Pickpockets
From World travel guide
This is a WikiTravel travel topic.
Pickpockets are a hazard in nearly any tourist destination.
Be especially worried in areas where the local income is low, or where you are extremely conspicuous because you are a different ethninc group than locals. For example, in China, many farmers and some urban folk make less than US $50 a month. Most tourists can afford to spend that amount for one night in a hotel, so they are an obvious target for theft.
This article covers only pickpockets, not the various other crimes that may be committed against travellers. See Common scams for some of them.
Contents |
Pickpocket techniques
Pickpockets use a variety of techniques, probably not all covered here.
Hit the easy targets
A skilled pickpocket can hit any pocket, but all pickpockets prefer easy targets. The easiest targets are pockets that are easy to get at, preferably out the victim's field of vision.
Some are really easy, since they are away from the body where the victim will not feel a thief's touch:
- open bags, especially shopping bags with an interesting store label
- outside pockets of a backpack or shoulder bag
Others are only a bit harder:
- hip pocket of trousers
- other reachable pockets, such as the outside pockets on a man's jacket or thigh pockets on trousers
- anything hanging or your belt, such as a cell phone or fanny pack
Do not carry valuables in these places. In particular, do not put all your money in a hip pocket wallet.
Carry a razor
Pickpockets everywhere routinely carry razors for slitting pockets.
In some countries, these may also be used to cut the strap on a purse, shoulder bag or camera. In a few, even for armed robbery. Check the country listings for your destinations.
Work in teams
Pickpockets often work in teams. For example, getting on a crowded bus, one ahead of you may create a delay so the one behind can get your wallet. The loot is immediately handed off to a third player, so even if you grab the actual thief, there is no evidence.
Protecting yourself
The basics of protecting yourself are common sense:
- know and avoid the most dangerous areas
- be alert
- stash valuables in hard-to-reach places (see following sections)
- do not carry more cash than you are likely to need
- wear packs in front of you, not at the rear or side
Above all, do not flash your valuables around unnecesarily. An expensive watch on your wrist or fancy camera around your neck is quite a tempation to someone whose annual income may be less than its price.
Money belts and pouches
There are many ways to stash your money and passport where it will be quite a bit more difficult to grab it.
Many urban outfitter or mountaneering type shops sell a money belt that you wear under your pants. These are typically nylon and have many pockets, so you can have cash, travellers cheques and passport separated. This is probably your most secure option since it is hard for a thief to reach and is in a sensitive area of the body; you are quite likely to notice someone touching you there. The only disadvantage is that some people find them inconvenient to access.
Another type of money belt is just a zipper sewn onto the inside surface of an ordinary belt. These are OK for money, but not passports. They can be bought in some travel-oriented shops, or are easily made.
Many travellers use a passport pouch which hangs under their shirt. Again, this is a sensitive area of the body; you will likely notice activity there.
Others use a leg pouch, worn under the pants or sometimes on the upper arm under a shirt.
Defensive tailoring
If you sew, or can afford to hire a tailor (can you afford not to?), there are many ways to make clothing somewhat pickpocket-resistant.
Simply adding fasteners - velcro, buttons or zippers - makes picking the pocket harder.
You can have additional pockets sewn into garments in odd places. Two possibilities are
- sewing a zipper on the inside of a belt to make a money belt
- sewing a pocket on the surface of a backpack that goes nearest your body; nothing lumpy can be carried there, but money or a passport are OK
Hong Kong tailors routinely put an extra pocket in a pair of pants, built into the waistband.
Some travellers have one garment - a jacket for a businessman, a denim vest for a budget traveller - which has extra pockets and which they almost never remove.
