Anti-Theft Bags in Italy?

I would not wear a fanny pack. There are some things that really scream "tourist!" and that's a fanny pack. I think not getting scammed has more to do with behavior (having control of your stuff, being aware and alert, and ignoring obvious attempts by others to distract you) and deep storing your items than any particular product. I don't think any bag is technically slash proof but some are obviously better than others (less flimsy, have more zipped pockets, etc). The point is just to leave your valuables elsewhere (in the hotel etc. instead of in your pocket or purse)...what you don't have with you can't get stolen. I would not spend my time worrying about this.

For your husband (or for you too, if you both have cojones) I recommend this anti-theft backpack. Nobody will want to touch it.

A fanny pack is a big no-no. Very easy to get into. Many years ago I was with a group of friends in Florence and one woman was wearing a fanny pack. She was in the center of our group. As we were walking, some shopowners started yelling at us and we didn't know what was happening. We realized they were alerting us to a young thief who had gotten inside our group and already had his hand in the fanny pack. He was a child. If they didn't tell us, we never would have known.

I don't think slashing will be a big problem. Just make sure the zippers of your bag can be connected and use either a carabiner or cable key ring to keep them together. The extra step of having to undo them may just thwart a thief. It did for me in Venice a couple of months ago.

I don't think one needs special clothes or special bag to travel to Italy or anywhere else in Europe. If you're concerned about theft, the best defense is being aware of your surroundings. Theft chances rise when you're in a place crowded with tourists: metros in Rome or Paris, Rome's Colloseum, Barcelona, etc.

Be sure to employ a passcode on your phone so even if it is stolen the thief won't get to use it or sell it.

I have never been to Italy. I did purchase a Travelon Crossbody at Tuesday morning for $20. It is roomy and has lots of pockets. I like the extra hook that allows you to secure the zippers. It also has the slashproof feature. Some of their bags are just travel bags and not anti theft. Anyway, the hook for the zippers is a big plus. I have been to France and the UK without a problem.

Stay away from crowds (especially crowded buses and subways) and you'll be fine.
You don't need to take buses/subways in Florence (small walkable city center). Venice doesn't have crowded buses and boats are never kept too crowded for safety reasons. Rome is the only place where, given the size, distances sometimes may require the use of buses and subways. But taxicabs are not that expensive and taxi stands ubiquitous. Use them.
Another danger are the gypsies, who are often kids under the age of 14, who are trained by their parents to steal. Since Italian law prohibits prosecution of under 14 children, they keep doing it. Unless you are fluent in Italian, you may have a hard time realizing they are gypsies (gypsies often dress differently and look a bit different from Italians, but also don't speak good Italian as they mostly come from the balkans and are not educated at all) but they generally approach you with the excuse of begging for money or handing a helping hand to carry your bags. Keep them at bay. Be firm and threaten them with slapping if necessary. You may not meet them at all, but they like to target foreign tourists so it's possible, especially in Rome. Italians have no qualms about kicking their behind. Don't let them come close to your body.

There is no need to purchase any special purse, your Kate Spade sounds find. Wear it cross body in front of you, do not let it wonder to your backside. It should have a zippered top, not just a flap. Make sure to stop and close the top of the purse at all times, you can feel rushed at times or trying to manage different things at one time, just make sure to make this a priority. I might re-think taking a designer purse as the less attention you draw to yourself the better. Keep your hand over the closed top when in crowds, otherwise just be aware.

No on the fanny pack. Look on Amazon, there are plenty of masculine looking daypacks your man can carry. My husband keeps his wallet in his front pocket and we have never had a problem, he keeps his hand over that pocket on public transport. Make sure you and your husband have clear plan on how you plan to board and sit on public transport. My husband and I never part, if there is a seat it is understood that I take it and he keeps an eye on me. If we are standing we are together, usually facing eachother. These are conscious decisions we made before we left. the plan was in place so we did not look confused or talking about when we are on the train/subway/bus. Also have a plan for if one of you makes the transport and the other does not (Doors close fast). Our is that the person left on the subway gets off at the next stop, and we meet there.

