Poorly dressed visitors might get a reward for going to London

If you’ve ever been the victim of a break-andenter, you know what a gut-wrenching violation that is.

My dad left me his watch. I had it eight days before someone broke into my rented apartment and stole it.

That watch was the first thing my mother bought for my father, out of household money she squirrelled away for over a year. It was the Christmas before I was born. I’m hoping to one day get over it.

So, that’s not a little good news, is it? Well, neither is this part.

Though Carol and I are no Steve MacNaull, we do like to travel. We’re at a point in our lives where we’d better get it done while we’re young and healthy enough.

We were in Greece last year and, on our last day, as we stepped on the train for the Athens airport, I was pick-pocketed.

It only took me 30 seconds to recognize what had happened but that was 30 seconds too late. That event wasn’t as traumatic as the watch episode, but it comes close.

So. if you’re travelling this year, keep your eyes on your money.

Pick-pocketing is a serious concern, especially in many European countries.

According to a recent report, the city you are most likely to have your pocket or purse picked is Barcelona, Spain, where putting the hands in the pockets of visitors has become sort of a national pastime.

Next on the list are Rome, Prague, Paris, Buenos Aires, Amsterdam and Athens.

Now, for the good news: In London, England, a phone company hired a team of ex-pickpockets to secretly slip cash into the pockets of unsuspecting locals and visitors.

The 20 former criminals were part of a publicity stunt called Talk Talk.

Each was given a selection of 5, 10 and 20 pound notes with a card from the phone company attached.

The ex-pickpockets were instructed not to target anyone who looked too rich, concentrating instead on those who most needed some extra cash.

So, even though you almost have to be rich to spend any time in London, if you go, maybe wear your old clothes.