Recommend a Pick-Pocket-Proof Wallet Carrier for European Travel?
- Thread starter Telegeekster
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BiggerJohn
Friend of Leo's
Please forgive me if this sounds racist, it is not intended to be so, just an observation from personal experience.
I have been to Europe several times, the only place I had problems with pickpockets was in Spain. Here's the deal, in some of those southern euro countries, they have a large population of the "Roma" people (Gypsies). These seem to be the worst offenders. They have made several attempts to pick my pockets. Thanks to God all failed. Do keep your wallet in your FRONT pants pocket. If you find yourself being surrounded by a crowd of these people, get the flip outta there fast, be rude and shove people out of the way if necessary. They do work in groups.
Here's what NOT to do. Do NOT look like an American tourist. Do NOT wear white sneakers. Do not wear anything with a USA flag or anything obviously USA. Do NOT wear expensive jewelery. You want to blend in with the crowd as much as possible. You may want to forego taking a bunch of pictures, carrying a camera is a dead giveaway of a tourist. Remember, you are a guest in THEIR country and you must respect that.
I have been to Italy several times, Love the place and can speak some italian. The food is fantastic and the gals are quite attractive. Be advised that italians generally do not dress down when they go out in public. They always look sharp. Bring the appropriate clothes.
Just be very alert of your surroundings. If you see people watching you or following you, let them know for certain that you have noticed and you will be watching them back. If they get too close do not be afraid to confront them. Europeans themselves are not happy with the gipsy pickpocket scene and thievery. I saw a gipsy woman being whipped with a cane in a store in Paris where she had been caught trying to shoplift, the store owner was whacking her pretty good and she was trying to get the hell out. All the bystanders didn't raise a finger, as they are basically all tired of the continual thefts and figured she got what she had coming to her.
Getting around Italy is easy, they have a great passenger rail network and several high speed lines. The trains are very comfortable.
I have been to Europe several times, the only place I had problems with pickpockets was in Spain. Here's the deal, in some of those southern euro countries, they have a large population of the "Roma" people (Gypsies). These seem to be the worst offenders. They have made several attempts to pick my pockets. Thanks to God all failed. Do keep your wallet in your FRONT pants pocket. If you find yourself being surrounded by a crowd of these people, get the flip outta there fast, be rude and shove people out of the way if necessary. They do work in groups.
Here's what NOT to do. Do NOT look like an American tourist. Do NOT wear white sneakers. Do not wear anything with a USA flag or anything obviously USA. Do NOT wear expensive jewelery. You want to blend in with the crowd as much as possible. You may want to forego taking a bunch of pictures, carrying a camera is a dead giveaway of a tourist. Remember, you are a guest in THEIR country and you must respect that.
I have been to Italy several times, Love the place and can speak some italian. The food is fantastic and the gals are quite attractive. Be advised that italians generally do not dress down when they go out in public. They always look sharp. Bring the appropriate clothes.
Just be very alert of your surroundings. If you see people watching you or following you, let them know for certain that you have noticed and you will be watching them back. If they get too close do not be afraid to confront them. Europeans themselves are not happy with the gipsy pickpocket scene and thievery. I saw a gipsy woman being whipped with a cane in a store in Paris where she had been caught trying to shoplift, the store owner was whacking her pretty good and she was trying to get the hell out. All the bystanders didn't raise a finger, as they are basically all tired of the continual thefts and figured she got what she had coming to her.
Getting around Italy is easy, they have a great passenger rail network and several high speed lines. The trains are very comfortable.
BiggerJohn
Friend of Leo's
Some would say you deserve what you get in that scenario
Yeah, don't get drunk.
Italian wine is quite good. So is Morretti beer. Beer on tap is called "birra alla spina".
younkint
Tele-Afflicted
Actually, the pur sang of pickpockets are all in New York City, on Wall Street.
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homesick345
Poster Extraordinaire
SORRY - this is a thief-magnet & an extremely bad idea... A colleague of mine had all her money, papers, & passport snatched from one of these, in Istanbul.
This is excellent advice, try to look halfway like your from the place you're in, or at least be "grey". Apologies, but definitely try not to look American.
Suprisingly, given the relative dislike for dockers etc, i've never had a problem in them, because they are "grey" clothing, that plus my wallet stays in a buttoned up back pocket on the end of a chain thats just long enough for it to go back there. and to strangle pickpockets with.