What I didn't like about the Travelon anti-theft bags is the weight. I tried one and it weighed as much empty as my regular cross-body purse did with much of my stuff in it. I had to stop wearing a backpack because of the pain in my shoulders and I have the same problem with a heavy purse. I have always felt that whatever I was carrying with me was just as safe in a regular purse and/or moneybelt.

And thanks Roberto for the morning laugh - good thing I didn't have a mouthful of hot coffee. We can always count on you.

You will be fine with your Kate Spade, I just carry my regular cross-body bag when travelling and while I keep my hand over it when in a tight crowd or on crowded transit, I don't go around clutching it otherwise. Using a belt-loop pouch for deep storage of debit and spare credit card and excess cash gives me a sense of security.

We do have an anti-theft bag (Pacsafe) that my husband carries and that we like, not for the slash-proof straps - as I think having them cut would be a rarity - but for the locking zippers. It's a little heavy, although the newer models I looked at (ours is 10 years old) seem a little lighter. Up to personal preference, maybe, but we feel better having it, and I think it's a visual deterrent along with a physical one.

Let's just say that skulking about with a death grip on a bag is no fun, and a giveaway that something valuable is IN it so whatever works to eliminate that behavior is preferable. But please leave the fannypack at home? As Agnes said, if anything screams "tourist" ....

We do not carry ALL of our valuables on us when sightseeing nor do we put everything into the bag when we change countries/cities. I have my own method of keeping some cash and a card on me where light fingers won't get to them without my knowledge or even suspect where they are. I also carry the camera in my own non-locking shoulder bag and really don't worry much about anyone lifting it: most pickpockets/thieves are after bigger fish than that.

And I love my Travelon cross-body bag!
I like the little zipper clasps on 2 of the compartments, I like that it's big enough to hold a variety of stuff that I will need during the day, I like the 2 side mesh pockets (one for a water bottle and the other for my umbrella),and I love the different compartments so all my stuff is not in one place "just in case" I might be a target.
It also has a small flashlight on a short tether inside the main compartment. I attached the nylon small document bag from the RS roller bag to it so I had another layer of protection -- I would put my debit card there (and then the money) on the days that I needed to visit the ATM.
It comes in wonderful colors but I used a bit of discipline and have one that is simply low-profile black.

Two years ago, I bought the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag for my trip to Italy and really like it. This particular bag has two zip out areas on each side of the purse which will hold a water bottle and an umbrella. I like that it has an adjustable strap and that I can wear it crossbody. I don't think it is very heavy, especially when compared to some leather bags. For me it was convenient plus it did give me extra peace of mind, especially while riding subways. I use it at home, too, and am planning on using it on my trip to Spain next month.

Thanks Roberto, laughed so much. And yes Nancy i was taking a sip of my coffee! What a way to start the day.
happy travels
aloha princess pupule

The thing to be more concerned with is theft of the bag. You're sitting at a cafe enjoying the scenery and all of a sudden there's a big commotion right on the sidewalk! Some loud shouting and shoving later, a quiet returns. 20 minutes later when they get up to leave someone discovers that a bag they had placed under their chair or table is gone, presumably having disappeared when everyone's attention was on the commotion. I don't think a slashproof bag protects you here, and that this type of theft is much more common than someone breaking into a bag while you are carrying it or slicing your bag off your shoulder.

I agree with John. I have hung around this site a long time and no one has ever posted about having their bag sliced. Whole bags have been taken, however. But there is a tendency for stories to be told about a friend of a cousin who had a friend that knew a sister who's brother had his backpack sliced in '55. There are far more things to worry about than someone slicing your purse. In all of our travels, about a year over the past 20+, we have never seen a pick pocket in action and have never had a problem. Have seen a couple of questionable situations but nothing we could not easily avoid. That doesn't mean that we could not get hit on the next trip. Just our experience.

And as I have posted many times, front pockets are not save as your friend found out. Maybe saver than back pockets but only marginally so. We always carry a small day bag and often hang it on the back of the chair ---- BUT -- one of the straps is always hooked around one of the chair rungs or legs. Someone can grab it but it only moving a foot or so. We try to always be cautious. There is a big difference between being cautious and paranoid. Be the former and not the latter.

