How to Prevent Pickpockets 4 Ways to Prevent Pickpockets

Contents Method 1: Store and retrieve your wallet safely 1. Keep your wallet close to your body, such as in the front pocket. 2. Put the elastic band on the wallet so that the wallet will not slip out of the pocket easily. 3. Put your wallet in the inner pocket of your clothes. 4. Don’t take out your wallet to count money. 5. Put the fake wallet in your butt pocket to confuse pickpockets. Method 2: Protect your wallet or handbag 1. Choose a wallet or handbag with a more complex lock design, so that pickpockets will not dare to easily target you. 2. Shorten the strap of the handbag to make the handbag closer to the body. 3. Don’t put your handbag or backpack aside when you sit down, but hold it in your hand. 4. Transfer items from your handbag to your waist bag. Method 3: Keep valuables in a safe place 1. Only take away the items you need and put the rest in the hotel safe. 2. Put your mobile phone in the inner pocket of your clothes and try not to take it out. 3. Hide the necklace in your clothes and leave the watch at the hotel. Method 4: Stay away from common scams 1. Do not use ATM machines in remote locations. 2. After a collision with someone, immediately touch your pockets to check if your phone and wallet are still there. 3. When someone offers to give you directions, keep a healthy distance from them. 4. The clothes should not be too conspicuous, but should look closer to the locals. 5. Do not place handbags or satchels close to the traffic flow, so that speedsters cannot succeed. 6. When watching street performances, don’t forget to pay attention to what’s going on around you. 7. If a stranger offers to help you carry your luggage, you must firmly refuse him. Pickpockets are thieves who specialize in stealing tourists' belongings when they are unprepared. Pickpockets will use all means to hide in the surrounding environment so that no one can notice their presence, so once they are targeted by pickpockets, it is difficult for ordinary people to escape. To avoid losing money, you should keep your wallet in your front pocket and keep all personal belongings close to you at all times. You want to stay away from talkative strangers, as they may be criminals in disguise and want to chat with you for your money. You need to be alert at all times in crowded places. If your belongings are stolen while traveling abroad, you need to go to the police station to fill in the information and then go to the embassy of your own country to apply for a replacement passport or ID card.

Method 1: Store and retrieve your wallet safely

1. Keep your wallet close to your body, such as in the front pocket. Wallets are most likely to be stolen when they are carried in the back pocket because we don’t have eyes on the back of our heads. Therefore, it is only safe to keep your wallet in the front pocket. As long as you keep your wallet, passport, or money out of reach of pickpockets, it will be harder for the bad guys following you to steal your belongings. When walking, items placed in the hip pockets will slowly come out as the body shakes. This makes it easier for things to be stolen.

2. Put the rubber band on the wallet so that the wallet will not slip out of the pocket easily. Find a regular rubber band, stretch it out in the middle of your wallet, and put it deep in your pocket. If a pickpocket wants to steal your wallet without you noticing, it will take a lot of effort for them because the wallet will be stuck and can't come out. The movement is enough to catch your attention and make you aware that a thief is around. If possible, avoid a smooth leather wallet and opt for one with Velcro or fabric. These two types of wallets are more difficult to steal without you noticing.

3. Put your wallet in the inner pocket of your clothes. If you have a coat with hidden pockets in the lining, your wallet will fit right in there. Pickpockets often look for cash or valuables in obvious places. If you keep your wallet in your inner coat pocket, in a hidden slit, or near your breast pocket, pickpockets won't know where to start. If you must carry something in a coat pocket, put the item in a small Velcro bag first and then put it in the coat pocket. When a pickpocket tries to take a Velcro bag out of your pocket, you'll notice noticeable movement.

Tips: Some clothes are specially designed with hidden inner pockets to prevent pickpockets. Most popular brands such as ExOffico, Voyager, SCOTTeVEST, and others sell clothing with hidden inner pockets.

4. Don’t take out your wallet to count money. If possible, clip some of the bills or put them separately in a secure pocket so you don't have to dig through your wallet to find money. If you keep all your money in your wallet, wait until it's time to pay. The wallet should be held with both hands, otherwise it will be easily snatched away by bad guys.

Cash is best placed in the front pocket of your pants or jacket. You want the thief to think there's nothing in your pocket, so don't put anything other than cash in your pocket.

5. Put the fake wallet in your butt pocket to confuse pickpockets. Buy a new wallet and put bank cards, banknotes, etc. in it. Fill your worn-out old wallet with scraps of paper, unused cards, and shopping receipts. When traveling, carry the prop wallet with you at all times. When you encounter a pickpocket or robber, you just take out the fake wallet, throw it to the ground, and run in the opposite direction. The wallet should be inserted deep into the pocket, not exposed, so that it can be seen at a glance. You don’t want to attract pickpockets on purpose!

