{"id":49323,"date":"2015-07-29T16:04:40","date_gmt":"2015-07-29T21:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=49323"},"modified":"2026-01-08T13:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:52:48","slug":"how-to-avoid-getting-pickpocketed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/tactical\/how-to-avoid-getting-pickpocketed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Getting Pickpocketed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

A couple centuries ago, pickpocketing was the scourge of cities around the world. From Dickens\u2019 London to New York City\u2019s famous Five Points, skilled thieves practiced their craft, filching the valuables of passersby without the victim noticing a thing. In fact, that\u2019s how pockets in clothing got their start<\/a>: Prior to the 17th century, men and women alike carried their valuables in purses outside the body; they then started tying pouches inside their clothes in an attempt to thwart would-be \u201ccutpurses\u201d and thieves. But pickpockets soon adapted and learned how to deftly extract the goods from trouser, waistcoat, and jacket pockets alike.<\/p>\n

Around the turn of the 20th<\/sup> century, American prosecutors began cracking down hard on pickpockets, and mandatory schooling took young would-be thieves off the streets. Soon there were few \u201cmaster\u201d pickpockets left to pass on the trade, and fewer kids willing and able to learn a form of crime that took years to perfect. In more recent years, the decline of cash has made wallets a less desirable target.<\/p>\n

While pickpocketing has been on the decline in the U.S for the past fifty years or so, it\u2019s still a major problem in Europe. In fact, pickpocketing has gotten so bad in some countries that popular tourist attractions have had to close for days at a time.<\/p>\n

Many police departments shrug off pickpocketing as common petty larceny. But to the victim, having their wallet stolen not only puts them out of the cash they were carrying, but creates a huge cost in time and worry. Credit cards must be canceled and credit agencies must be warned for possible identity fraud. If a passport was lifted, travel plans will likely be delayed and the victim will have to pay for an even more expensive trip home because they missed their original flight.<\/p>\n

To avoid finding yourself in that kind of aggravating mess, you simply need to take a few precautions that\u2019ll greatly reduce your vulnerability to pickpockets. And in today\u2019s post we\u2019ll provide expert-backed tips on how to do just that.<\/p>\n

Maintain Situational Awareness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The first step in avoiding getting pickpocketed is to always maintain situational awareness when you\u2019re out and about. For an in-depth look at how to develop the situational awareness of Jason Bourne, read this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Know Your Thief<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to pick a thief out of a crowd because pickpockets cross all demographic boundaries and stereotypes. While your grandma may have told you to \u201cBe on the lookout for Gypsies!\u201d pickpockets come in every race and color. While most are male, there are a large number of female pickpockets too. And while pickpocketing has often been called a \u201cboys\u2019 crime,\u201d in Europe it\u2019s common to find pickpocket gangs where the average member is in his 30s.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t assume that you\u2019ll be able to avoid getting pickpocketed by steering clear of certain \u201ctypes\u201d of people. With that said, keep in mind the following points when you\u2019re out and about in an area known for pickpocketing:<\/p>\n

Pickpockets often work in groups<\/strong>. One or two members of the pickpocketing team will act as distractions while an accomplice steals your stuff. So if you see a group of people acting in ways that seem designed to get your attention, be on the lookout for a hand trying to filch your valuables.<\/p>\n

Pickpockets are often children.<\/strong> While many pickpockets are grown men, a large number of pickpockets are indeed young boys and girls. Children pickpockets take full advantage of their innocent, doe-eyed looks. Because a tourist doesn\u2019t expect a child to be a criminal, the young pickpocket can get closer to their target without raising suspicion.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re likely to encounter more child pickpockets in Europe because in many countries, when a young thief is apprehended by authorities, they\u2019re simply taken to a group home where they walk out the door the next day to do some more stealing.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t be lulled into a false sense of security whenever a child suddenly comes into contact with you in an area known for pickpocketing. It\u2019s possible they\u2019re getting a heist started on you.<\/p>\n

Pickpockets are typically well-dressed.<\/strong> When most people imagine a pickpocket, they likely picture a dirty street urchin. The reality is most pickpockets look like well-dressed middle-class folks. They want to blend in with their environment and appear as non-threatening as possible to get as close to you as they can without setting off alarms. So they\u2019ll dress in a way that puts people at ease, which means wearing clean, well-pressed clothing featuring logos of brands that people associate with middle-class wealth (at least in Europe) \u2014 Nike, Gap, Adidas, etc.<\/p>\n

Know Where Pickpockets Like to Work<\/h3>\n

While you can encounter pickpockets in any part of a city, some locations are a magnet for pickpockets:<\/p>\n

\"Pickpocket<\/p>\n

Tourist attractions.<\/strong> Tourist attractions are a pickpocket\u2019s paradise. You\u2019ve got 1) lots of clueless tourists often carrying lots of cash, 2) monuments and exhibits that distract people and take their gaze and attention off their possessions, and 3) high pedestrian traffic where people are bumping into each other and are less likely to notice the touch of a thief\u2019s sticky fingers. Pickpocketing is in fact so rampant at tourist attractions that in recent years both the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre have had to close for several days because of it.<\/p>\n