These people are not armed robbers, they're not brave.
Been all over europe with work and girfriends, never had a problem. theres always a first time though.
Note on Roma Gypsies, they are not Romanian as people think they are, they're an ethnic sub group that have a large concentration in that part of europe, Romanians HATE that they're called Roma, because they believe it to be a PC term, and it causes problems for Romanians (who they're are also a lot of in Italy) everywhere they go. and yes, unfortunately, a LOT of the pickpockets in europe are Roma./Romany Gypsies.. Dont believe the apparent poverty either, because i've seen some of the mansions these travelling families build for themselves and the cars they drive in Romania. Do not give them money if begging, because they're casing you. seeing were and how much money you have on you.
I've also seen the genuinely poor Roma gypsies in romania who have 8 kids and go through your bins for scraps of food, and travel round, 10 of them in a small horse and cart.. that did break my heart
KevinB
Doctor of Teleocity
How is that a thief magnet? How would a thief even see it - it's designed to be worn out of sight and under your clothes.
Pick pockets can read their victims.
Key to not getting pick pocketed is to not look like a victim.
Absolutely best way to not get pick pocketed is to pick pockets. Then, they'll only be onto you for invading their territory, but that's cool - pick their pockets when they are yelling at you. Their pockets are full of wallets with money in them.
Exchange rate is great for the Euro. Have a nice trip.
Key to not getting pick pocketed is to not look like a victim.
Absolutely best way to not get pick pocketed is to pick pockets. Then, they'll only be onto you for invading their territory, but that's cool - pick their pockets when they are yelling at you. Their pockets are full of wallets with money in them.
Exchange rate is great for the Euro. Have a nice trip.
If Apollo Robbins is after your stuff - give it to him but , he probably already has it :
To the traveler : don't catch any babies no matter how real they look...
To the traveler : don't catch any babies no matter how real they look...
How is that a thief magnet? How would a thief even see it - it's designed to be worn out of sight and under your clothes.
Yeah but most tourists wear em outside there clothes, in many cases, in fact, similar to a thief magnet.
Live in Edinburgh, lots of tourists.
KevinB
Doctor of Teleocity
If you are stupid enough to wear a security wallet like this outside your clothes, you DESERVE to be pickpocketed!
You can also get them in a style you wear around your neck under your shirt - they are specifically made of a very soft material for that purpose. I take one with me if I'm going anywhere that "has a reputation".
You can also get them in a style you wear around your neck under your shirt - they are specifically made of a very soft material for that purpose. I take one with me if I'm going anywhere that "has a reputation".
harmonicon
Tele-Meister
Yes, everyone knows that Italians leave the house without any money or credit cards, because they just pickpocket each other every day, but it's important that there are some tourists to prime the pump, or else there'd be no money in the country.
Hmm... or maybe they're just normal people, and there's no secret trick outsmart wily Italian thieves that's any different from living day-to-day life anywhere else. I forget which.
Hmm... or maybe they're just normal people, and there's no secret trick outsmart wily Italian thieves that's any different from living day-to-day life anywhere else. I forget which.
My right front pocket is where my wallet resides.
I just moved it there because of various back problems, almost 20 years ago.
I rarely misplace/lose it since the "move".
I also don't look like someone you'd pick pocket.
I'm moderately tall, and l look, uh, unprosperous.
I just moved it there because of various back problems, almost 20 years ago.
I rarely misplace/lose it since the "move".
I also don't look like someone you'd pick pocket.
I'm moderately tall, and l look, uh, unprosperous.
Just be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Try not to stick out as the oblivious tourist. Most often pickpockets will hit you in crowded places or getting on/off the metro/bus/tram etc. Only carry as much cash as you think you will need and a copy of your passport. I lived in Prague for a long time and have traveled all over Europe and never had any problems.
Best thing is to try not to look like a tourist and an AMERICAN tourist to boot.. (shorts & sandals in a city are a HUGE no-nos in most European cities while wearing white socks & sports shoes and jeans with the shirt tucked in and a baseball cap w/ a Washington Redskins logo.. will get you....noticed.....) ..
Even worse try not to look like a RICH American tourist....(hint: people getting off in the NAPLES from their luxurious cruise ships and flashing huge ROLEX watches & jewelerry to the locals in the poorest city of Italy must be crazy....)
