Concerned about Pickpockets

Hi,
Last time I was in Paris, I saw about all the scams mentioned in previous posts. I would advise not to worry too much and enjoy the beautiful city just be cautious . My friend got bumped by 2 guys on the street but she didn't have anything in her pockets for them to grab. A girl threw the gold ring down in front of us and my friend just gave her a glaring look and she walked away. I did use a Pacsafe purse. Just be aware of your surroundings . If someone comes up with a petion to sign I would just keep,walking and ignore them. Use the app Citymapper to help plan getting around . Hope you have a good trip , I am a worrier, but after being aware of possible scams most are obvious to spot.
Sharon

I read all the posts on these subjects and I listen to the horror stories and I guess it's all valuable information but at some point it starts to feel like watching CNN for 24 hours might make you feel.

You're taking reasonable precautions. Here's what I do (and there's lots of methods out there): My money and passport and credit card are in a neck pouch, under my shirt. It never ever comes out in public. If I need in there during the day, I go into a bathroom or a dressing room or the like. I often walk from train stations to my hotel, with my small suitcase in tow. I've even done this in Barcelona, which is a city that gets a lot of warnings. I never stop to talk to anyone and I don't ask for directions on the street. I've got my walking directions programmed into my GPS and I make sure I've looked it over before I get off the train. If I need to consult them as I walk, I don't do it right near the train station and I try to duck into a store or somewhere to check if I am not sure of my surroundings.

I don't walk right near the street edge of the sidewalk. I do carry a little purse/day bag with non-valuable stuff in it. It's usually concealed under my jacket.

That's it. I stay alert, I try not to look confused or too approachable (really - I think this helps).

You should be fine. We haven't run into any problems yet...Paris, Rome, Barcelona, London, Amsterdam and lots more. Don't let the stories scare you off. Have a great trip!

We have found that it helps if we are always careful (money belts tucked in) and aware of our surroundings and acting alert. We keep enough in our pockets for the day. It does help to read about current scams so you have an idea of what might occur, what to look for, and how you can deal with it, but don't let it impair your excitement about the trip. Actually, if someone does try to scam you (and hopefully fails), it will add to the memories of the trip.

First, congratulations on your upcoming trip. You will most likely love it and have a blast! I can only speak of my experiences in Paris. I too, am concerned about being ripped off as everybody is but if you take precautions it will not be an issue. It sounds like you are very aware that theft could be a problem and have probably read all of the the posts that Rick has on the website about scams. We encountered some of the people with clipboards doing "Surveys" at The Eiffel Tower. We just said no thank you and moved on. On a much earlier trip a friend of mine had her wallet stolen in the Marais metro station. I also had a jacket disappear in the same station. In hindsight we were both too naive and unaware. There was a beggar woman with a baby in the hallway - now we think she may have been a lookout. It is not my nature to be suspicious but unfortunately I am moreso now. Now when I go to any crowded area I watch my belongings like a hawk. Crowded metro trains are a prime location for theft so don't have anything in your pockets, purse, or luggage that can be lifted. You don't need to be paranoid just be very aware of your surroundings and your belongings.
I know this won't work for everyone, but I have a pair of loose trousers in which I sewed a deep side pocket large enough for my passport and big bills. I also put some velcro along the opening so that no hand could easily get in there. I find a money belt to be effective but a little uncomfortable and hot. I prefer a neck pouch. You can put some small bills in an inside pocket for accessibility.
I did wear a purse but I didn't have anything in it that I wasn't prepared to lose, although I always wore it slung over my body and I never felt threatened. I kept it on my lap or with the strap wrapped around my leg in any restaurant setting so that no one could grab it and take off.
But having said that, I felt mostly very safe in Paris and didn't spend time worrying about theft. It is a beautiful city that will steal your heart! Have fun!

I should just make this a standard paragraph. I don't know what to make of the pickpocket reports. I think some people are just unlucky. We have spent nearly a year in Europe over the past 20+ in all of the great pickpocket capitols. Other than a couple of very minor encounters in our first couple of years (we learned) we have never had any problems with pickpockets or attempt pickpockets - at least that we are aware of. We take normal precautions - money belt, no billfold, no purse. We do use a small day bag and at one time carried over thousand dollars worth of photo equipment.

So people report walking down the street and having three attempts make on them in one block. Others reports seeing pickpockets in action all the time. We have never seen one. We have seen some suspicious characters from time to time but nothing came of it. I see suspicious characters in downtown Denver, Chicago, and New York all the time and nothing happens. We don't even see the bands of children that are suppose to be operating in many areas. We traveled most of the time with two sons and now by ourselves.

Personally I don't think the pickpocket situation is a bad as many like to believe it is but I can only report on our experiences and not anyone else. We never give it much though. Maybe we have just been lucky but there is always next time. But we try not to look like attractive targets, we dress modestly and try to blend a little bit, And I am always pretty aware of my surroundings. In an earlier life I had a little training in that area so probably at 6-2" I may be a little better at it than most but still we travel as family. I am aware but not paranoid.

Personally think that a PacSafe purse is overkill and heavy. Think if a purse is even necessary. But with the precautions you have indicated, I am sure you will be fine. And you will learn as you go along.

Thank you all so much for the advice, sharing your experiences and feedback. It truly is invaluable. This is only the first of many trips we will be taking and the last thing I want is for this to go poorly and sour us on Europe. Hopefully it will be uneventful, but at any rate I feel much better about things now that I know I am at least going in the right direction as far as precautions. I forgot to add in my previous post that I intend on only grabbing what I think the Euro amount we will need for the day from inside a bank's ATM, and will be researching the storing of valuables in the hotel to decide what the best options will be, as we may potentially do a good bit of shopping while we are there.

The take-away I have is don't advertise as being a soft target and you should be good to go, good to know being assertive seems to work, (I am 6'1, 220lbs, tattoos up and down my arms, my son is 11 and 5'4) as I have been concerned if that would be problematic, I did read a story from last November that the French police busted a pick pocket ring operating in the Eiffel Tower area so hopefully that will have made the situation less problematic. Thank you all again so much for the information, one question I did think of though is how much of an issue is it leaving items purchased while shopping in the hotel room?

I have a suspicion that, all things being equal, the lone traveler is more likely to be targeted than a couple or a member of a group. As a solo traveler I have fairly often been approached by people trying to hand me something for which they would presumably demand money if I accepted it. And I've seen the groups of young kids, working together. Plus the women begging with babies (or dolls) in arms. I agree that it's helpful to read about the scams so you spot them in action before being victimized.

