Pickpockets – How To Keep Thieves from Ruining Your Trip

Pickpockets Love Your Backpack

I hate to tell you this. Your backpack marks you as a tourist, which in turn makes you a target for pickpockets.

It’s not just your backpack. It’s also your white tennis shoes.

Wear black shoes, people! Only wear black shoes!

If you must wear a backpack, make sure its zippers come together in the center at the top. When you find yourself in a crowded place, flip it around and hug it to your chest. I’m telling you this because I like you.

Pickpockets Haven’t Gotten Me . . . Yet

I am one of the only people I know who has yet to be pickpocketed when traveling internationally. A big part of this is luck. It’s also preparation.

There are very sophisticated pickpocket gangs who work in groups all across Europe. I’ve seen them in action . . . innocently crossing the busy Las Ramblas in Barcelona, accidentally bumping into tourists outside of Versailles, working the overcrowded buses in Rome.

If you know what to look for, pickpockets stand out in the crowd.

Pickpockets In Action

While visiting downtown Madrid I saw a very pretty girl disappear into a crowded square, twice, and return with stolen cell phones that she slyly slid into her boyfriend’s backpack. She did this while acting like her boyfriend was just another stranger in the crowd. 

I wanted to return those phones or alert the authorities, but as a foreigner in a foreign country, I had no idea how to help. Frustrating. 

Suggestions to Avoid Pickpockets

Here are some suggestions to help keep your pockets from being picked by sticky-fingered strangers: 

• Keep all valuables securely on your person. If you’re a dude, carry a money clip not a wallet. If you’re a girl, get a lanyard that zips closed and wear it around your neck. Do not keep anything of value in your pockets. I like and exlusively use the Vera Bradley lanyard and ID case.

• Carry only the cash you need for that day, your hotel room key, your ID and two credit cards. If you have an expired driver’s license that’s the PERFECT ID to carry around with you. 

• Leave your cell phone inside a zippered jacket pocket or hold it in your hand. 

• Wear cute costume jewelry. If you’re in a heavily pickpocketed place like the Las Ramblas in Barcelona, consider going jewelry-less. If you have a big sparkle ring, spin the gem into your palm only the band shows.

• Do what you can to fit in and look like a local. Don’t wear loud clothes and don’t be a loud person. Drawing attention to yourself makes you a target for pickpockets and other questionable folks who make a living off of gullible strangers on their street.  

Try a Lanyard or Moneyclip

To keep the pickpockets at bay I wear a lanyard around my neck and tucked into my shirt.

Zipped inside my lanyard is:

• The maximum amount of cash I’ll need for the day
• My hotel room key
• An expired driver’s license
• A couple of credit cards
• Lip gloss
• A bandaid
• Two ibuprofen and an allergy pill

If I know I’m going to be in a heavy pickpocketing area (mostly the Las Ramblas in Barcelona) I’ll leave my ring in the hotel safe. There’s no reason to draw unnecessary attention to myself or my traveling party. 

Travel Guides and Physical Maps Scream “Tourist”

I usually pre-download whatever travel guide I plan to use that day on my cell phone.

I don’t carry physical travel guides if I can help it. Nothing screams Tourist! like carrying around a book titled “See Rome in Three Days, A Comprehensive Guide for the Inexperienced Traveler”.

It’s even better if my day includes audio guides. With my earphones in I look like all the other Millennials out there listening to music or podcasts on their phones . . . when I’m actually site-seeing. 

I also rely solely on Google Maps to get around. A paper map gives the appearance of being lost.

A Small Bag . . . A Mighty Weapon

If I need an umbrella or if I have a physical travel guidebook I’ll be using that day, I’ll carry a small, lightweight bag. I’ll keep the contents inside to a minimum . . . umbrella, guidebook and a bottle of water.

My day bag makes a great weapon!

*Even if I’m carrying a day bag I still wear my money in my lanyard around my neck and tucked into my shirt.

If I’m traveling with Alex he always offers to carry my stuff in his bag, which is very kind of him and he never acts like it’s an inconvenience. 

Mind Your Cell Phone

If it’s sweater weather, I’ll keep my cell phone inside of a zipped-up pocket.

If it’s not jacket weather my phone stays in my hand ALL DAY. As tempting as it is, I do not tuck my phone into my back pocket. 

Do Not Stand Out

I always try to look nice and put together, but I never wear anything that stands out. My normal travel “uniform” includes:

• A lightweight black jacket from Costco
• Dark colored jeans or shorts
• A pair of super ugly but surprisingly versatile Skechers that go with everything
• My favorite Under Armour black tennis shoes. 

I know I consistently succeed at fitting in because of the sheer number of strangers who track me down and ask me questions in foreign languages that I don’t understand.

If you’re interested in how to pack to blend in, I have plenty of recommendations.

Pickpocketing Isn’t as Prevelant in Asia

I’ve noticed that across most of Asia pickpocketing isn’t as prevalent. As an American traveler you’ll still stand out, but you won’t be a target for petty crime.

When we were in China strangers asked us on a daily basis if they could take pictures of us.

Not WITH us. OF us.

It was pretty funny and we always giggled at their cameras. 

Make Pickpocketing Difficult for the Bad Guys

You’re traveling to enjoy and learn, not to be robbed or mobbed. Make it easier on yourself, and more difficult for the bad guys by doing everything you can to fit in.

Although most Americans are not super-rich, people outside the United States view all Americans as very wealthy. By some standards we are, so use caution and common sense to prevent items of value from being lifted off of you.  

Hang up the backpack, leave the white tennis shoes at home. Don’t make yourself a target for pickpockets. 

Despite your best efforts if someone does “get you” make sure what they take is a minimal amount so your vacation isn’t ruined. 

Thanks So Much for Stopping By!

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I’d love to hear about your travel experiences, good and bad. We’ll all be better travelers if we learn from one another. 

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, thanks to Unsplash for the awesome photos.