But since no matter what you do you will DEFINITELY look like a tourist......try the flg:
best thing you can do : ditch the wallet (no wallet-no pickpocketing..)
Leave your passport in the hotel safe (in some countries carrying a passport w/ you is mandatory but a cerified copy of the original is ok too) and carry your credit card in a shirt pocket or in a different pocket than the one carrying most of your money (you will ofcourse "spread" your cash between the various pockets)
Never carry large amounts of cash w/ you,use credit cards (VISA-MASTERCARD are the best ,AMEX is not accepted everywhere) for restaurants and shopping and use ATMs for currency (the exchange rates are far better than the ones you will get in the US)
Avoid large crowds of ROMAs ,you can easily spot them around metro exits and in busy squares,of course don't even think about "chating" w/ them or giving them charity ,the moment you do it is the moment you will loose all your cash (these guys are MASTERS)
Be very carefull if you use any form of public transportation during your ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE..especially if you have lots of luggage (so if you can do what most Europeans do..TRAVEL LIGHT) since you will be tired and distracted (in Athens 90% of pickpocketing happens in the metro between the harbor and the city and between the city and the airport) and an easy target (especially in a crowded bus/train)
Oh and LOOSE THE FANNY PACK mister...
Btw in reality pickpocketing in Europe (and Italy) is no worse than pickpocketing in the rest of the world.Add to this the fact that MUGGING (something way worse than pickpocketing) is almost unheard of in the Southern European countries (Spain,Greece,Italy ) & stop worrying too much!
(shorts & sandals in a city are a HUGE no-nos in most European cities while wearing white socks & sports shoes and jeans with the shirt tucked in and a baseball cap w/ a Washington Redskins logo.. will get you....noticed.....) ..Even worse try not to look like a RICH American tourist..
..(hint: people getting off in the NAPLES from their luxurious cruise ships and flashing huge ROLEX watches & jewelerry to the locals in the poorest city of Italy must be crazy....) But since no matter what you do you will DEFINITELY look like a tourist...
...try the flg:best thing you can do : ditch the wallet (no wallet-no pickpocketing..)
Leave your passport in the hotel safe (in some countries carrying a passport w/ you is mandatory but a cerified copy of the original is ok too) and carry your credit card in a shirt pocket or in a different pocket than the one carrying most of your money (you will ofcourse "spread" your cash between the various pockets)
Never carry large amounts of cash w/ you,use credit cards (VISA-MASTERCARD are the best ,AMEX is not accepted everywhere) for restaurants and shopping and use ATMs for currency (the exchange rates are far better than the ones you will get in the US)
Avoid large crowds of ROMAs ,you can easily spot them around metro exits and in busy squares,of course don't even think about "chating" w/ them or giving them charity ,the moment you do it is the moment you will loose all your cash (these guys are MASTERS)
Be very carefull if you use any form of public transportation during your ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE..especially if you have lots of luggage (so if you can do what most Europeans do..TRAVEL LIGHT) since you will be tired and distracted (in Athens 90% of pickpocketing happens in the metro between the harbor and the city and between the city and the airport) and an easy target (especially in a crowded bus/train)
Oh and LOOSE THE FANNY PACK mister...
Btw in reality pickpocketing in Europe (and Italy) is no worse than pickpocketing in the rest of the world.Add to this the fact that MUGGING (something way worse than pickpocketing) is almost unheard of in the Southern European countries (Spain,Greece,Italy ) & stop worrying too much!
BobbyZ
Doctor of Teleocity
We met a great guy in Ireland that we spent a riotous night drinking/laughing with, specifically because we didn't look like "Americans".
Dark clothes/socks/shoes, wool coat, no bags/cameras, no "hey look at me !" loud talking.
Drinking w/ our backs to the room facing the bar.
When I asked him why he was surprised we were American when he first started talking to us he said "Because you weren't wearing red or teal Lands End jackets !"
Dude teared up when I mentioned we visited Rory Gallagher's grave that day...
Dark clothes/socks/shoes, wool coat, no bags/cameras, no "hey look at me !" loud talking.
Drinking w/ our backs to the room facing the bar.
When I asked him why he was surprised we were American when he first started talking to us he said "Because you weren't wearing red or teal Lands End jackets !"
Dude teared up when I mentioned we visited Rory Gallagher's grave that day...
thumbpick
Tele-Afflicted
front pocket rubber bands chained to hip armed guard and dont pack... tons of cash!
