Pick Pockets in Switzerland?

There’s no crime in Switzerland. 😊 Seriously, I’ve found Switzerland to be super safe. Just take normal precautions.

Thank you! That's what I wanted to hear. :-)

It is the same across the board. Same as Barcelona. You keep the same habits for one as the other. You do not ease up on your precautions and habits adjusting it to places. You stay the same. Then you are covered.

Some Swiss cities like Zuirch, and Bern have heroin issues. So there are junkies desperate for cash to get their next hit. So while there may not be as many pickpockets as other countries, purse snatching and muggings are a very real thing in some locations. In just one day in Bern I witnessed three purse snatching. If it's any consolation the victims appeared to be locals and not tourists.

On another forum, a guy was lamenting that he lost his wallet getting into a train car, person in front stopped, person behind bumped into him...lost 850 CHF and 200 GBP. Was mystified that the police could not do anything was warning everyone to watch out for a couple, that coincidently were POC.

I Kindly told him A. Why were you even carrying that much cash? B. The next people picking his pocket are just as likely to be a well dressed elderly white couple. C. Old trick, patience and "social distancing" have multiple rewards. D. Seriously, why were you even carrying that much cash, in a billfold, when cards are accepted nearly everywhere?

Always be vigilant, your perceptions will just cause you to let your guard down.

No matter where I am in Europe, I take the same basic precautions. #1 for a man is to not carry your wallet in your back or hip pocket as most do here in the US. After that, consider what you need to have with you / on your person at all times. I am in the camp that you need to have your passport at all times, and I carry that in a neck wallet under my shirt, along with credit cards and excess cash. I carry in my front zippered pocket my iPhone, and I use it rather than a physical CC whenever possible to pay for stuff (Apple Pay). I carry a small amount of cash in my other front pocket.

Having said all of that, I do regard Switzerland as being safer than most countries, but big cities and pinch points like airports and mass transit stations, getting on/off trams, trains, and busses, and other congested areas, especially when you are jet lagged or distracted with your "hands full" pulling luggage, are when you will be glad you stuck to the basics I listed above.

Thank you all. I am always careful, even near home, when in crowded places. I use a money belt when I'm traveling, but I'm always nervous about losing my day's spending money (even though it isn't that much) or the hassle of cancelling a stolen credit card.

In major cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne, there is still crime.

A few years ago, my serviced apartment in Zurich was broken into but the Police refused to create a record. In the same year, I was sexually harassed and robbed in West Zurich, which is known for loitering drug addicts and illegals waiting for their prey. I also witnessed pickpocketing on buses during commute time.

I still have families in Switzerland. They used to not lock doors. However, Europe has changed so much that they cannot afford to do so anymore.

A friend lost 500 Swiss francs to a pickpocket in the Zurich train station. She had her wallet zipped into a belt bag she wore in front, not on her back. The guy was dressed like an official and was blocking the aisle of the train car like he was looking for someone, so we had to squeeze past. She discovered the wallet was missing after the train was under way. We figured the guy must have followed us from the airport station where she withdrew the cash from an ATM.
So no, you can’t relax your guard. Even Switzerland has theft.

I have been fortunate because I wear the pants and shorts from clothing arts.com, they are designed to not allow pick pockets to get to your money or cards. I use these regardless if I'm in Europe or going to flying to Seattle, they are well designed look like regular clothes, they also sink wash well and dry quickly.

Disclaimer: I don't work for clothingarts.com or have any affiliation.

I live in the Bernese Oberland and:
a) I never lock my house. Nobody does here.
b) I never use cash. I just have a small metal card that contains two credit cars, my ID, and my Summer Pass. That goes in my front trouser pocket.
It helps that Swiss banks have stopped producing credit cards with embossed numbers, so you can more easily fit multiple in a small holder.

I travel a lot all over Europe. Have never been pick-pocketted.