I think most potential risks can be avoided if you have nothing worthwhile in your pockets and bury valuables in a money belt, money pouch or some sort of bag worn across your body and clutched tightly. I protect my purse quite carefully in crowded conditions at home. It's a bit of a challenge to remember to do the same all the time in Europe, but it's important to do so, since once I cross the Atlantic I'm easily pegged as a tourist and a prime pigeon.

Security in hotel rooms is no better or no worse than hotel rooms in the US. We don't, but others do, leaving anything interesting laying around in the hotel room. Everything goes into the suitcase with a light weight lock. But that is our practice if in New York or Rome. We always carry everything in our money belts and have had over 500E on us at one time or another. The daily cash - maybe 50 to 100E - will be in a secured pocket, in another secured pocket a credit card and/or debit card if planning to use it that day. We both use money belts and split our back up credit/debit cards, cash, and, of course, our passports.

I have spent nearly ten years living in Europe, traveling just about everywhere with my husband and kids. We have never been pick pocketed and never even thought about it until we started contributing to this site. We always leave our passports in the hotel, I only carry a little cash, I wear a backpack and I use my very nice iPhone for taking photos. I still don't worry.

Geeeee! Paris sounds like fun!

Actually the first trip a young lady tried to unzip my backpack, while still on my back and the second trip we sat by the Eiffel Tower, and together with the Paris police, watched a group oy young ladies fleece a substantial number of folks.

Budapest is nice you know ......

Very good info, thank you all very much, it's really interesting seeing the range of experiences people have had, I think that means we should be a tad over-cautious, based on some of the replies and additional research I have been doing I am thinking about doing the following.

For "deep storage" (Passports, Cards, Etc), only comes out in private
http://www.amazon.com/PacSafe-Coversafe-Anti-Theft-Blocking-Pouch/dp/B017BPN6GQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462942062&sr=8-2&keywords=Coversafe+X75+Anti-Theft+RFID

I think we will keep any purchases in locked luggage under the bed, and keep them locked with these. I am not over-concerned with theft from the hotel room while we are gone, to me it seems most likely that it would be a target of oppertunity so I would rather make us a hardened target
http://www.amazon.com/Indicator-Approved-Combination-Protection-Lifetime/dp/B015TA6BL2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462943144&sr=8-1&keywords=tsa-approved+luggage+locks

For daily use (Euros we are using, copies of our passports)
http://www.amazon.com/Pacsafe-Coversafe-Anti-Theft-Secret-Wallet/dp/B004T2IWQY

And if my wife wants to have a purse which I am sure she will
http://www.amazon.com/PacSafe-Citysafe-Anti-Theft-Cross-Body-Purse/dp/B017BPMXHY/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1462943567&sr=1-1-fkmr1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=Citysafe%E2%84%A2+CS25

Does this seem sound?

I highly doubt your suitcases will fit under the bed. Just use the wardrobe.

Ah okay, thank you, does that seem sound as opposed to using the hotel safe?

One observation I've seen of US families traveling together in Europe is that they're all engrossed in themselves, talking loudly, where that American accent can be overheard, etc without being alert to their surroundings esp when it is crowded, say at tourist sites, ie in front of Notre Dame, etc. Paris has its scammers and pickpockets, they go after tourists primarily, even though I've known of locals who had their things stolen too. I don't use the hotel safe, never have, carry the valuables in the neck pouch and hidden pocket. You end up with what you're comfortable with.

justin,

Pickpockets operate in many cities in Europe, but if you take reasonable precautions you shouldn't have any problems. A few precautions.....

• Wear Money Belts and use them! Don't access them where others can see. You'll likely have to produce your Passports for checking into hotels, so you'll have to keep that in mind (I normally leave my Passport in the money belt unless I'll be needing it at a hotel).
• Don't hang cameras or purses from the back of chairs when you're sitting at restaurants.
• Only carry daily expense cash in outer pockets.
• Be vigilant and "situationally aware" of those around you.

As this is your first trip to Europe, I'd suggest reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to your trip, as that has a lot of good information on "how" to travel well in Europe (including avoiding scams). I don't know what the risks are in Copenhagen, but there will be scammers operating in Paris.

Besides doing what every here has suggested, I occasionally do what submariners used to call a "Crazy Ivan."

Soviet subs used to turn around to see if anyone was following them. I do the same thing, I will glance behind me and see if anyone is acting strangely. Then I'll do it again a few minutes later and try to spot anyone looking familiar.

It happened to me only yesterday. I noticed someone possibly following me. Twice I turned around and he was still there. The last time I made eye contact and he ducked into a cafe.

It was possible he was going to the cafe but I did see him later on the street walking--in the opposite direction.

It may have been absolutely harmless as I'm now in a city where crime practically doesn't exist and tourism is a fledgling industry. But that doesn't mean it can't happen.

I always use the safe in hotel rooms where I keep my passport, tickets, etc.

I don't wear a money belt when touring in Germany, but I have one made of silk that is comfortable and I would wear one if I was touring in Paris, Rome or Barcelona. The rest of the time I am comfortable with my stuff in a messenger bag that fastens at the top and has a flap that covers it all and fastens at the bottom. I wear this cross body. Easy for me to get my stuff out, but not for anyone else and I don't have to take it off to get my camera out or my guidebook. A pacsafe bag is overkill. When flying I wear a neckpouch just for ease of accessing my tickets and passport.

Everybody is a photographer these days so having a nice camera and using it all day long does not mark you as a tourist, so go ahead and wear your camera bag if you like, with the camera in front of you so you can access it easily.

Most people cannot tell an American accent from any other English speaking accent. You may be guessed as being British or even Australian.

Just ignore people who want to distract you. Stride ahead with purpose and they will leave you alone. You don't have to say anything at all.

You can't put your suitcase under the beds in most hotel rooms. Use the closets and luggage racks.

Obviously it's an issue, and a pretty common thing in some places, but you know, if worse comes to worse and you get hit, you'll live. I did. ;-)
Yes, it's a nuisance and yes, it can mean some unexpected costs/detours, but it's not a catastrophe. Especially since you are not travelling alone.

Lots of good advice here about reasonable precautions. To stay home from a European vacation over fear of pickpockets, would, in my view, be the sad tale.

I use a neck wallet, never open it in public. I have daily money loose in my messenger bag, in a couple of different zippered compartments. If I plan to use a credit card, that one is floating in the bag as well. I had a Pacsafe bag but found it heavy and conspicuous, it never saw Europe.

You might consider splitting your day money between you and your wife.