If a popular tourist attraction is on your list of must-sees while traveling, take extra precautions with your valuables when you visit.<\/p>\n

Public transportation.<\/strong> Because public transportation forces people to stand right next to each other, it\u2019s a fertile field for pickpocketing. With just a bump from an accomplice, a pickpocket can take your wallet and be off the train and on his way before you even realize it\u2019s missing.<\/p>\n

Restaurants and bars.<\/strong> Pickpockets often flock to restaurants and bars that are popular with tourists. Because patrons\u2019 attention is focused on their meal and the people they\u2019re eating with, they often don\u2019t notice the hand that slides into their purse to snatch a wallet.<\/p>\n

Hotel lobbies.<\/strong> Hotel lobbies offer a pickpocket a great opportunity to swipe a person\u2019s goods. When tourists arrive at a hotel\u2019s door, they\u2019re often juggling and keeping track of several pieces of luggage. Pickpockets take advantage of the tourist\u2019s diverted attention by stealing what they can from them.<\/p>\n

Know the Tricks Pickpockets Use<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just a steady and stealthy hand that makes a successful pickpocket.<\/p>\n

Just as magicians use misdirection and distraction to make cards and coins seemingly vanish into thin air, pickpockets use similar techniques to make your wallet and smartphone disappear.<\/p>\n

A good pickpocket has a keen understanding of human psychology and understands that people can only direct their attention to one or two things at a time. Consequently, they\u2019ll either wait for or create a moment in which your attention is diverted towards something else to steal from you.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s possible for a lone pickpocket to create the necessary distraction to successfully filch your valuables, it\u2019s much easier when they have a partner in crime. Consequently, as previously mentioned, most pickpockets work in teams.<\/p>\n

Below we highlight a few of the tricks that pickpockets commonly use to steal from their victims. Most of them are tactics used by groups, while a few are methods employed by lone thieves:<\/p>\n

\"Pickpocket<\/p>\n

The helpful stranger.<\/strong> A friendly stranger approaches you to wipe off some lint from your jacket. A few minutes later when you go to retrieve your wallet to buy a drink, you find it missing. Sometimes the ruse is even more elaborate: one person \u201caccidentally\u201d spills something on you, another helps you wipe off the mess, while a third takes advantage of the hoopla by stealing your wallet. If someone acts a little too friendly and helpful towards you, be suspicious. They could be a pickpocket (or the distracter in a pickpocketing team).<\/p>\n

Taking advantage of the Good Samaritan.<\/strong> A stranger approaches you asking for help — maybe they have a map and are asking for directions, or they could fall in front of you, dropping everything they have in their hands. The clumsy person is really the distracting half of a pick-pocketing team; while your attention shifts towards helping them, their partner swoops in and stealthily makes off with your wallet.<\/p>\n

\"Pickpocket<\/p>\n

Creating delays at turnstiles.<\/strong> You\u2019re walking through a crowded turnstile to get on the subway when suddenly the person in front of you stops, causing you to run right into them. Consequently, the person behind you bumps into you as well. The person at the front apologizes and says her ticket didn\u2019t work. She tries again, this time with success. With another apology, she pushes through the turnstile and runs off to catch her train. When you get on your train and sit down, you notice that your wallet isn\u2019t in your back pocket anymore.<\/p>\n

The person who caused the delay at the turnstile was the distracter; the person who bumped into you from behind was the pickpocket who lifted your wallet. With all the commotion of bodies bumping into bodies, you never felt a hand slip into your back pocket.<\/p>\n

The flash mob.<\/strong> You\u2019re on the subway train when suddenly a huge mass of people surround you and start bumping you. At the next stop, they all get off, and your wallet is missing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ever suddenly surrounded by lots of people, get out immediately. You\u2019re about to get pickpocketed.<\/p>\n

Charity workers with clipboards.<\/strong> A group of well-dressed, friendly girls approach you with a clipboard. They signal that they\u2019re deaf and mute and point to the clipboard. While you\u2019ve got the clipboard in your hand, reading over the petition\/donation form, an accomplice is snatching your wallet or stuff out of your backpack. This is supposedly a popular pickpocket tactic in Paris.<\/p>\n

The friendly salesman.<\/strong> While browsing through an outdoor marketplace, you encounter a salesman who\u2019s just a little too friendly and pushy with his wares. He may not actually be interested in making the sale, but simply distracting you while an accomplice steals your wallet.<\/p>\n

Fake fights.<\/strong> A group of men starts fighting. You, of course, watch because fights are cool. When the fight’s over, your wallet is gone.<\/p>\n

That wasn’t a real fight and you’ve just been suckered.<\/p>\n

Child beggars.<\/strong> A group of children suddenly gathers around you talking, shouting, and begging for money. They soon disperse, but you\u2019re lighter in the pants. While many pickpockets look like mild-mannered middle-class folks, some do look like the stereotypical street urchin\/beggar.<\/p>\n