Robert recommends avoiding crowds. Have no idea how to do that in Rome. Ridden a lot of buses without any problem. If standing on the bus we face each other and drop the day bag to the floor between us with a foot on the strap. You would have to be pretty short to get to that bag.

PS -- Ditch the fanny pack !!!! No self-respecting male should be seen wearing a fanny pack.

I'm a little nervous now.

Dianna,
Don't be nervous, just exercise caution. No anti-theft bag will help if you are not situationally aware. Take normal precautions. Hone your observational skills.

Where will you be traveling? We found that smaller cities and less crowded areas in larger ones are no problem. Even in the larger cities, there was only one time I felt somewhat uncomfortable. We were in Rome the Saturday before Christmas, walking along the Via del Corso with 30,000 or so locals out finishing their Christmas shopping. It was wall to wall humanity. I felt I had little control. It only lasted 10 minutes and we were on a side street and I could continue with situational awareness.

While I feel it is good to exercise caution, I want to keep the threat in perspective. It is not as bad as the internet makes it seem. I'd feel safer walking in Florence at night than I would in Atlanta at night. Try not to act like a target. Memorize maps and directions. If you need to check a map, find a place where you can stand where no one can approach you from behind.

You want to blend in, that's why I don't recommend a fanny pack or Roberto's backpack. ;D

When I went to Paris/France a couple of years ago I bought a Travelon bag from QVC. $30-50 dollars. Multiple styles and sizes and not bad designs . Not heavy. As I recall has a metal cord in the strap and slash proof panels in the purse. Has a little clip type lock on all the outside zippers (it was a touch cumbersome to get in and out quickly but I felt secure). Worked great for me. An added plus, when I had it in Scotland and got rained and snowed on it was blessedly waterproof (the one I have). Have had a few years and very happy with it.

I purchased one, after much thought, simply because it was on sale for a great price. Just returned and honestly its not about the bag but how you manage in different settings. I had a smaller crossbody purse for evenings we just went to dinner. Regardless of which one I used, it was always in front of me with one of my hands casually holding it there. The bulk of my money was in my money belt that I chose to wear right under my bra - dont ask!

For what its worth I felt most vulnerable when travelling in subway or sitting outside for lunch or dinner.

Bottom line - use your common sense.

Wishing you happy and safe travels!

"..... don't look like a tourist ....."

How can one do that? Is there an Italian "I-know-my-way-around-here" attitude I should adopt?

I always wear fanny packs, even at home, they are very convenient to carry stuff, much more so than your back pockets or hand bags.

But the issue is....What would you wear if you took a trip to visit Washington DC or San Francisco? I bet nobody posting these questions here, would dream of asking on an internet forum what kind of anti-theft bag to wear in DC or SF.

But somehow, when it comes to Italy, there is this expectation that you are at a much higher risk of being pick pocketed than in any American city.

I lived in Italy the majority of my life, I go there every year, many of my friends and family members are in Italy, I have hundreds if not thousands of friends and acquaintances in Italy.

YET, NOT ONLY HAVE I NEVER BEEN PICK-POCKETED, BUT I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY KNOWN ANYBODY WHO WAS PICK POCKETED IN ITALY!!! NEVER!

It was always the friend of a friend of a friend who heard of another friend's cousin's friend who saw a tourist being pocketed, as someone said above.

And I'm not saying it doesn't happen. One just needs to open any newspaper to find instances.

But what are the chances? Really? There are probably more homicides in Washington than pickpockets in Rome in any given year.

Meh. I'm a local in Chicago. I have an anti-theft bag, though not quite travelon level of security. I wear it on the daily to work.

Crime exists here. I've not been a victim of a stickup or a chain Snatch since high school in 1980's NYC. I don't look much like a mark now. I wouldn't wear a fanny pack here or there. Aside from ugly, I feel it marks you as someone out of the flow.

Not everyone has the same level of experience in urban environments and on densely packed public transit. Nervousness makes you a mark. If a special bag makes you confident, by all means. If the fanny pack does the same, good. Wallet front pocket, phone in opposite, hands in pockets in crowds does it for me.