Method 2: Protect your wallet or handbag

1. Choose a wallet or handbag with a more complex lock design, so that pickpockets will not dare to easily target you. If you usually like to use bags that don’t have locks or can’t be closed, immediately switch to bags with zippers or twist buckles. The latter is harder to open, so pickpockets won't risk reaching out. If possible, invest in a lockable handbag so you can travel more confidently without worrying about your items being stolen. Try to use a compact handbag or wallet, as larger bags are more likely to be stolen.

2. Shorten the strap of the handbag to make the handbag closer to the body. To prevent bad guys from grabbing your bag, keep your handbag or backpack close to your body. Shorten your bag's shoulder straps or shoulder straps so they fit closer to your body. This way, it will be difficult for bad guys to reach your bag. If you want to completely dissuade thieves, take off the bag from your back and carry it on your chest, so you can wander around with confidence.

3. Do not put your handbag or backpack aside when you sit down, but hold it in your hand. When you're about to sit down in a restaurant or on the bus, roll your bag from your shoulder to your chest and place it on your lap. Bags placed on the floor or hung on the back of a chair are easy targets for pickpockets, and you are more likely to forget to take a bag that is placed low when you get up to leave. Expert Tips

Allyson Edwards

World traveler and international consultant Allyson Edwards graduated from Stanford University with a BA in International Relations. Since then, we have actively promoted international cooperation with institutions in more than 20 countries and provided consulting services to companies in the education, financial technology and retail industries.

Allyson Edwards

World traveler and international consultant

Expert’s story: “I used to study abroad in Madrid. One weekend I planned to travel. I took 200 euros in cash and put it in my wallet. As a result, my wallet was stolen on the subway. I didn’t protect my valuables with my hands or put my bag on my chest in a crowded subway. What a stupid mistake! Every time I learn something, I know what to do! I will remind myself to keep my wallet and handbag in hand every time I go out."

4. items are transferred to the belt bag. Once the shoulder strap of a shoulder bag is cut off by a pickpocket, the bag will be gone without a trace before you can react. Nylon belt bags fit snugly around your waist, making it difficult for pickpockets to cut the belt and take away your belongings. Transfer the bank cards and cash in your handbag to your waist bag, then tighten your belt and turn the bag in front of you, just below your belly button. This way you can keep an eye on your valuables more easily. Don’t use those fanny packs with regular plastic buckles. Go online and buy a specialized anti-theft fanny pack. The buckles on these fanny packs are stronger. Once locked, it is basically difficult for pickpockets to access the items inside.

Method 3: Keep valuables in a safe place

1. Only take away the items you need and put the rest in the hotel safe. Most hotel rooms are equipped with safes where guests can store important items while the housekeeping staff cleans the room or while they are away. Before leaving home, lock your passport, keys, extra cash, and valuable jewelry in a safe. If you are attacked by a pickpocket while traveling, you will only lose part of your belongings. When staying at a hotel, be sure to leave some cash in the safe. If you are unlucky and encounter a pickpocket, at least you will still have money to take a taxi and eat.

2. Put your mobile phone in the inner pocket of your clothes and try not to take it out. Keep your phone in an inner pocket where pickpockets cannot easily access it. Try not to check your phone too often, especially when you're concentrating on finding your way. If you've already taken your phone out of your pocket, hold it tightly with both hands.

Don't check your phone for more than 5 to 10 seconds at a time. When you take out your phone to take a photo, don’t forget to put it back in your pocket. If a stranger offers to take pictures for you with your phone, you must refuse them.

You should print out the map when you are at the hotel, so you don’t have to check your phone when you can’t find your way.

Even if you don’t want to use your phone, keep it with you. In case of emergency, you can also use your mobile phone to make calls.

3. Hide the necklace in your clothes and leave the watch in the hotel. If you wear jewelry such as a necklace, tuck it into your clothes and hide it before going out so that it won't be pulled off by pickpockets. Don't wear even a slightly valuable watch on your wrist. Don't wear jewelry with lots of gemstones. Regardless of whether these gems are real or fake, they can easily attract the attention of pickpockets. Unless your ring is too big and doesn't fit tightly, you can usually wear it on your finger while traveling. It's very difficult for a pickpocket to steal your ring without your knowledge. If the ring is set with gemstones, you should be careful. In the eyes of pickpockets, people who like to wear gold and silver usually have a lot of cash on them.

If possible, do not wear any jewelry when traveling. Unless you are attending a formal dinner or performance, you generally do not need to travel with jewelry.

