Dodging the sticky fingers of pickpockets
Your valuables are most likely to be stolen when they are with you on the street. Your day bag is at high risk. I find my hotel room is the safest place to leave my passport, laptop and so on. I wouldn’t leave valuables out in the open in my room; I tuck things away out of sight. (I have never bothered with a hotel safe.)
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-bag strap around your arm, leg or a chair leg. A cable tie, paper clip or key ring can help keep your bag zipped up tight. The point isn’t to make your bag impenetrable, but, rather, harder to get into than the next guy’s.
Some thieves are so bold as to snatch something right out of your hands. I’ve seen thieves on a bike zip by and snare a purse or bag that a relaxing traveler placed carelessly next to cafe table.
Thieves know where the crowds are, and where the tourists are, and they are very deft at their work. A petite bump and a slight nudge getting off the Metro in Paris and ... wallet gone. (That’s exactly what happened to me.)
Be on guard in train stations, especially upon arrival, when you may be overburdened by luggage and overwhelmed by a new location. Take turns watching the bags with your travel partner. Don’t absentmindedly set down a bag; stay in physical contact with your stuff. Be especially careful on packed buses or subways. On trains, I keep my luggage above me on the luggage rack rather than on the shelves near the door.
Often artful-dodger teams create a disturbance — a fight, a messy spill, a jostle or a stumble — to distract their victims. Crowds anywhere, but especially on public transit and at tourist sights, provide bad guys with plenty of targets, opportunities and easy escape routes.
The sneakiest pickpockets look like well-dressed businesspeople. Some pose as tourists, with daypacks, cameras and even a Rick Steves guidebook. You’ll meet a lot of people on the street with beautiful eyes, beautiful children and sad stories, but many beggars are pickpockets. Don’t be fooled by impressive uniforms, femme fatales or hard-luck stories.
Getting everything straightened out can take a while. If you do get robbed, file a police report; you’ll need it to file an insurance claim, and it can help with replacing your passport or credit cards. Cancel both credit and debit cards. Suspend your mobile service (if you have a security app, use your hotel’s computer to enable the “locate, lock and wipe” feature before you cancel service altogether). Above all, be flexible and patient.
Nearly all crimes suffered by tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Be aware of the pitfalls of traveling, but relax and have fun. It may not help at the time, but if you are a victim, remember that your loss will make for a good story when you get home. Like a friend of mine says, “When it comes to travel, tragedy plus time equals comedy.”