Best way to deter pickpockets taking a phone.

I bring an old phone, get a SIM for it and make that for daily use. I tuck my current phone deep into my backpack. YMMV.

When I travel, I like to use a phone lanyard. Amazon has scads of them. That way, the phone is protected from accidental drops to concrete or in a water body, keeps it handy for a pic or navigation, and detours pickpockets, at least some.

I bought a Doorman Phone Lanyard for Amazon for $9.49. Sticker goes on back of your phone, attaches to a strong cord that clips into the inside of our purse. (My travel purse has a built in lanyard so I just used the sticker part of the set-up.)

I have a Bandolier lanyard and my husband has a small front pack that is very small/across the chest and perfect size for a wallet and phone.

Use a lanyard
Don’t walk around with your phone in your hand
Don’t set it down on table at cafe

Hello

My husband uses this Nite Ize Hitch phone anchor + tether.

https://www.rei.com/product/147938/nite-ize-hitch-phone-anchor-tether

He puts the loop thru his belt loop on his pants, hooks the loop onto itself (not sure I'm explaning that right, but basically like the photo shows of the person with it on her wrist) and then puts his phone in his front pocket. I use one also, except I attach a lanyard to the anchor.

Pretty easy to use for that purpose and sometimes we use the coiled tether in other ways also while traveling.

I use the belt holster below.

AH Military Grade Cell Phone Belt Holster
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VBDGD8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

1) put in a front pocket with a couple rubber bands around it (which create friction if anyone lifts it).
2) #1, plus put a pocket notebook or something similar securely fastened to the phone with the rubber bands. Then add a separate packet of tissues or something so no one can pull your phone out of a fully stuffed pocket.
3) when you walk around keep alert with a hand near the pocket with your phone.

We have been using Black Rapid camera and phone accessories https://www.blackrapid.com/all/phone-accessories/
I really like the wrist strap but will buy the lanyard for upcoming trip. Some you can purchase on Amazon. The other stuff is available on B&H. Wife uses the camera gear. great products.

I have no problem just keeping it in my front pocket.

I do think most people need to adjust habits. Seems a lot of people put it in their back pocket (mainly younger) hanging out, I wouldn't carry my wallet like that, so why a phone?

You also notice people holding their phones out in front of them, following them around, in a crowd or on a street corner, just sort of offering them up.

The other habit I see (guilty myself) is when you sit down at a table, you lay it on the table next to you. You can pretty much walk up to a restaurant with outdoor seating and identify the Americans by their phones sitting on the table, or constantly on their phones.

Basically treat your phone like your wallet. Don't do anything with your phone that you would not with your wallet. If you need directions or to look up something, get off to the side, out of traffic, pull out your phone, do what you need to do, then put it away and move on.

As a woman, I have a tether on mine that is also attached to the inside of my crossbody bag.
The phone case has no cards or money in it, just the phone.
I also bring my old phone and it’s cable in case I lose the current one.

If you carry a phone in your purse this product is best in my opinion.

Roberto da Firenze ⚜ I was thinking the exact same thing.

Tonight if you were to go to the local winebar down the street, maybe a fourth of the tables inside and out would have a phone resting on them. A different world.

EDIT: But you know what, to be fair, the locals have a support network and they dont need their phone to get home. That puts a totally different light on how you protect your phone.

IMO, don't take a newer phone, mine is the iPhone 12 mini and everyone knows it's vintage, which is fine with me! Personally, I would avoid small wallets where people put credit cards along with phones. And I have a front, zippered pocket where the phone stays. I try to move out of the way, or stand next to a building with hubby beside me while I take a picture. If you take common precautions and are aware of what's around you, you should be fine!

I also use the Nite Ize Hitch phone anchor and tether, securing the phone to my crossbody bag with an S-Biner.
I lock bag/backpack zippers using these S-Biners when on public transport or in crowded places.
https://www.rei.com/product/239078/nite-ize-s-biner-microlock-package-of-5

Pants with zippered pockets and put a safety pin through the hole in the zipper.

Women’s pants rarely have a front pocket deep enough for a phone. I keep mine in a zippered jacket pocket (if possible), in my small hip bag that I wear cross body or I use this one if I want my phone more accessible. It’s a less expensive version of the Bandolier.

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Crossbody-Lanyards-Adjustable-Shoulder/dp/B0D9LYW25W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=GX9Y86OAUCZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TOZHDNPmn-O61Bu6Z69ukBnFggbcEa_JFfAXIqVRGtw84P7c_V4iciZZNnwdXLTxW0PSRKwZykHWraAe5BY2V7o-yFF83PF--UJWfm6WLHGWyMnFmU97potjsJw7YX0Xmlx0GrArq4iNmi3vIFXBEbczol-xz-TU18Z5JaCi0cumEZ4mtPGU3rdcGdsNMprPVNMuA69U3MkGTrO351r7ckhu3aEZMdlros6M7Ou6VX0.IksN15psR4YyRO0KZmj8TdxFu54iAgxMQZK3bH9P4ls&dib_tag=se&keywords=leather%2Biphone%2B15%2Bpro%2Bcrossbody%2Bcase&qid=1788016107&sprefix=Leather%2Bcrossbody%2Bcase%2Bfor%2BiPhone%2B15%2Bpro%2Caps%2C303&sr=8-4&xpid=ddUoJgGBtadQp&th=1

Andrea, you made me go shopping…..