Justin, as a solo traveler I build in extra safety and redundant systems because a stolen bag would be a nightmare. I absolutely love Pacsafe products and own several. The upside for me, is knowing that the zippers lock securely and neither the straps nor the body of the bag can be slashed. I feel perfectly safe wearing the pack on my back in a crowded bus, subway, or museum. The downside is that the Pacsafe products weigh more than a similar backpack, wallet, or bag. It can also become somewhat tedious unlocking the zippers.

On a related subject, I find it important to be somewhat rigid in developing habits when traveling. For instance, I ALWAYS collect my credit card or change, zip it into my Pacsafe wallet, place the wallet in the same compartment each time, and lock the zipper. Likewise, my passport goes in the same, secure location each time I handle it. Yes, this is a time-consuming practice. However, it is too easy to become tired/hungry/distracted and slip up. I sadly lost a favorite bracelet in Piazza Navona because it came off my wrist as I was locking my bicycle. I slipped the bracelet only part-way into my pocket and thought to myself that I'd retrieve just as soon as the bike was secured. Later that evening I remembered the bracelet; it wasn't in my pocket and was never seen again. It wasn't stolen; it fell out of my pocket. If I had followed my "be rigid" rule, I would have zipped it into my backpack BEFORE locking the bike.

Don't stress too much about pickpockets. As others have said, the most important safety tip is keeping your wits about you, especially when you arrive after your overseas flight and at other transit points. You'll soon feel right at home. Enjoy your trip!

Sorry, Emma, but he was following.

I noticed him following me so I stopped three times to look into windows and tie my shoes. When I stopped, he stopped.

Then I crossed the street and he crossed the street. I crossed back and he crossed back.

That's when I turned and looked at him. He stopped abruptly and went into the coffee shop.

So, I guess, you're right. He was always planning to duck into the coffee shop by stopping when I stopped and crossing the street and back again. If he was planning to go there in the first place, he would have passed me when I stopped.

And what a coincidence to see him across the street from me three blocks away just 10 minutes later. That was a fast coffee. At that point, he gave up and disappeared.

Like Valerie said, my first defense is to not look approachable--I am tall and imposing and have a no-nonsense look and stride about purposefully as much as possible, though sometimes you'll have your map in hand and that's a dead giveaway. The reason people are so anxious about thievery is easy to understand--we're far from home and losing cards or money could turn a dream trip into a nightmare, thus we all take whatever precautions we need to feel safe.

For me it's a cross-body bag--just a regular leather messenger purse I use at home, not one specifically for travel. I take a small travel wallet that only contains enough cash for the day, driver's license for quick ID & 1 credit card. The wallet is fastened securely by its loop to the bottom of my purse--no one can get it without me realizing. My preferred method of deep storage is a belt loop pouch, worn along my hip inside my jeans. It contains the rest of my cash, debit card, second credit card, and passport. Since you don't use a debit card for purchases when abroad it's only ever in my purse when I plan to hit the ATM.

Using your neck pouch as a wallet goes against the whole idea that it's meant to be secret, so if you intend to do that I suggest adding a hidden belt-loop pouch for deep storage of extra cards, etc.

As far as leaving purchases out in the open in your room, I never do. Anything bought goes in my suitcase which I lock every day when leaving.

Justin - I really think you are over thinking the situation. But there are some paranoid posters who feed into that opinion. Your references last night were fine but really not necessary. You don't need an anti-theft, RFID bag. That is marketing hype designed to increase fear and concern. And I think pacSafe products are overrated, overpriced, and over hyped but if they provide some peace of mind, there is nothing wrong with using them. Just don't think any of those items are necessary. When we check luggage we use plastic wire ties to secure zippers. TSP locks are of no value in Europe. They cut them off.

Emma is correct and I agree that pick-pocketing is over stated on most web sites. At the end of day I don't know how many people are actually pick-pocketed but it is a minority and probably a low minority. If you antenna is high and you expect to see a lot of pick-pocketing activity - you will. I have posted this story before but I do think it is a good example. We were in Rome with son and dil. The dil was hitting leather shops looking for purse. We were in a small side street with several shops along the street. The shops were small, crowded, and I was uninterested so I am leaning against a pole a couple shops away trying to read a local paper. Three middle aged Am tourist women came out of one shop and cross the street going into another shop. I know they saw me. My group came out a couple minutes later and went into the same shop. Since there was a pole to the side of that shop, I moved up. A few minutes later the three gals came out and the lead woman nearly froze as we made eye contact at about 20 feet. I had just looked up from behind the paper. I could see the panic in her eyes, she immediately put a death grip on her cross body purse, said something to her friends who likewise stiffen up and all turned to walk away quickly. Then I did something I know I should not have done. I started following them. (I had planned to walk down to the busy cross street anyway because I didn't know exactly where we were since we had entered this side street from the other end.) A minute late one of them looks back and sees me strolling along behind them and they broke into a fast trot. They were almost running by the time they hit the busy street. When I got there, they were no where in sight. I am sure they have told a story many times about nearly being nearly pick-pocketed in Rome. The point is not everyone is a pickpocket and situations are not always what you might think they are.

Don't waste too much time going to cash machines every day for "just what you need." We recommend that you take out as much as the ATM will give you in one day, stash the majority in the deep storage, and keep a smaller amount handy for immediate spending. Your bank's daily withdrawal limit might only be $300, unless you ask them to raise it for this trip. Many businesses in both cities will take credit cards.

As Valerie and Christa pointed out, the first defense is don't look approachable. I believe it works. In 1995 I was at the Hamburg Hbf with a lady friend going to take the S-Bahn for Friedrichsruh. She went/got ahead of me, so to outsiders she was alone. I noticed two guys watching her, waiting for the right moment to grab her small day bag as we were going down the crowded stairs. By the time we got to the crowded platform of the S-Bahn, she had already noticed these guys had been "casing " her, my warning came to late when I caught up with her. . She knew she was being targeted. Neither one of the guys made a move against her before I got there, then they knew there were two of us. They didn't move against her since she looked at one of them directly in the eyes, a sustained look, that said "I know what your intention is, come and take it." They never did. The punks had lost the surprise element and knew it. .

On ignoring them and being rude to scammers and potential pickpockets, guys who accost you: no problem in being rude, play dumb too.

