How to Avoid Pickpockets

"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...

Or you could simply add velcro to the pockets of clothing you already
own...

Or they could simply not be so paranoid, thinking someone's about to pounce
on their pathetic few dollars around every corner!

Ian

On Jul 23, 11:41*pm, billzz wrote:
Wear a Burberry trench coat that has so many pockets that no one would
have any chance of finding anything.
That may be a little more difficult in the summer. When I travel
during the winter, I wear a ski jacket with a liner; valuables go into
a pocket behind three levels of zippers. My pants pockets have been
fitted with velcro closures.


The real answer is to keep distance.
That is not always practical. I also carry a "fake" wallet in the
"normal" place, filled with monopoly money and fake credit cards. It
serves, in part, as a reminder to me to secure my real wallet. It
also has a tiny ziplock bag filled with powdered colchicine (I am
hoping the pickpocket with think it is "good" stuff).

My backpack is lined with metal screen mesh to protect aganst being
cut open with a razor. In addition, the screen is wired to a high-
voltage source (think taser) to give the pickpocket a pleasant
surprise.

My shoulder/beach bag has a foam ball spiked with needles and razor
baldes.

Please offer any other suggestions on fun ways to welcome the
pickpockets.

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:43:52 +0100, Ian F. wrote:

"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...

Or you could simply add velcro to the pockets of clothing you already
own...

Or they could simply not be so paranoid, thinking someone's about to pounce
on their pathetic few dollars around every corner!

Ian

Winner!
--
Ari Silverstein, C.T.A; C.T.A.S, FREE Cruise Travel Advisory Services
Sign up for special email deals @ www.CruiseQuick.com - Sells more
cruises than 99% of the agencies in America. (not affiliated)

nfw wrote:
P.

LOL not possible

Then why have I been asked for directions by Germans in Germany?


--
Erilar, biblioholic medievalist

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:46:26 +0100, "Ian F."
wrote:

"Martin" wrote in message
...

Avoid behaving and looking like an American tourist.

Absolutely. Why do Americans feel they have to advertise what they have with
them - camera bags, money belts, bum-bags (AKA fanny-packs), manbags...I
just stick cash and cards in my trousers pockets!

As if they won't be taken for an American tourist anyway.

I'm not sure how a money belt advertises anything, and a fanny
pack is a sure way to lose its contents to a pickpocket.

As to cameras, many tourists carry those, not just Americans.

It's not the accoutrements that mark an American. It's the
behavior. And the speech.

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:45:53 -0400, "Ari Silverstein, C.T.A."
wrote:

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:43:52 +0100, Ian F. wrote:

"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...

Or you could simply add velcro to the pockets of clothing you already
own...

Or they could simply not be so paranoid, thinking someone's about to pounce
on their pathetic few dollars around every corner!

Ian

Winner!

I got my wallet taken as I exited the Paris Metro at the George
Cinq station. Someone tripped me, and as I stumbled my wallet
disappeared.

I had been stupid enough to betray my wallet's location while on
the Metro. Bad move.

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

On Jul 24, 11:42*am, Hatunen wrote:
I had been stupid enough to betray my wallet's location while on
the Metro. Bad move.
For guys, there are two or three high-probability locations. They
will try those places first if they see a lump. They may try even if
there are no obvious bulges.

A couple friends had their bags slashed while they were watching a
tourist spectacle (a changing of the guard ceremony). They were not
aware of being victimized until much later.

wrote on Jul 24, 2010:

On Jul 24, 11:42*am, Hatunen wrote:
I had been stupid enough to betray my wallet's location while on
the Metro. Bad move.
For guys, there are two or three high-probability locations. They
will try those places first if they see a lump. They may try even if
there are no obvious bulges.

A couple friends had their bags slashed while they were watching a
tourist spectacle (a changing of the guard ceremony). They were not
aware of being victimized until much later.

I'm always amazed at these tales that are told whenever the dreaded P...
word comes up. I've travelled quite a lot in Africa and Europe during the
last 50 years or so, and I can say hand on heart, that I have never, ever,
not even once in all those years had my pocket picked.

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
mike_lane at mac dot com

On 24/07/10 18:43, Ian F. wrote:
"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...

Or you could simply add velcro to the pockets of clothing you already
own...

Or they could simply not be so paranoid, thinking someone's about to
pounce on their pathetic few dollars around every corner!

If one buys Tilley products one won't have any money left to have stolen.

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:39:14 -0700, Hatunen wrote:

On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:46:26 +0100, "Ian F."
wrote:

"Martin" wrote in message
...

Avoid behaving and looking like an American tourist.

The real answer is not to carry a whole lot of money and/or expensive
stuff. I have a digital camera, but those are hardly worth stealing
anymore as they are so cheap, and I wear a Timex triathlon watch which
is not expensive and a plain gold wedding ring and no other jewelry.
When out and about I carry a credit card and a minimum of 'tipping'
cash for stuff like bus fares. If I have anything valuable it is in
something like a bosom buddy (under my clothing where I can't get to
it very well, let along someone else). I rarely have a purse because
I lose track of it too easily.

But there's no way in hell that I am going to be mistaken for anything
but a tourist.

Actually sometimes when I'm not a tourist. I took a camera to dinner
last night, and the man running the place asked me why I had it.

Absolutely. Why do Americans feel they have to advertise what they have with
them - camera bags, money belts, bum-bags (AKA fanny-packs), manbags...I
just stick cash and cards in my trousers pockets!

As if they won't be taken for an American tourist anyway.

We used to think you could tell someone's nationality by the shape of
their mouth from speaking their native language. And there is a
little kernel of truth in that.

My dad was traveling in Europe in 1950 - a quintessential American
tourist with a movie camera, a Polaroid and several still cameras.
Because he grew up speaking German (his parents spoke German at home -
his mother came to the US when she was 14), he understood German
pretty well and often intercepted comments by local Germans in German
thinking that he would not understand. "Look at the stupid
American..." kind of things.

Sometimes if I look like I am paying attention to a conversation in a
foreign language people will think I can understand them. Sometimes
they will even ask me. Unfortunately, I am absolutely horrible at
languages - I've tried, but have not had much luck.