Bag slashing.<\/strong> Some thieves won\u2019t even bother with all the distractions and stealth tactics, and will just cut open your backpack and take what they can get their hands on. While it\u2019s not that common, it happens enough that you may want to take precautions to prevent it happening to you. We\u2019ll offer some suggestions on how to do that below.<\/p>\n

The quick grab before the subway door closes.<\/strong> Another brazen tactic that thieves use is to target individuals who are sitting or standing right next to a subway train\u2019s doors. The thief will stand near the victim on the train or just outside the train’s doors. Right before the doors close, the thief will snatch the purse or backpack or take the wallet, and then bolt out of the train. The victim can\u2019t do much except pound the doors as the train rolls away. Because the thief doesn\u2019t have to worry about you following them, they can afford to be less stealthy with their heist. They\u2019ll just grab whatever they want, not caring if you notice them or not.<\/p>\n

Bump and lift.<\/strong> The most common solo pickpocket tactic is the bump and lift. The pickpocket simply bumps into the victim while simultaneously taking the victim\u2019s wallet out of their back pocket.<\/p>\n

Pickpocket-Proof Yourself (As Much as You Can)<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s impossible to make yourself 100% pickpocket proof, there are some things you can do to make yourself a far less likely victim:<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t look like a tourist.<\/strong> Pickpockets love hitting up tourists because 1) they often have lots of cash and valuables on them and 2) they\u2019re typically not paying attention to what\u2019s going on around them because they\u2019re so focused on taking in the new sights.<\/p>\n

So avoid looking like a tourist.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you have to dress exactly like the locals, but do the best you can to blend in. Don\u2019t wear anything that will make you stand out and broadcast that you\u2019re a tourist with a lot of money. Pickpocketing expert Bob Arno recommends not wearing clothing with high-end brand logos as well as not wearing expensive jewelry or watches. In other words, dress in a culturally appropriate, non-descript way.<\/p>\n

Also, avoid gawking at maps and appearing like you don\u2019t know where you are. Before leaving for any destination, have a good idea of how to get there and move like you know where you\u2019re going.<\/p>\n

Be alert and assertive.<\/strong> If you\u2019re rushed and encircled by a group of children, there\u2019s a chance they\u2019re working together to steal whatever you have on you. Maintain a confident stance and yell \u201cNo!\u201d — they\u2019ll probably back away. If they don\u2019t, don\u2019t be afraid to push your way through even though they\u2019re kids. Likewise, if a \u201chelpful\u201d stranger seems to be suspiciously friendly, don\u2019t be afraid to move away and keep your distance. Thieves count on you being too \u201cnice\u201d to want to be rude or make a scene. You don\u2019t want to come off as aloof and wary to genuinely friendly folks, but you do need to be alert and aware of what\u2019s going on around you.<\/p>\n

Keep the bare minimum in your wallet.<\/strong> The less you have in your wallet, the less of a hassle it will be if you do get pickpocketed. Just keep a single credit card, a single form of ID, and a small amount of cash. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

Keep a back up credit card stowed safely away in your hotel in the event that you do lose your wallet.<\/p>\n

\"Front<\/p>\n

Secure your valuables in a front pocket. <\/strong>While a skilled pickpocket can swipe your stuff from your front pocket, it\u2019s more difficult to do than when your stuff is in your back pocket. If you\u2019re looking for a wallet that fits nicely in your front pocket, check out the Rogue Wallet<\/a>. And don\u2019t forget to put your smartphone in your front pocket as well.<\/p>\n

Another more secure place to stash your goods besides your back pocket is the inside pocket of your jacket. For added security, make sure that it can button or zipper close.<\/p>\n

Better yet, keep them in a money belt.<\/strong> For maximum security, take a tip from your forebearers and keep your valuables under your clothes, tucked inside a money belt. Keep in mind though that money belts aren\u2019t entirely pick-proof.<\/p>\n

Another option that\u2019s even more secure than money belts is underwear with zipper pockets. The Clever Travel Companion is a great example of this type of garment. Even the deftest of pickpockets will have a hard time getting their hands down by your junk to retrieve a wallet without being noticed.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

If you see a sign that says \u201cBeware of Pickpockets,\u201d don\u2019t touch your wallet.<\/strong> In areas where petty thieves are prevalent, you\u2019ll often find signs that say \u201cBeware of Pickpockets.\u201d Upon seeing this sign, most people will immediately pat their clothing where they keep their valuables to check that they\u2019re still there. Meanwhile, the pickpockets are standing nearby observing where people are patting themselves so they can go in for the steal!<\/p>\n

So if you see a \u201cBeware of Pickpockets\u201d sign, avoid the knee-jerk reaction to check your stuff. You\u2019re just providing a homing beacon to thieves.<\/p>\n

Secure your backpack. <\/strong>Backpacks and other bags are a pickpocket\u2019s friend. Not only do they make you look like a tourist (especially the backpacking variety), but because the bags aren\u2019t touching your body, you\u2019re not going to feel it when a pickpocket places his hand inside to steal your possessions.<\/p>\n

If you can, avoid carrying a backpack or shoulder bag while out and about. However, if you need to have it on you, take the following precautions to avoid getting pickpocketed:<\/p>\n