Fantastic additional advice all, thank you. I should have clarified what I meant by the neck pouch, we have decided to go with that for deep storage, and only pull it out obviously in private. We are thinking the wife will carry the daily use cash in her purse and I'll carry the important items in the neck pouch. That's a good point about not talking to people, I don't do it in Michigan so should be second nature over there as well, at least I would hope it would be. Being rude if needed shouldn't be an issue :)

I'm torn about the daily usage for the ATM, on the one hand it will definitely cost more but on the other hand makes me think it's a good trade-off as we will be carrying less Euro/Krone . That's a good point about pick pocketing maybe getting played up more then it occurs, I have some friends who are preppers and I have to constantly explain to them how that industry as a hole plays on people's fears, seems similar. Thank you for the advice on locks, I'll need to look into that to find out which locks work for both the US and Europe. We're planning on packing pretty light, just not sure how much shopping we may end up doing. On a side note, we may end up doing an apartment instead of a hotel, was looking at some options on Trip Adviser and this seems like a pretty appealing option. My concern with pulling out a large amount of cash is that is a bigger risk of loss.

So many good posts above!

Relax, OK? I've done 8 or so countries in europe and have never had a thing lifted. Neither of us can tolerate moneybelts but we do use a cross-body Pacsafe, and I have small, zippered pouch I pin to the underside of my waistband for some daily cash. We never carry ALL of our valuables/cash on us unless changing cities/countries.

We also probably don't dress like we have much worth bothering with - not terribly sloppy, by any means, but not in clothes that scream 'Money!" either. Walk with purpose, keep your wits about you and you'll be fine. I think sometimes it's the terrified tourist with a death grip on their bag that is conspicuous! Hmmm, what's in that bag?

I will mention that it's a good idea not to reveal willynilly to just anyone where you're keeping the goodies? Get your cash/cards out as discretely as possible whenever possible, and never leave anything of value laying on a cafe table: cards, cash, phone, etc.

I have female friends who are neither tall nor big who've traveled solo all over the world and have never been pickpocketed, mugged, bag-snatched, etc.

Emma, I'm in hysterics!

I'm saying this as someone who caused an entire family to run away
screaming when I went to return something they had dropped!

Thanks Kathy,
Definitely going to try, one of my flaws is I get hyper paranoid extremely fast anytime planning something big, which I hate regarding this because we are so excited about it. It definetly seems from all the great posts on here that it may be overexagerated in it's scope, and that just using some common sense and a few extra pre-cautions is all that's needed, I'm not deploying to the Middle East again! I really appreciate the assurances from some of you in this as I do feel -lot more relaxed then I did last night. Going to scale down my original pre-cautions plan, not be lazy or sloppy mind you, but to more of a common sensical approach instead of a hyper secure one.
That's a good point about dressing down, which is something we normally do anyways, kid in gym shorts and a t-shirt, the wife and I usually in jeans and a t-shirt, so that should help as well. The only watches we have are some 90 dollar Fitbits, nothing pricey or flashy.

Pick pocketing is something you should take seriously, it's not something akin to being struck by lightning. It's a bit like Russian Roulette, while I have been lucky and not been robbed yet, I took my mother on her first trip to Europe few years ago, she got bumped and robbed literally within a hours of landing from our transatlantic flight on our first day of sightseeing. Just last year I took my brother on his first trip to Europe and he got nabbed by a pickpocket on his second day on the continent.
The best defense is to assume that you will eventually be targeted, wear a $10 money belt or use the hotel room safe to store your excess cash/card/passport and you have defeated the problem. Situational awareness doesn't do much, the bad guys are better at nailing you than you are at spotting them. The last thing you want to do on vacation is act like a squirrel constantly scanning for hawks, or engage in ethnic profiling.

Does anyone have access to any real statistics on the crime rates in major tourist destinations in Europe? Anecdotal information is interesting but it would be good to know some facts.

I think in the US, we seldom hear about pickpocketing, but associatem it with mugging, a violent activity, to which there is little you can do to protect yourself once you're targeted.

The only official stat I have every read was reported in a travel magazine maybe 10 plus years ago from an Interpol report that claim that 1 in 4 tourists had some problems with theft/scams. No breakdown for pickpocketing or who the tourists were. Obviously there could be issues with under-reporting and exactly what is included in theft and scams. Nor was there any breakdown by country. Just Europe. Not sure where you would find those stats other than individually within each country. The report was just a little two inch box on one of the pages in the magazine. Looked like a filler item.

I get hyper paranoid extremely fast anytime planning something big,
which I hate regarding this because we are so excited about it.

Well, with so much fussing about it in so many travel forums, I'm not surprised! I was nervous too…until I went. Do cautions need to be taken? Sure, but they're easy to do and you don't need to be looking over your shoulder every second. A few cautions taken will eliminate having to do that so please don't let anxiety spoil your excitement!

An aside about the "... kid in gym shorts and a t-shirt"? If you are going to Italy, those shorts need to cover the knees or nearly so, OK? They are picky about uncovered knees and shoulders in Italian churches. They may cut him/her some slack depending on how 'mature' he/she looks for their age but best to err on the safe side. :O)

I remember doing the same thing before my first trip. Read all about pickpockets, invested in money belts and neck wallets, carabiners for the zippers on the backpack.....
Enjoy your trip, don't make yourself paranoid about pickpockets. I've been to Europe many times, many different cities, Paris a half dozen times and have not been pick pocketed yet. A few scams, yes, but harmless- bracelet one at Sacre Coeur, the rose one at the Trevi in Rome, those were our 1st 2 trips. Haven't had an issue since, live and learn how to brush these people off I guess. I carry a dslr, a p&s and a pocket book with a cross body strap which I make sure to hold in front of me when on the metro, bus or any crowded place. I am by no means intimidating- 5'4" 120 lbs nor am I a particularly nervous traveler. The money belt/neck wallet thing lasted me one trip. Do not like wearing them, all my money and cards are in my pocket book. I leave camera gear, passports, laptop, iPad in my hotel rooms all the time.
My daughter who is all of 5'2" and 110 lbs studied a semester in Paris, carried a backpack and pocket book with cross body strap everywhere. She has lived and studied in different cities in France(Grenoble, Lyon, Lille, La Rochelle, Paris) and has traveled all over since 2010. She says walk with a purpose, own the place, you'll be fine. Of all her years there the only time she got 'robbed' was at the Lille train station. She had just gotten back there after a visit home to the US last fall, was tired and not paying attention, a young girl grabbed her change from the train ticket machine. A loss of 6€.
My parents have been on dozens of trips and have never had a problem.
Just be aware and enjoy your trip :-)

Emma... thankfully I never dropped anything and had you running after me!!! :) Hysterical, and I have no doubt the family had been on this site... It would be a good scene in one of the very funny British comedies...

I am not naive and have had a few scams tried on me... but just walk away. I am always amused at how many posts there are when there are problems... and fewer about what is loved about Europe...

