How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Pickpocketing

Even though crime rates have barely risen in recent years—and overall remain much lower than they were a few decades ago—people still worry a lot about becoming victims of crime (or perhaps unwitting accomplices in crime). ). . And just because the crime rate isn’t all that high doesn’t mean you’ll never be the victim of a crime, so a little caution is certainly warranted.

One of the most common crimes people face? Pickpocketing. Although law enforcement once predicted that this kind of old-fashioned crime was dying out because young criminals did not learn the necessary Sting- style magic skills, this has not been confirmed. Hell, it’s so common that it’s become a popular meme on the internet. Cities around the world are still infested with these dastardly thieves, and since you’re probably overestimating your situational awareness, you’re taking a very big risk. Whether you’re traveling as a tourist in an unfamiliar area or just hanging out in a crowded city center, a few simple precautions can save you the shock of discovering you’ve been robbed without even knowing it. Here’s how to avoid pickpockets.

Lay out your values

The simplest and most obvious thing you can do to protect yourself from smart thieves is to carry nothing in your back pockets. Not only are these pockets out of sight, making them an easy target, but it’s much harder to remember back pockets. By simply leaving them empty, you reduce your chances of being robbed.

However, you should also take the next obvious step and not keep all your valuables in one pocket, even if it’s a front pocket or an inside pocket. Organize everything in different pockets or more hidden places. That way, even if a pickpocket beats you up, at least he won’t clean you out.

Action dress

Moving money, cards, and phone into front or inside pockets and separating them is a start, but if you want to get serious about pickpocket protection, consider all of your clothing:

• Zipped pockets. Keeping everything in a zippered pocket makes it much harder for thieves to get robbed. Pickpockets rely on stealth and speed, so having to unzip is often the only obstacle you need to get them to move on.
• Clothes for protection against pickpockets. If you want to take your pickpocket protection to the next level, you can buy a wide range of clothing specifically designed to protect your belongings. Companies like Bluffworks include hidden pockets and other security features in their clothing, and companies like Pacsafe make anti-theft backpacks and other products to help deter theft.
• Money straps. If you are a travel and travel business and don’t want to leave all your money and other belongings at the hotel, buy a money belt . They are meant to be worn close to the body and are not accessible , meaning you don’t use them as a weird wallet. You don’t reach them at all; you keep your money and used cards in a wallet or other accessible (but hidden and safe) place, but you hide the rest (including a backup credit card) on your belt. Even if your pocket is robbed , you will still have most of your funds.
• Use anchors. Luggage locks , zippers, or cable locks on zippers, backpacks, and bags can provide an extra line of defense against pickpockets looking for unattended bags to unzip and search them, or simply grab and run.

Situation Awareness

Once you’ve secured your valuables, you still need to keep an eye out for common pickpocketing scenarios. Picking a pocket is very similar to a trick – criminals use distraction to get you to look elsewhere while they perform their dark sleight of hand:

• Avoid crowds. The simplest thing you can do is avoid very crowded places. Pickpockets love crowds because they provide many excuses and opportunities to get very close to you, as well as many opportunities to simply disappear after committing a crime.
• Beware of distraction. Many pickpockets work in teams and use various tricks to distract you. This includes unexpected gatherings – a common ploy is to have a group of young people with notepads crowd around you asking for donations or signatures; while you are recovering from your surprise and making sense of what they are saying, someone has their hand in your pocket. Pickpockets also often use “hit” techniques, where an accomplice bumps into you as soon as the pickpocket picks up your wallet.
• Suffocating points. Another common trick is to create backups in tight spots like escalators or turnstiles. The accomplice suddenly stops, causing everyone behind him to bunch up and crash into each other. The pickpocket pretends to run into you and steal all your stuff.

The worst thing about pickpocketing is the delay: with a skilled criminal, it can be minutes or hours before you even realize you’ve been robbed. Your best defense is to assume that someone will try. Protect your belongings, be aware of sudden changes in circumstances around you, and be suspicious when you are forced to be in close proximity to other people.