%26lt;H1%26gt;How To: Avoid Pickpockets%26lt;/H1%26gt;
Imagine taking a beautiful woman out to the hottest nightspot in town. You%26#39;re all set for what%26#39;s supposed to be a magical night of dinner, dancing and delighting.
The two of you go for a stroll in the park on the way to the restaurant, hand in hand. But it looks like more hands were involved, because when you%26#39;re done ordering your meal (you insisted that she have the filet mignon and the best wine in the house), you notice that your wallet and all its contents are gone.
This could have been avoided, but instead of paying attention to your surroundings, you were busy thinking about when and how you%26#39;ll make a move on your date. You could have dropped your wallet; it could have been the biker who whizzed by you in the park; it could have even been the homeless man who begged you for change, the one who kept barking at the little old lady to get into her big purse and give him some money.
In order to avoid this situation in the first place, you%26#39;ll need to arm yourself with knowledge on how to avoid pickpockets and not be taken for a fool ever again.
%26lt;H2%26gt;%26lt;B%26gt;who to look for%26lt;/B%26gt;%26lt;/H2%26gt;
It%26#39;s impossible to generalize or single out pickpockets. The guy who stole your wallet right before your eyes is not necessarily a usual suspect; you know, a dodgy character that you wouldn%26#39;t want to be caught in an alley alone with (not that you%26#39;re a coward or anything...).
Pickpockets come in all shapes and sizes, and could come in any of the following forms:
%26lt;B%26gt;Children%26lt;/B%26gt;
Even adorable kids can be taught how to pick the pockets of strangers at an early age, so keep an eye out for these.
%26lt;B%26gt;A group of people%26lt;/B%26gt;
Misery loves company, and so does a pickpocket. Be wary of bands of people, who usually use tactics to distract you (see below), take your money and run off with your valuables.
%26lt;B%26gt;Women%26lt;/B%26gt;
Women, especially attractive ones, may be more likely to prey on the kindness of strangers, especially men. She may pretend to have fallen or to have even been mugged; all it takes is a few seconds for her to gain your trust and you become her next victim.
%26lt;B%26gt;An innocent bystander%26lt;/B%26gt;
Pickpockets can play the role of the innocent bystander, who %26quot;witnesses%26quot; the person that just tripped you and informs you, or sees someone who has just fallen and approaches you to help them help someone else. The phony may be using the premise that they%26#39;re trying to help you or someone else, but they%26#39;re only helping themselves to your wallet.
%26lt;H2%26gt;%26lt;B%26gt;the tricks up their sleeves%26lt;/B%26gt;%26lt;/H2%26gt;
Besides playing the role of the innocent bystander, pickpockets have many sneaky tactics to get to your wallet.
%26lt;B%26gt;Plan ways to distract you%26lt;/B%26gt;
As aforementioned, some pickpockets work in teams by premeditating ways in which to distract you. For example, one guy continuously %26quot;bumps%26quot; into you by accident, while another reaches into your back pocket for your wallet and hands it to the third guy, who walks away into the crowd. Another example is a man tripping you, while his partner in crime tells you who just tripped you, while a woman reaches into your bag.
You may be shaking your head, saying this would never happen to you, but it can.
%26lt;B%26gt;Use your kindness%26lt;/B%26gt;
Some pickpockets will use your kindness against you, by stopping you to ask for directions or by telling you that your shoe is untied. You can be kind to them, just keep an eye on your belongings.
%26lt;B%26gt;Staging an argument%26lt;/B%26gt;
Similar to the tactic described above, a team of pickpockets may even stage a full-out argument on the street, create a stir and draw a crowd, while a thief reaches into witnesses%26#39; pockets.
Avoid being a victim...