"Best," of course depends on what works for you. It's no good, for instance, anybody advising me to be aware of my surroundings --- not when I'm looking at an interesting doorknob or stray cat or something. I keep my phone either in a zippered vest pocket under my coat or in my little Pacsafe crossbody purse. And, luckily, since COVID, I now have an automatic reaction to anybody getting too close to me. I may, though, for my next trip which includes 2.5 weeks in Venice, use a wrist strap for my phone so it doesn't end up in a canal.

TTM, I really like the phone tether case thingy. I will say that I’ve not used the little wallet that’s attached. No reason other than I keep my wallet and cards more under wraps and more difficult to get to. I try to use my Apple Watch for Apple Pay whenever possible so that I don’t have to take my wallet or a card out of my purse.

I see many recommendations to wear lanyards. How does a lanyard protect a phone from someone who wants to steal it who can easily cut the lanyard quickly with a knife?

This is why I use a special travel purse (made by Travelon) as the straps cannot be cut by anything. They are reinforced with a material that stops people from cutting them and running off.

So are these lanyards the kind that cannot be cut?

The likelihood of a thief carrying a knife to cut a phone lanyard is so low it really isn’t worth worrying about.
A decent thief simply has no need to use one and if they are caught with a knife they are likely to receive a stronger sentence. For an opportunistic thief there really is no benefit.

Phones are often snatched from a person’s hand when they are in use. This is why I am really not a fan of really strong straps. For safety you want them to snap.

Don’t carry your phones in your back pocket half hanging out. Remind that to your teenage family members. Carrying a phone in the back pocket half hanging out may be incredibly cool, but it is risky while traveling in European cities.

A phone is the number one target of thieves. Be careful when and where you use it, because some people have theirs snatched by passersby while using it or snatched from an outdoors restaurant table while sipping your cappuccino.

The likelihood of a thief carrying a knife to cut a phone lanyard is so low it really isn’t worth worrying about.

They’re using knives to cut the straps of women’s purses which is why I have a slash-proof purse. The could be on bikes or motorcycles. I learned about it here a few years ago. It’s even easier to slash a thin lanyard.

Keep it in a zippered pocket that's close to your body.
The front pocket of your pants and an inner jacket pocket is better than a jacket side pocket, even with zippers.
When using the phone, you can get a strap that attaches to your phone case and then wraps around your wrist.
If your money belt is big enough, you can put your phone in that.

They’re using knives to cut the straps of women’s purses

The level of risk around this is really low. Does it happen with bags? yes but it really isn’t that common. A thief is only going to use a knife if they think it is worth their while and a tourists phone is simply not valuable enough and there are easier ways to steal them.

Lanyards on phones can be useful especially if you are clumsy but steel threaded theft proof straps are just overkill, and a waste of money. Similar to RFD proof wallets there is a lot of money to be made from worrying people unnecessarily!

Agree that strap slashing and RFID skimming are massively over exaggerated risks.

Along with that is the myth that you should not use a USB port while waiting at an airport gate because your personal info could be stolen. There are zero documented reports of this ever happening. The legend spread because an intern who was assigned to update the TDA Facebook page last year shared the myth from a poorly-sourced report and then all the social media travelers influencers who need to constantly put out new content shared it as if it were fact because the TSA posted it (note also that the TSA’s job is only to screen departing passengers and cargo, not to police airport gates).

Another myth that can actually be dangerous if you believe it is the idiotic suggestion that when checking into a hotel room, especially as a solo female, you should prop the door open while you inspect under the bed, behind the curtains, in the closets, etc for bad guys hiding there. Bad guys aren’t hiding for hours in hotel rooms just hoping that a single female will check in. But there is a risk, albeit small, that you might be trailed to your room, by someone with nefarious intentions. There are cases of this happening. Your safest strategy is to get into your room quickly and lock the door behind you.

Wrap your phone in razor wire. Then nobody will touch it.

I use a neck lanyard for my phone, and keep the phone in either a front pocket or in an outside pocket of my crossbody bag while I’m wearing the lanyard. I’m more concerned with dropping the phone while using it. I’m not sure the suggestion of putting the phone in a money belt is a feasible one if you’re going to be using your phone while out and about. Money belts are for hidden storage and shouldn’t be accessed in public.

Wrap your phone in razor wire. Then nobody will touch it.

Also place some explosive inside, with a remote mechanism to make it detonate in case someone steals it from you. That will teach them a lesson once their hand and ear are gone.

Okay before we make fun ...

"The local told me afterward that everyone knows that the street I walked down is dangerous"

Of course a tourist isn't "everyone" in that statement and so it reasonable to plan for greater safety than most situations will require.

"Sorry I'm late. I lost my phone and had to stop by the phone store on the way to get a new one"

A tourist just isn't going to be able to casually replace a phone or a passport or credit card and so it reasonable to plan for greater safety than most situations will require.

“Keep it in a zippered pocket that's close to your body.
The front pocket of your pants and an inner jacket pocket is better than a jacket side pocket, even with zippers.
When using the phone, you can get a strap that attaches to your phone case and then wraps around your wrist.
If your money belt is big enough, you can put your phone in that.”

moss, I’m assuming you must be a man because if you were a woman you would know that the front pockets on women’s pants are rarely deep enough for a phone. Also most women’s jackets don’t have inside pockets. When clothing designers start making women’s clothes more practical it will be a happy day for womankind.

i personally wouldn’t keep my phone in a money belt because I use it as a camera, for directions, etc. That’s why I use the item I linked to. I can use it and I don’t worry about dropping it. If I’m wearing a jacket I am able to put the phone in my pocket while still attached to the strap. All we can do is prepare the we can hope for the best.