Roberto,

The new "anti-theft backpack" was hilarious! It's fortunate that I also didn't have a mouthful of hot coffee when I saw that.

Dianna,

One potential hazard of the anti-slash backpacks is that you could be injured if carrying one. There have been a few reports here on the forum over the years of travellers who were victimized by the "Vespa bandits", and ended up with a variety of injuries after being dragged along the street because the strap didn't break.

I'd suggest that both of you wear Money Belts as it's a good idea to split resources in case one is lost. Don't access them where others can see, and carry a small of amount of "daily expense cash" in a reasonably accessible location. Don't carry phones in a front pants pocket. If you're using a cross-body bag or whatever, having a model that has both a flap and fastener as well as a zipper on the inside will provide a bit more protection. For example, either you or your husband could use products like this.....

• https://www.tombihn.com/collections/briefcases-and-messenger-bags/products/small-cafe-bag?variant=45149417735
• https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/ipad-bag

I'd be interested to know more about the debit card information being stolen. That type of theft is not common either in Europe or anywhere else.

I'm not sure I would feel a hundred percent comfortable with my wife wearing an over-the-shoulder bag with a strap that won't give. Now we're in our late 40s and I'm traveling soon with my 90 year old aunt and 72 year old mother and I have told both of them I don't want them wearing anything just because it'll be devastating for them if somebody tried to snatch their purse and it didn't break away they would fall down and I'm sure severely injured themselves

I bought them the same thing my wife and I use. A pac safe neck wallet for $18-22 It's adjustable and can be worn diagonally over your chest but I just wear it around my waist and then just tuck it under my untucked shirt.

I can fit 4 passports, my wallet and a money clip in it. Even my smartphone. All at the same time.

I don't keep my wallet in my pocket I keep it in this pacsafe. There's absolutely no way anybody would get this from me because it velcros shut and there's even a zipper compartment inside.

Honestly though in addition to the pacsafe, if it is cool enough, I actually wear a Scottevest vest and I keep my cell phone and my wallet in the breast pockets that Zip and it's very easy to get to for me but not for them.

. Even with one hand

I'm not sure I would feel a hundred percent comfortable with my wife
wearing an over-the-shoulder bag with a strap that won't give.

But like bag slashing, bag snatching when they are ON people is very, very rare. Can it happen? Sure, but so could any number of other rare misfortunes. Just trying here not to make poor Dianna even more nervous than she already is!

I'm short and on the small side so there's no way I could wear my passport and other stuff in neck wallet without it showing, especially in lightweight clothing. That said, there are many ways to deal with keeping the goodies safe - as we're seeing here - so whatever works for ya is just fine.

you all just scared confused the OP no response

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Think Prada, maybe Louis Vuitton.

http://au.louisvuitton.com/eng-au/products/neverfull-pm-damier-azur-008110?campaign=sem_GG-AU-ENG-EC-SHOP-BRAN

Don't be nervous. You're going to have an amazing trip.

Whenever you are in a city that caters to tourists (no matter which city, which country), you should pay attention to your surroundings. That doesn't mean live in fear of your surroundings, but it does mean keeping an eye out for anything that doesn't look quite right. It's the same way I travel when I go to Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Rome, London, etc.

My first solo trip to Europe was to Florence. I remember CLUTCHING my purse to me while going through the Uffizi because I was terrified of what everyone had said about pickpockets. My hand hurt. My shoulder hurt. I couldn't always properly pay attention to what I was seeing because I was so stressed from reading pickpocket warnings.

Now, I'm not saying don't take reasonable care. Of course, you should. But you don't want to spoil your trip with fear of what might never happen.

It concerns me when I read about one person having all the documentation and money. I realize a lot of couples travel this way, but I'd want my own passport and some money or a card with me. Spread the wealth around.

People will do what they want to do, but as Ken mentioned in his post, you want to think about this just in case someone gets separated (or whatever--fill in your unpleasant scenario of choice), then each person has some level of control.

Not being scary just being practical!