%26lt;H2%26gt;%26lt;b%26gt;beat them at their own game%26lt;/b%26gt;%26lt;/H2%26gt;
%26lt;B%26gt;Be informed about areas%26lt;/B%26gt;
Pickpockets are more likely to steal your money if you%26#39;re a tourist, since you seem like an easier target. That%26#39;s why you need to be informed of the seedier areas and avoid your chances of being a victim altogether.
%26lt;B%26gt;Be wary of large crowds%26lt;/B%26gt;
Whether you%26#39;re in Paris watching street performers on Les Champs Elysees, or bustling through a crowded shopping district on your way to work, be extra careful when walking through crowds as it makes it easier for pickpockets to reach for your pockets without you even noticing.
%26lt;B%26gt;Wear a money belt%26lt;/B%26gt;
If you%26#39;re a traveler, it%26#39;s extremely important that you wear a money belt for your cash, money belt is a pouch that is discreetly hidden under your shirt, as it%26#39;s strapped around your waist.
%26lt;B%26gt;Separate your money%26lt;/B%26gt;
If you happen to be carrying a lot of cash (cash is king after all) and credit cards, it%26#39;s recommended that you divide your money amongst your front pockets, money belt and briefcase, for example. That way, if a pickpocket does get his grubby hands on your money, at least it won%26#39;t be all your cash. It%26#39;ll also make your money more discreet, by avoiding a big bulge from sticking out in your back pocket.
%26lt;B%26gt;Avoid the back pocket%26lt;/B%26gt;
A bulge in the front of your pocket may look unattractive, but a bulge in your back pocket is attractive to pickpockets. Keeping your cash or wallet in your back pockets is practically inviting thieves your way, so you%26#39;re better off relying on the front.
It%26#39;ll also be easier to feel which pervert is digging their hands into your front pockets. And when you do use your front pocket, attach your wallet to your pants with a chain (you know, those that were once stylish) or a bungee cord.
%26lt;B%26gt;Don%26#39;t flaunt your cash%26lt;/B%26gt;
You may think that women will flock your way if you flaunt a huge wad of cash in your money clip, but they%26#39;ll have to fight off the thieves to get to you. Avoid showing how much money you have when paying for things, and be discreet about where you place your money after paying.
%26lt;B%26gt;Tell your woman to keep it shut%26lt;/B%26gt;
Her purse, that is. Women love their purses, but that doesn%26#39;t mean they should keep them wide open, for all to see. Make sure your girlfriend keeps her purse shut and by her side at all times, if she doesn%26#39;t usually do so.
There%26#39;s no need to be paranoid and assume everyone is a pickpocket, but it%26#39;s always a good idea to keep a watchful eye on your valuables and the people around you. I%26#39;m not saying that you shouldn%26#39;t help a damsel in distress if she%26#39;s hurt or stop to give a man directions, but always be wary of what%26#39;s going on, and train yourself to turn to the left if someone taps your right shoulder (hoping to distract you).
Oh and by the way, who do you think stole the innocent man%26#39;s wallet at the beginning of the article?
-He dropped it
-The biker who zipped by him and his date
-The homeless man who badgered the little old lady for change
If you don%26#39;t believe it%26#39;s the little old lady with the big purse, then you might be her next victim.
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Thanks for sharing this cute, but informative, article.
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Pickpockets often use the same type of tricks that this article does not mention.
- while walking, someone indicates that you%26#39;ve got an unsightly stain (bird poo, icecream, etc.) on you coat. He/she even helps you to remove it - removing your wallet in the process.
- Pickpockets often try to conceal their actions by carrying a newspaper, sweater or coat over their arm or hands. They use this to shield their actions from your eyes. Remember this when you%26#39;re on a busy metro!
- In a railway station on a train, a well-dressed young man asks if this is the right train for XXX. While you explain that it is (or isn%26#39;t), a partner walks by and quickly grabs your laptop bag. When you discover that the bag is gone, a second accomplice %26quot;helps you to search it%26quot;, blocking your way in the process - so that your bag is miles away by the time you can get out of the train.
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