Method 4: Stay away from common scams

1. Do not use ATM machines in remote locations. Scammers are always on the lookout for ATM machines. Some scammers will work in groups, with a few people responsible for diverting your attention, while others will take your money away from you when you are not prepared. There are also criminals who will peek at your withdrawal password from behind and then steal your wallet. If you must withdraw money, it is best to choose an indoor cash machine, but you still need to pay attention to the safety of the surrounding environment and not be careless. ATMs installed in hidden corners of restaurants and hotels are less likely to be targeted by criminals.

2. After a collision with someone, immediately touch your pockets to check if your phone and wallet are still there. When you are walking on the street or getting on the bus, some pickpockets will pretend to accidentally bump into you. They will take the opportunity to reach into your easily accessible pockets and steal your valuables. So when someone bumps into you, calmly touch your pockets to make sure your personal belongings are still on you. Avoid physical contact with other people when in a crowd or in a corner. Pickpockets often hide in dense crowds of people. When you're on a bus, getting ready to board a train, or walking through a crowded metropolitan area, it's important to keep your valuables with you at all times.

Some strangers will take the initiative to strike up a conversation with you and talk non-stop; some strangers will approach you under the pretext of interviews or fundraising - you have to be careful at these times. Pickpockets usually work together among several people. Some are responsible for diverting your attention, while the rest steal your belongings from behind.

Tip: Don’t take out your wallet or cell phone during the inspection. Some pickpockets bump into you intentionally just to get your valuables to show up. Try to be as discreet as possible when touching your pockets. You don’t want everyone to know where your wallet and phone are.

3. When someone takes the initiative to give you directions, keep a healthy distance from them. When a stranger gives you directions, keep a distance of at least 0.6m to 0.9m between you and him. When indicating a location on a map, don't look over the other person's shoulder or lean in to hear them better. Those crafty thieves will pretend to be holding a map or brochure for you to look at, and then use the opportunity to reach into your pocket or bag. When you meet a warm-hearted "good person", you must be cautious. Of course there are plenty of helpful people out there, but pickpockets will also offer to help, tempting you to let your guard down.

4. The dress should not be too conspicuous, but should look closer to the locals. When traveling, you want to blend in as much as possible with your surroundings, so dress casually. The color of your clothes should not be too bright, otherwise thieves will spot you at a glance. Don't dress like a tourist and don't let people see that you are traveling. Thieves rarely target local residents. This doesn't work if you're traveling in Africa because you'll stand out no matter how you dress up. So when the place of travel and your country are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, you can't hide your identity no matter what you do.

5. Do not place handbags or satchels close to the traffic flow, so that speedsters cannot succeed.

In many countries, thieves will approach you on a motorcycle or electric scooter, then yank the bag from your shoulder, step on the accelerator and speed away. In order not to give criminals an opportunity, your shopping bag or satchel must be hung on the shoulder away from traffic. This situation occurs more often in countries where motorcycles or electric scooters are widely used. In the United States, motorcycle gangs are less common.

When walking, walk against the direction of the traffic flow. Only when a motorcycle or scooter approaches you will you be aware of it.

6. When watching street performances, don’t forget to pay attention to what’s going on around you. Pickpockets like to find targets in large groups of tourists, and street performances always attract the attention of tourists. In addition, when watching a performance, people usually take out their wallets to tip the artists. Of course there is nothing wrong with tipping, but when you hold your wallet, you also expose where you put it to everyone. Therefore, while enjoying the performance, you should keep your valuables close to your body and be alert at all times. If you want to tip a busker, keep some change in your pocket. But the pocket for change and the pocket for wallet must be distinguished. When you put money in, pickpockets won't know where you put your cash.

7. If a stranger offers to help you carry your luggage, you must firmly refuse him. When you're trying to load your luggage onto a train or take it out of a taxi, strangers may offer to help you. At this time, you must reject the other party. Even if your luggage is really heavy, you can't take the risk - who knows if this person will grab the luggage and run away. Of course, there are some people who sincerely want to help, but the cost of losing property is too high, so you'd better be cautious. Although it is annoying to spend an extra 5 to 10 minutes carrying your luggage, it is safer to carry your own luggage yourself.

Tips When traveling abroad, if you are unfortunately visited by a pickpocket and lose your passport or wallet, you should immediately seek help from the local embassy of your country. The staff will help you prove your identity so that you can return to your home country smoothly.

Be careful not to leave any belongings behind when you get out of a taxi or online car-hailing car. When riding in a car, it’s easy to leave your phone or wallet on the seat next to you.

There are pickpockets all over the world. Don’t think that tourist theft only happens in Europe. Even where you live, you can't let your guard down.

Warning: When being robbed, do not fight with the robber unless the situation is very favorable to you. If the other party is unarmed and you are in a public place with other passersby around, you can try to take back the stolen property. However, the safer way to respond is to report the crime to the police station and leave the job of catching the criminal to the police.