For my recent trip to Italy I carefully researched and tried out approximately 10 different safety travel bags before choosing the perfect one. Upon my arrival in Venice, my brand new $80 bag ripped and although I continued to use it, it became extremely heavy on my shoulder. One day I switched to a very small crossbody bag , with no bells and whistles, that I had packed for
evening wear. I used that bag for the duration of the trip and was pleasantly surprised with all the stuff I didn't need to lug around.
Happy safe travels!

Love your sense of humor Roberto!! I have a gazillion travel purses ranging from PacSafe & BeSafeBags by Daymakers of Santa Barbara that are slashproof, etc. Also have a bunch of Baggallini travel bags that I have picked up along the way on clearance at TJ Maxx & Marshalls. It seems I always end up bringing one of my Baggallini's to Europe. Have used one of these B. on many European trips and in many countries including Poland, Croatia & Slovenia with no problems. Never once have I had someone try to grab my bag. Also have been on 2 girl's trips to Italy with my sisters and niece and not one of us has ever had an attempted bag theft. Of course always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Have a great trip!!

I bought a Pacsafe bag and the third day it unraveled a bit near the strap. I used it a few more days because it looked like someone tried to grab it and the bag won.

Then I found a Mandarina Duck small messenger bag (weighs almost nothing) and ditched the Pacsafe.

Hey Roberto
I agree whole heartedly with you. we live here in the bay area where it happens every day, when they come to this forum that's like the #1 question besides what area is best to stay and can i go here there and everywhere in one week!! LOL enjoy the towns, cities, and villages, ambience, food, drink, atmosphere, never had an issue or "scammed" with my travels when i have gone to europe. I'm more worried about transit here in the crazy bay area, (buses, BART, taxis, trains etc.)
Thanks Roberto for putting it out there
Aloha Princess Pupule

YET, NOT ONLY HAVE I NEVER BEEN PICK-POCKETED, BUT I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY KNOWN ANYBODY WHO WAS PICK POCKETED IN ITALY!!! NEVER!

In April of this year, an attempt was made on me while buying a vaporetto ticket outside the train station in Venice. Fortunately, I had fastened the zippers together so they didn't get anything.

In Florence a number of years ago, I was with a group of friends. As we were walking, some store owners started yelling at us. They were telling us there was a child thief in the middle of our group and had his hand in the fanny pack of one of the women. None of us knew he was there.

I grew up in New York City and have never had a pickpocketing attempt made on me or anyone I know. I've also never met anyone who was later murdered. That doesn't mean it never happens. (That's similar t the "it's never happened to me so it doesn't happen" way of thinking.)

A safety bag is probably not needed. Just find a way to keep your zippers from being opened without your knowledge or just don't put anyting of value in non-securable pockets.

But if it makes you feel better, get an anti-theft bag. It's your trip. Do whatever makes you happy.

While I have never had a problem in nearly a year of total travel in Europe over the past 20+ years, we know two people who have. In Italy we knew a person who lost a camera from a belt mounted camera case. Unzipped the case and got the camera on a bus. Close friend lost everything from his front pocket as he was getting on a train in Paris. For his first four trips his method of everything bundled together - 2 passports, billfold, money, c cards, etc., all secured with a couple of big rubber bands that provided extra friction when removing from the pocket worked well for him with no problem. He used to make fun of our suggestions for money belts and splitting everything. "No way anyone is going to get anything out of my front pocket without me knowing it." It was his fifth trip to Europe - an expert by now - they got everything. Now he is a faithful user of a money belt. "I just cannot believe that they were that good."

We bought a theft resistant Travelon cross body bag. While the anti slash feature does apply to the body, the primary anti slash feature is a rather burly braided steel cable that is inside the strap. No way anybody is going to cut that thing. Additionally, it has a zipper lock that uses a threaded locking carbiner to link zipper closures. It also has the largest velcro surfaces I've ever seen on a bag. It is incredibly well sealed and makes so much noise that there is no way anybody could undo it without alerting you. However, while those features bring piece of mind, I got it mainly because it has but a single strap and many museums don't allow backpacks. I tested it on a two week trip to Ottawa and Montreal, and while it's safety features were not needed, it performed well in the tight spaces of museums. I will be using it on a 3 week trip to Italy in September.