Only my personal experience for what it's worth (maybe nothing). A couple of years ago I spent a month in Paris. Every day I was out visiting the crowded tourists sights or wandering the back lanes and squares in the neighborhoods. I didn't use a money belt (except when traveling on a day trip somewhere), just carried the same cross-body purse I use at home. I was never pickpocketed, never saw a pickpocket in action, never felt unsure or unsafe even on the metros, never felt like someone was following me wondering what I might be carrying, never saw the bracelet or ring scam - only the ever present petition girls who are easy to avoid/ignore. Sure, I just might have been lucky, but I also just might have looked like I knew what I was doing and where I was going, or that I looked too poor to have anything of value on me. Sometimes I think the warning about pickpockets gets so overdone it's like a self fulfilling prophecy - you think you'll see tons of pickpockets everywhere and, sure enough, you do. I wish people would not expend so much energy worrying about things that are not likely to happen. Keep your valuables hidden (or leave them at the hotel), be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense.

Nancy... a voice of reason....

One's own travel experience per trip is only worth so much, since every trip has the potential of being different. The last time in France was last May, spent one night in Paris after landing at CDG, obviously didn't run into any scammers and pickpockets, not even those petition types at the bottom of the stairs leading to Gare de l'Est. The next morning at 0700 I was on board the ICE to Frankfurt. In 2012 was the last time trip to Paris, spent a few nights, and I did look for these scammers, ran into the string scam at Sacre Cour plus the thimble game at Montmarte, even had the gold ring scam pulled on me across the street from the Musee D'Orsay while waiting for the light to change. Admittedly, I was looking for that activity and saw it. Bottom line...if you look for them, you'll find them at the heavily tourist areas.

Nancy, in so much that we make too big a deal out of it; possibly so. But its a public forum and lots of folks with stories to tell are rightfully going to chime it, which does indeed overly elevate it a bit.

In so much that it isn't an issue because it didn't happen to you; less convinced. I didn't imagine my experiences.

My suggestions
Be aware of your environment but not so much that it ruins the experience
Add one layer of protection. One layer could be a zippered pocket for instance.
Split the cash and cards with your traveling companion.
Don't advertise your cash.
Enjoy the trip.

My comments about my experiences were just to add some balance to the discussion. If the only posts someone (especially a first-timer) reads about here are from people who have been pickpockted or who see them everywhere then of course they will think it happens to almost everyone and will be concerned about it. That is so not the case.

Thanks Terry-Kathryn for the support.

James E.,

"One layer could be a zippered pocket for instance."

That doesn't always help. One of my former colleagues was riding the Metro in Rome, and had his wallet in a zippered front pocket in his pants. The wallet was "pinched" and he didn't notice a thing! I asked how much money he lost, but all he would tell me was "a substantial amount."

justin,

One other tip to avoid being victimized, is to distribute money and valuables in different places. If one part of your funds is stolen, the loss will be more easily tolerated.

One other thing to think about is the use of credit cards. I'm starting week 4 in Europe and I'm amazed how merchants, restauranteurs, etc automatically assume I'm going to use a credit card. Some were even surprised when I pulled out cash.

If you have a card with no foreign transaction fees, you might consider that over continually getting out cash.

I am a single female. 5'5", a little overweight ,but not horribly so. Blonde and definitively look like a tourist. Have gone to Europe at least once a year for years. I have done a lot of the "scary" locations (Naples, Ramblas in Barcelona, St Petersburg....) I have gone to Paris at least once a year for the past four years. I have never been robbed in Europe. Now, here is Atlanta I got mugged LOL! (I think I was cursed by a gypsy when I broke out laughing at the "gold ring" scammer when she started her "ohh la la" act. She seriously needed to find a new job, her acting skills were horrid!)

So far to this day I have felt no need to purchase a "safe" to carry my stuff around Europe in. (And the truth is those purses don't actually do much but add weight. It does nothing to assist with the "left the zipper open" theft or the "left the purse hanging on the back of the chair at the café" theft) I do admire the company, they have managed to take a cheap purse and charge a lot for it by creating fear.

I use a money belt until I get to the hotel. Then I use the safe, if it has one. If it does not, I make some judgment decisions and generally carry my passport and debit card in my moneybelt. I may hide the rest in my room, just depends.

Don't let the "fear mongers" scare you. The internet is full of "horror" stories on anything, but the truth is most of us do just fine with common sense and basic precautions.

Fear and constantly seeing a pickpocket in every crowd creates some strange responses. Some poster on here, and I paraphrase, reported seeing a woman in a tour group drop her ATM card, she picked it up and tried to hand it back to the woman. The woman, of course, thought she was being scammed and started screaming to alert others. I believe she never got her ATM card back simply because she refused to see that someone might actually be doing a good deed.

I refuse to live my life that way.

No, Justin, you do not have to be worried about pickpockets. AS you say, if you are aware, that is sufficient.

You say:
"From what I can tell, opinions seem to be torn regarding money belt's, neck pouches and belt loop wallets. My wife is planning on going with a PacSafe purse, I am leaning towards the neck pouch myself, especially since I usually wear an undershirt and an outer t-shirt, is this sound? Yes
Hotel safes seem like a bad idea, my overall plan was to carry only the Euro needed each day in the neck wallet and basically keep it on us at all times, is this sound? This is a fine tactic
As for not getting sucked into the distraction games, my general plan we are planning on reversing is a firm no, and keep walking, anything else to do?" You don't have to reverse, just ignore

My daughter lived/traveled for 7 years in Europe with no issues and no money belt. The rest of the family, myself included, have had no issues traveling regularly. I travel in Europe just like I travel on the T in Boston: aware. The only person I have in my circle who was ever pickpockets was my mother, 30 years ago, at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Stop worrying and enjoy your trip. Wray

Pacsafe: our Pacsafe is for my husband's use and not mine. He carries our important stuff in it plus small items he wants along during the day. I use just a lightweight nylon shoulder bag and don't put cash/cards/passports in it.

I looked at a new one the other day and swear it wasn't as heavy as our 9 year-old model.

You are right Ken, it can still happen even with a zippered pocket. But where does one draw the line and just enjoy themselves. For me I have sufficiently reduced the odds to enjoy myself with a zippered pocket. If you tattoo your CC number on your right arm, someone could hack it off with a machete. There are a few places I might be more careful; Paris, Prague, Barcelona for instance. And a few places I don't worry at all; Budapest for instance. Don't dwell on it. Just use a tiny bit of common sense and have a good time.

