockets when visiting shopping centers and other crowded areas. Though Christmas is over, the malls are still crowded with after-holiday sale seekers. Additionally, upcoming New Year celebrations will bring thousands of people together in single locations to ring in 2016. According to law enforcement, these types of environments are ripe for pickpockets. However, from the perspective of an accused individual, this type of environment also lends itself to false suspect identification. If you are facing theft charges, the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney is vital to the success of your defense.

If the accused was in possession of a weapon while committing a sudden snatching, the charge is elevated to a second degree felony. This elevation applies regardless of whether the weapon was actually used in committing the theft. Robbery by sudden snatching while in possession of a firearm or deadly weapon carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 21 months in prison. Convicted parties may also face up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation or up to $10,000 in fines.

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