The best defense against theft is being aware and vigilant. In the past when wearing a RS Civita day bag or a fanny pack, if in crowds I wear them in front, and if I really get bad vibes I'll cross my arms across them. ANY commotion anywhere nearby prompts me to clamp down with a death grip. Same with any jostling or physical contact. I also tend to view nearly everyone in a crown with a cautious suspicion. As I can wear the Travelon bag in front of me, with that and my money belt I'm really not all that concerned about theft. Be aware and make it appear that you are a difficult target and you will likely have no problems. And if you make your valuables inaccessible, the thieves will move to easier targets.

Frank II
I did say that crime can happen in Italy like everywhere else.
However statistics say that crime of any type in US cities is not any better, as a matter of fact there is more violent crime in American cities than in Italian or Europeans ones. Yet when someone is going to visit San Francisco or NYC they don't think of all these extraordinary precautions, in spite of the fact that the city of San Francisco has more violent crime than the whole island of Sicily. There were 59 murders in the city of San Francisco in 2016 (over a population of 840,000) but, in spite of the mafia, only 53 in the entire island of Sicily (over a population of 5.5 million). Guess where the average American would be most fearful to travel?
Perceptions count more than reality, that is my point.

Sorry, Roberto, but I'm going to have to disagree.

While the U.S. has more murders than Italy, most killings take place between people who knew each other and very few are against tourists. In any U.S. city, while playing tourist, I would be more concerned with being a victim of a pickpocket in high tourist areas than I would of being murdered. The same goes for violent crime as many of those deal with domestic or drug issues. (And yes, I wear my hidden pocket everywhere I go outside my home area. After all, it's not stamped "For Europe Only.")

However, in European cities, pickpockets prey on tourists Why? For a few reasons.....

--tourists are usually not as observant or aware of their surroundings the way locals would be.
--if caught, few tourists would travel halfway around the world for a trial while a local might show up.
--tourists tend to carry more money or goodies on them than a local.

I have been traveling solo for a long time and have gotten, what I think, very good at knowing what is going on around me. But like everyone else, I can get distracted. Before buying my Vaporetto ticket out of the machine in Venice, I looked around and no one was within 20 feet of me. Within seconds of starting to use the machine, the pickpocketing gang was around me. It took me a few seconds to realize the distraction ploy they were trying to use, before I turned to check my bags. They already had one zipper open--a pocket with nothing in it--but couldn't open any other due to my securing the zippers. Had I not done so I probably would have lost something. I cursed at them, they laughed, walked away slowly looking for their next victim. They weren't concerned because they knew the police probably wouldn't do anything and they could find an easier target.

Addendum: If pickpocketing wasn't such a problem, why does every Italy travel site warn people about pickpocketing and what to do about it but I don't know any travel websites that warns people going to San Francisco about getting murdered

People can make fun of me for being vigilent and concerned about theft. But losing my phone or electronics or even a credit card would be a hassle halfway around the world from home.

Totally agree Frank.

It is not true that tourists are the principal victims of petty crime in Italy. Most victims of crime in Italy are local elderlies and local commuters on crowded buses on the way to work.

The reason why pick pocketing is more prevalent in Italy than the US is:
-Italians like to carry more cash in their wallets. The rewards for a pickpocket are higher.
-Most pick pockets happen on crowded public mass transit, which is not the prevalent mode of transportation in America. The same crowded situations are not common in America.
-Disincentives are low in Italy. Sentences are low for serious crimes, and non existing for non violent crimes. There is no imprisonment for pickpockets. And yes that is very frustrating for law enforcement. I worked at Firenze SMN. We knew the pickpockets by name. Always the same people. Caught on a Monday, released on Wednesday and back "at work".