OH, about 15 years ago I bought a small pacsafe. Its about the size of passport and about an inch thick. Adjustable cloth wrapped steel cord, flap with Velcro and with a snap over a zipper. its pretty bullet proof. Its my mini manbag. I carry half in there and half in the aforementioned zippered pocket when traveling but when in a town I leave it in the room unless its one of the countries that requires a visitor to have their passport on them. They don't make the size any longer so don't bother looking. But for me its perfect. I think its overkill, but after so many years its comfortable for me to have.

I use a zippered pocket in my light jacket. obviously a summer jacket. But it is not on the outside but rather on the inside, not the inside left breast pocket which was the original feature of the jacket with a button hole loop. No deterrent there. But I had the tailor put in another inside pocket on the right breast side plus a zipper . That zipper is so "tough" at times you feel it needs a drop of WD 40. You walk around with the passport/plastic inside, always zipped up, and covered over by your strong right arm. What two bit thief is going to know the difference unless they jump you?

Should you be concerned about pickpockets? Yes. I've seen pickpockets operating in several European countries and know of friends and relatives being victims of pickpockets. There are some good ideas above. The main idea is to be prepared in advance so you can enjoy the trip knowing you won't be another pickpocket statistic.

I am having a bit of a hard time imagining a man who has a front zippered pocket in his pants not feeling someone unzipping it and putting their fingers there to get his wallet...I know these pickpockets can be crafty, but any chance he was careless and lost it and then wanted to blame someone else:)? Or forgot to zip???

I am having a bit of a hard time imagining a man who has a front zippered pocket in his pants not feeling someone unzipping it and putting their fingers there to get his wallet...I know these pickpockets can be crafty, but any chance he was careless and lost it and then wanted to blame someone else:)?

A zippered pocket is not safe at all. Everyone thinks that they would feel fingers in a pocket and their wallet sliding out. But pickpockets work on distraction so that you don't "feel" it. They will bump you on a crowded bus or metro, so you are physically feeling all kinds of bumps and prods and never focus on the one at your pocket. They often work in teams: one might cause a disturbance that focuses your attention elsewhere while their partner lifts the wallets (also why street performers are areas where pickpockets are at work). They might wave a "petition" in your face while a hand slips unseen below into a pocket. Gypsy kids swarm you while one lifts your wallet. And they are very good a how to slide in their fingers with minimal sensation (also why kids are often used - they have tiny fingers).

That's why it is smart to have a secure system that cannot be easily accessed by pickpockets. A properly worn waist money belt is one, but so is a neck pouch (works better if shirts are tucked in) or a PacSafe type purse (too many pockets and access points to get through). And it really doesn't matter if you access your money or credit card in public if you have one of these systems. They aren't going to mug you and still won't be able to access your valuables even if they know where they are. I use a belt loop wallet that everyone can see, but only I can reasonable access. Never had a problem even though I've seen pretty much all the methods.

The biggest concern really will be valuables left out. Setting a phone or camera on a table or on a bench next to you. Setting your daybag down or slung over a chair. It can be hard to be vigilant, but that is the biggest risk factor by far.

I had a purse, VaultPro, steel band in the shoulder strap and slash resistant fabric. The thief knew to slash through the seam, which was not made of slash resistant thread, and I felt nothing at all (crowd situation). The whole time I was hanging on to one end of the purse. They got my old laptop (which I'd backed up before leaving) and around ten dollars. Passport, cards, most of my cash were under my clothes in a money belt. It took me a while to stop shaking after I discovered the theft, and it was so good to pat my underclothes belt and feel that everything was still there, I shouted, "Good old Rick Steves!" out loud in the middle of a coffee shop.

Many years ago, I was communicating via PMs with a woman who was a regular poster here at the time. She and her husband made a trip to Italy (Venice), and she wrote back that a young man in their hotel had had valuables taken, not in Venice, but on his way there. They (cards, cash) were in a zippered, inside pocket of his jacket, and the pocket had duct tape over the zipper, and they still got into it.

I looked at the PacSafe website, and at those prices, I think only someone carrying valuables would pay for one, so I'm sure thieves learn to recognize those bags because there is probably something worth stealing in them. And that recognition is enhanced by PacSafe putting their name on the outside of many of them (real dumb).

The only "theft" I've had personally was in 1988, when I bought a guide book at the Frauenkirche in Munich. It was the only thing I bought that day, and I got change. When I returned to my room that night, I found that I had been given an Italian coin worth 8¢ instead of a 2 Mark piece.

I question that Interpol report. Is that 1 in 4 people who have ever been a tourist in Europe have at any time had some problems with theft/scams? If so, that's not a 25% chance every time you go. I've spent about 180 days in Europe in 13 trips with only one incident. That's 7.7% per trip or about ½ of 1% per day.

If you combine scams and thefts that is really not representative of risk.... A scam is some poor soul trying to take advantage of your stupidity to give them money.... at least it is a little more ingenious than begging or pickpocketing.... so when it comes to scams, I have had the gold ring scam tried on me (twice) the petition signing scam (numerous times) and a few others that I have probably forgotten, but I would not consider calling that a crime perpetuated against me so as to frighten the wits out of lots of new travelers:)

My sister and I are currently in Paris for the fifth time in as many years. We have both been approached with the 'petition' scam. However, I am the only one who has experienced the 'golden ring.' Just yesterday I a woman reached down next to me and picked up a gold ring. She handed it to me and I took it thinking that I had lost an earring...when I realized what it was, I literally recoiled from it and her as if I had been burned. I think my reaction shocked her and she quickly scurried away. Honestly, the next time it happens, I am going to throw the ring as far as I possibly can.

Little gypsy kids surround or block your way? You push through them, regardless, or you break out of their circle. That happened once on the Paris Metro, a mom and daughter pair working in unison... daughter blocks the me as I am stepping off the Metro, gives mom time to unzip my waist belt, the lousy one, daughter moves again to block me, duh, I pushed through since I had no luggage or day pack. Did that diversion give enough time to unzip? Yes. Did mom get anything inside? Sadly, for them no, even though I had one Euro coins stacked up in a 35mm film container along with other film containers,... they were deceived.

Justin, I have been to Europe many times and seen the scams. In Barcelona on the metro my husband caught a thief with his hand in husband's pocket - almost go the RayBan sunglass case. In St Petersburg on the subway, a man on our ship lost his entire wallet inside his zipped up jacket in an inside pocket. It can happen anywhere, they are that good.
Split the credit cards and ATM cards between you; you and your wife each need an ATM card, preferably linked to 2 different accounts. Also, buy your wife a bra safe- it holds several credit cards and cash folded, and can be worn in front or snapped under the arm on the side of the bra. It is a wonderful device I use while traveling in the USA as well. http://www.amazon.com/Nude-Pocket-Travel-Safe-Wallet/dp/B000BQW8AS
I sometimes buy groceries and carry the guidebook and water and lipstick, along with whatever else in the store's bag instead of a purse. I do not see a reason for her carrying a Pacsafe bag- but if you want one, buy it used. I often carry an ordinary red leather purse in Europe- i carry it crossbody and never have anything i can't afford to lose in it. Never had any problem with it. BTW, i read that the most stolen item in Europe is cellphones.
A bigger issue traveling with kids is where to meet if one misses jumping on the same subway car or gets turned around. Always settle, that morning, on where to meet if traveling, or where in the museum to meet, or when to stay while parents retrace their steps. Make sure they have money for their own refreshments- it might come in handy for you! have fun and relax, just take a couple of precautions.

*

A bigger issue traveling with kids is where to meet if one misses
jumping on the same subway car or gets turned around.

*

Much more useful than all the pickpocket info. A good idea for grownups too. We just agree to get off at the next stop and wait for the others.

Remember, Melissa, the posting on this site from the women who lost her money from her bra. Swears that it did not fall out but was taken without her knowledge.

When we traveled with our two sons, they always had a 20 euro note and the hotel business clipped together buried in a pocket. Worse case, they could find a taxi to get them home. We also had the same policy as mention after getting off at the next stop. Only tested once and in an elevator. Younger son quickly jumped on but door closed before we could get on. Noticed that the elevator stopped three floors up. One of us caught the next elevator to that floor and there he was. A bit scared and always the last one to board for the rest of the trips. We never had a problem on buses and subways since we tended to right behind them pushing them on even when crowded.

Like it has already been said, take your precautions, be vigilant in crowded areas, but don't let the fear of pick pockets ruin your holiday.
Copenhagen has fear fewer tourists than Paris and hence not a big problem with pick pockets. As a local i have never been aware of pick pockets, but I guess i am not in their target group. You do however hear announcements over the loud speakers at trains stations warning about pick pockets, so it must be an issue. The local media sometimes report about fake policemen, wearing civilian clothes and asking to see Id and then proceding to lift peoples wallets when they have their valuables out. These are often eastern european gangs, so they should be easy to spot, since Danish plain clothes police will never ask for ID from tourists.
Despite all these warnings about scams, please don't be a rude jerk to anyone approaching you and suspect that everyone is a criminal, but have some situational awareness. People might actually be trying to help you if you look lost!

What Emma said. Bury your passport, a little cash and a spare credit card deep. Show some common sense with the rest and then enjoy. The best part of traveling is the people you meet along the way.

What Morten and Emma said. I cannot tell you how many times Americans have been down right rude when I have offered help. I don't come close to them. I politely ask them if they would like help when it looks like they are lost or having problems with the ticket machines. Either they just rudely turn away, ignoring me or give me a brisk no. So, I watch them waste their money on the wrong ticket, or see them miss their stop that they wanted.
Why be so rude? I am a 60 year old woman, speaking English with an Ohio accent. How dangerous could I be? Sad to see them be so full of fear.

Why are some [especially newbie international tourists] rude to a local person trying to be helpful? Probably because they fear a scam of some sort is coming as described in the Travel Forum and even Rick himself, "Others hang out at subway ticket machines eager to “help” you, the bewildered tourist, buy tickets with a pile of your quickly disappearing foreign cash." So don't be too harsh on harried folks trying to make their way in a foreign country. I have received incredibly generous assistance during travels but also been approached by scam artists and thieves. Sorting them out is perhaps easier the more you travel.

I have on occations been the rude tourist myself, mistaken helpfullness for a scam or someone wanting money for carriyng my bag etc. Some have been scam artists but others have been genuinly helpfull. Yes sorting the helpfull folks from the bad ones can be tricky and it gets easier with experience, but new travellers should at least keep an open mind. Some of my best travel experiences have been people being extremly helpfull, saving my day without expecting anything in return.

Morten: some of my favorite times where when locals helped me with directions and much more. I try to pass it on when I see a befuddled tourist in the area, especially international ones. Unrelated conversations with them can be fun.

Ms. Jo,

One can encounter rude tourists anywhere, even in Canada. This is a few years old, but made me shake my head in disbelief when I first heard about it....

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/walt-wawra

Use common sense, but don't let your concerns override having a good time.
In 16 trips I've lost nothing, but have been with 2 people who lost items.
Crowded tourist sites are rife with pickpockets. I walked behind an older lady entering the Louvre who had pornography thrust in front of her as a distraction while they pinched her wallet. Unfortunately she wasn't using a money belt.
My well traveled friend lost a camera while distracted getting her luggage onto the Paris Metro.
After that, we boarded the Metro like strangers and sat apart, using signals if someone seemed suspicious.
Have a great time!

"......... we boarded the metro as strangers and sat apart using signals if something seemed suspicious."

Sorry, but I don't see how that would be helpful. What kind of signals? When the metro car got crowded how did you signal each other? Wouldn't other passengers get a little suspicious of you two, signalling each other?

I know that there are pickpockets out there (I had an experience with a group of them in a supermarket in my own city) but many of the stories you can read on this forum alone show that some victims were careless and foolish and their own worst enemies. Plus, some items get just plain lost due to carelessness, not stolen at all, but it is embarrassing to admit that.

The impression given by these pickpocket threads is that the whole of Europe is dangerous for travellers from America, with thieves lurking everywhere just waiting to pounce, while at home such dangers do not exist, pick pocketing and thievery being a European thing. Oh, well, maybe being fearful is part of the thrill of travel for some people.

After 77 responses, a certain amount of silliness creeps into the responses. I agree with Norma - I see no advantage to boarding as strangers with signals. As she is correct that the whole subject is over stressed. They are out there somewhere but not nearly as frequent as someone might conclude from reading all of the postings.

If I saw two people giving signals on a subway I would be inclined to think they are a pickpocket team picking out their next victim. What is the purpose of that? Unless the car is absolutely jammed pack so no one can move, the probability of a pickpocket is near zero. Pickpockets generally work in teams and at choke points such as the entry/exit to cars. Pickpockets want a hand off and an escape route if detected.

@ kat...not a bad idea of using signals to communicate on the Metro, as long both of you remember the signals, but having one to indicate "alarm" will do. That can be done.