The same type of crime does not pay in America. Where are the crowded buses in America? I take BART, Caltrain, Muni in San Francisco. It's rarely crowded the way a bus in Rome or Florence would be on any given day. And SF is a city where there are actually people taking buses. Elsewhere people use their own car. The opportunities for pickpockets are not there and most Americans don't carry more than $40 in their wallet. Even tourists who come to America are rarely on buses. Most tourists who come to America use rental cars, most tourists in Europe don't, except for roaming the countryside. American criminals don't have the same opportunities to be pickpockets, you can't pickpocket someone who is in a car. They get better rewards holding up at a gun point the cashier of a local liquor store or fuel station, or selling illicit drugs.
Want to avoid pickpockets in Italy? Don't use public transit in cities. Take a taxi, the way most tourists do in DC or San Francisco. It will cost more, but if pickpockets safety is a concern let it be known that 90% of pickpockets happen in mass transit. Frecciarossa trains are ok. Never crowded and too expensive for pickpockets to board.

I always travel with a cross body bag and I've never had any problems. I rest my hand on the zipper when I'm in a crowd as an extra deterrent. I've never heard of anybody cutting someone's purse strap with a razor. The most important things are to be aware and to wear your money belt. I was nearly robbed getting on a bus in Pisa. I knew I was being checked out, so when the woman got on the bus after me, I looked down at my purse and she had the zipper half open. I almost wish she had been successful - she would have been disappointed to find less than a Euro in change and $20 Canadian! Never carry anything you can't afford to loose in your purse! A friend of mine wasn't so lucky. She was swarmed by a group of gypsies on a train in Greece and they got her wallet, phone, driver's license, passport, and money. Fortunately, she had credit cards in another pocket, but she was not wearing a money belt so she was stuck in Athens for five days awaiting a new passport. It's hard to enjoy your trip if you're always worrying about someone robbing you, so wear the money belt!

Being pickpocket proof does not require slash proof this or that -- I have been traveling in Europe sometimes for several months at a time, one time for a year, since 1960 and have never met anyone who has experienced a slash theft. I have met many many people who have been pickpocketed because they carried valuables in a backpack, a pocket (including pocket on the knee of cargo pants) and fanny packs. All those are buffets for pickpockets who are skilled at what they do. Most times you never notice until you notice the money or wallet or passport is gone.

Don't carry a lot of valuables when out and about; use the hotel safe. Keep the walking around money for the day and one credit card in a cross body purse that you have in front of you under your arm in crowded places or use hidden inner pockets in clothing in weather than allows that (simple travel shirts with a hidden pocket behind the breast pocket work well) Or use one of those neck wallets under your clothes. None of this is 100% but it greatly reduces the likelihood of theft.

When you travel a lot you just get used to not being pickpocket vulnerable It absolutely does not require armored purses; it isn't the purse, it is how you manage it.

I wouldn't buy or not buy a bag simply because it is a pacsafe or travelon. I do find these bags are incredibly well organized, and that is what I like about them. I have a pacsafe metro 200? that I purchased at least 10 years ago, and it looks like new. I love the organization, but also the lockable zippers. I used this to commute more often than not and I never had to worry about my bag on the crowded subway, etc. Recently, I bought a travelon backpack that is 12 x 16 x 6 because it is the only backpack I found with BA's underseat measurements. However, I'll lock the zippers and I might even throw caution to the wind and put my financial stuff in that bag, when I'm not on the airplane. I don't find there is any more of an issue in Europe than here at home, but I live in the city. In fact, my mother was pickpocketed years ago at Faneuil Hall Market Place. When her wallet was found, it was found in a ceiling of a restaurant with many, many other wallets...so there are pickpockets everywhere. If you like the bags, buy one. If not, a bag with a zipper under a flap should suffice, but I never take my bag off and put it under the table, etc. That's just foolish, anywhere, IMO. What I actually use at my destination is a small Bryant Baggallini. It is not pickpocket proof, but it has been fine...no flap, had removable strap...made a tour mate of mine extremely nervous for what he thought was lack of security. So, everyone is different and you have to take care of your own fears and comfort. But I love threads like this where we learn everyone's system. In my many years of travel, no issues. I'm aware when people get in my space, chat with them, but step back or turn a bit. Maybe introverts are more aware of their personal space?