First of all, congrats on the trip and I hope you and your family have a fantastic time :)

Secondly, I don't think you need to worry too much or look over your shoulder constantly. Think about visiting a major city in the U.S. - would you be employing Secret Service-level security to protect your wallet? Probably not. I just use common sense precautions that I use every day here in Seattle (e.g. not flashing large sums of cash, keeping my bag in front of me on crowded buses/trains. etc.). On my first trip, I took a PacSafe bag and a money belt, but I found them to be unnecessary. The money belt was uncomfortable and silly, so it was discarded fairly quickly. And the PacSafe bag worked just as well as my regular purse that I used on the next trip -- not really worth the $100+ expense.

So, in short: don't worry too much, and have fun!

Thank you very much Anna, and also thank you to everyone else for the comments and tips, I have read all of them, just been extremely busy. Our passports will be arriving next week so we are in the process of planning hotels.

I completely understand about not reacting, and after researching further and keeping an eye on this thread, I am genuine curious to see if this issue has been blown out or proportion or not, what we ultimately decided to do was me pick up a neck wallet and the wife get a smaller hip purse, from PacSafe. As for any purchases, we are going to take some of the advise here and just keep any purchases in the hotel safe or our luggage depending on the item, with the amount we have been reading reviews on Hotels.com and Trip Advisor, I would think someone would mention a theft if it was common, so it seems I over-reacted to that.

Thank you all again so much, it's just difficult not to react rather harshly with the amount of horror stories you can find if you look for them, although I suspect a good part of it might be what has been mentioned, someone lost something and that is of course embarrassing. Going to be aware, but not hyper and keyed up about this any longer.

....I am genuine curious to see if this issue has been blown out or proportion or not, .....

Ooooooo do I detect just a little doubt that we might have underplayed this???? Do hope your return with conclusions at the end of the trip. I predict you will not see a pickpocket.

No not at all, you (collectively) did massivly reduce my level of concern, and so I wonder if sites like lonely Planet and others might be blowing things out of porportion.........I read enough logical, we'll laid out posts that I now feel confidant that with some common sense and a little bit of prep it's going to be an incredible time, instead of how I was feeling that there marauding bands of pickpockets every two blocks just waiting to snatched and run.

Since I only carry one credit card and a little cash in my wallet, and that is discretely attached to my belt, the only thing I'm concerned about losing is my mobile phone.

I carry it in my front pocket but I'm still trying to find a more secure way. I don't carry a bag when wearing a jacket and I'm not sure if putting it in the jacket is a good idea.

On this trip I'm trying out a new Scottevest and to be honest, it has too many pockets, I can't remember where I put things.

Scottevest has a lot of neat products with hidden pockets to keep all the pickpockets at bay: T-shirts. jackets, vests, pants, hoodies....even boxers. There is a new item that is intriguing, the baseball cap with hidden pockets. Would never put credit card in it, but it would be good for hiding pocket change, keys, and a little bit of cash. Might give it a try next time I'm at the beach....always a danger zone for crimes against tourists.

Just one more little thing about pickpockets and scams. One of the ways to help avoid pickpockets and scammers is, well, attitude. Walk like you mean it. Don't be afraid to give someone the stink eye.

To use the TV show the "Golden Girls" as a reference, Don't walk around like the character Rose. All sweet and nice, looking around, oohing and aahing at the buildings, etc. Walk like you're Dorothy. A head of steam on, polite-but curt, somewhere to go and someone to see.

Your physical "attitude" can help.

By the way, I've seen scammers in Paris, but not in Copenhagen. I would say Copenhagen is like a lot of big cities--fairly safe, but if you give someone an opportunity, like leaving your purse unattended, it may be gone.

I've traveled alone (small middle aged female) and with groups. When not traveling between cities, I use the safe in the hotel room for passport/tablet/kindle/one credit card. When out and about, I have what looks like a terry cloth wrist band that fits on either my wrist or ankle with larger bills and my ATM card. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003KSXVOG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have smaller bills in a cross body bag or a zipped pocket inside my jacket. Aside from beggars who merely beseech, the only scam attempt was a postcard vendor in Florence who asked and pressed if I had dropped my passport. Or I thought it must have been a scam attempt. That said, I generally dress down and don't wear jewelry beyond a Timex.

If you can purchase a mobile phone case that will clip onto your belt, you could place the phone against your body and not have to worry. Otherwise, an ordinary safety pin keeps my phone safe in my pants pocket - works very well for me. Some people recommend sewing in Velcro strips, but I'm too lazy.

On the "Golden Girls" theme - if you walk around glaring at everyone as if they are prospective thieves, this is not normal behavior, and could mark you as someone with something interesting to steal. Everyone will know you're a tourist, so just behave normally. It's impossible to "blend in with the locals", since we're all busy going to work - so protect your stuff and enjoy yourselves.

No special clothing needed. Thieves recognize all the protective devices - all they're waiting for is for you to be distracted, which usually happens at some point, especially if you're counting on these things to protect you. Just use common sense and know where your valuables are at all times - most of them should be in the hotel safe. Not everyone needs to bring a gadget every day.

Plan your route before you leave your lodging. If you need to check directions, move out of the way to do it.

Don't keep a death-grip on your belongings while marching down the street - especially if you're not in a crowded area. Someone will be attracted to this behavior and might follow you unnoticed. Sooner or later, you'll let your guard down, and might be sorry.

Most banks have ATM's located inside a little lobby near the exterior machines. Use the inside machines, but keep your hand over the keypad and be aware of other people hanging around in the lobby. Take the time to put your money away securely before approaching the exit.

I've been pickpocketed in Barcelona - actually it was a bit more rough and tumble than that but we survived it with only a stolen iPhone. But, that was after being alert for two weeks on our driving trip from Scotland to France and by the time we got to Barcelona we just got too casual and too relaxed. Barcelona was probably not the best place to start feeling lazy about my surroundings...haha.

For me, though, being paranoid just isn't helpful in any way. When I'm alert, I'm paying attention to my surroundings but I'm also living in the moment and enjoying myself. After we got pickpocketed/mugged in Barcelona I looked at everyone with suspicion, I hated my time there, and I wanted to leave right away. Don't let that happen to you...alert yes. Paranoid no.

I'm also a photographer by hobby so my hubby and I take turns carrying around an expensive camera. Most of the time it's not tucked away in a camera bag because we want to take pictures. It's a calculated risk. Would I rather not lose my camera by not taking it or using it infrequently on our trip? Or would I rather just be alert, enjoy my surroundings, and have beautiful photographic memories? The latter, for sure.

Have fun, be alive in the moment, be smart with your surroundings, and enjoy!