Witnessed a new pickpocket distraction tactic

Well done! How disturbing and eye-opening at the same time. The guy was a d*ck to shove you. How did it affect your sister? (Hope her phone-storing habit changed!) Are you the big sister?! Haha.

Thanks for the heads up!

You provide a great example of vigilance!!

I agree with above that the shove was frightening. It's bad enough to think in terms of pickpockets with no physical contact. I hope your experience isn't a sign of things (physical violence) to come.

Wow, you had the flight travel nightmare situation and now this - all during your sister’s first time to Europe! Will she ever come visit again? : (

Kudos for being alert!

Its very hard to convince Americans not to carry that phone or wallet in the back pocket. It's what most people seem to do here in my city.

It was a bit shocking for her. I was just so glad nothing was stolen. She definitely was more aware after that, and caught herself several times almost putting her phone in her pocket. I still reminded her to zip everything up before we got into crowded places (like museum lines) or on the metro.

I’m the little sister (by 15 years), and I doubt she will return to Europe. She’s not very flexible. We reserved a room with two twins that had been made up as one bed, and it sent her into hysterics. Some people just aren’t suited for travel, I think.

I’m sorry that happened to you, and I’m horrified that thieves are now shoving and touching people.
I hope your sister isn’t permanently scarred by this incident, and will return again to Europe!

I’ve decide that the kids who started wearing fanny packs wrong- cross body style in front of them- had the right idea. It won’t protect from someone who really, really wants your things, but having a bag right against the front of your body seems to offer a little more awareness.

Thanks so much for posting your experience. I'm so very glad you were behind her and knew immediately they were up to no good. I'm kind of shocked he actually touched you but glad you kept your balance and your wits about you.

I don't think it is a new scam or approach. Pickpockets generally work in pairs or more with someone creating a distraction and someone making the hit. What you described is fairly common. The best defense is having nothing that is easily accessed. I doubt if they were cutting the strap. Too much effort and noticeable. Pickpockets like to have easy escape routes. And if you suspect you are being set up, stop, step aside and let the people behind you go in front. If I am in a really crowded situation, I will often just stop, and let the crowd flow pass for 30 seconds or so. Breaks up any sandwich situation.

I think walking in public without at least one hand free is a big mistake, and probably makes you a easy target.

Having both hands "occupied" marks someone as a ripe target, as you and your sister learned. Hands free is the way to go...people are vulnerable when they are carrying anything, like luggage, and are focused on that task to the exclusion of being aware that they are about to get picked...

Anybody who approaches you with something in their hands should be eyed warily. Years ago there was a common ploy, usually an older woman, surrounded by a bunch of kids, approaching to show people some sheet of paper or a placard, something like a request for help - money to feed the kids - and when she held that up to you, above your waist, the kids gathered in close and were digging through your pockets. On one of my first trips to Europe 40 years ago, I had read about that particular scam, and I witnessed it being done in a busy tourist area in Paris.

Not that many years ago I witnessed a clueless older couple who had something squirted onto their clothing without them realizing it, and a kind stranger immediately stepped forward to assist them in cleaning the fake bird poop from their clothing...I shouted to the victims that they were being scammed, and it seemed to disrupt the pickpockets. At least when I walked over to them, they indicated nothing was missing, but I went on my way and don't know if they avoided getting something taken from them or not.

How's your sister holding up on her first trip to Europe? First the bad, delayed plane trip, then the pickpocket, followed by another not so fun plane trip. Do you think she'll ever want travel again?
Thanks for letting us know about the pickpockets' tactics.

As if the issues with your flights weren’t enough! Thanks for posting this. We’re off to Spain later this week and are prepared to be situationally aware in Barcelona but not necessarily in Seville. My husband just got a lanyard for his phone to keep from inadvertently carrying it in his back pocket. He’s used to carrying phone & wallet in his back pocket so he needed something to break up his usual behavior. Thankfully, he feels comfortable wearing a money belt.

And if you suspect you are being set up, stop, step aside and let the people behind you go in front.

That's what I do. In London a couple of years ago, four guys were following me as I was going from the tube station to the hotel with my luggage. I felt something wasn't right so I walked to the side onto someones driveway. Two of the guys immediately crossed the street, headed back where they came from and prenteded to talk on the phone. The other two didn't know what to do and just stood there. I stared them down. They said "sorry" and I went on my way looking back making sure they weren't following me.

Another tactic I sometimes use is what Russian submarine commanders used to use. It's called a "Crazy Ivan." To make sure they are not being followed, they suddenly turn around and make a large 360 degree circle. I will stop turn around and go back the way I came until I have passed the questionable followers.

That map he was holding was a decoy, ie a distraction maneuver . Never came close to anything like that in Paris or elsewhere in France, once in Germany on Museum Island in Berlin , that was in 1995.

One should not carry the phone in the back pocket, a dead give-away. ...I don't.

Frank II is correct with crazy Ivan although a bit extreme but it works well. I prefer, if available, is to set into a store entrance and act extremely interested in something in the window. Sometimes the glass will provide a little reflection so that you can see the crowd behind you with out staring at the crowd. Fortunate, I have two advantages that is hard to emulate. First I am about 6-2 so it is easy to see over the crowd but easy to follow in a crowd. My 5-5 wife just sees backs of heads and backs. And then during my early days in military. the training included how to move through a crowd and how to notice who is in the crowd. Old tricks are hard to forget.

Wow, that sounds intense! I’ve had similar run-ins during my travels too. When I was in Barcelona, I saw someone try to pull a similar stunt with a scarf. It’s crazy how quick and sneaky they are.

I’m always paranoid about my stuff getting swiped, so I keep my phone and wallet in a front pocket or a bag with a zipper. Once, in Paris, my friend's wallet was almost taken on the metro, but luckily, someone noticed and we managed to scare the thief off. Your story is a good reminder to stay on high alert, especially in busy places.

My husband's wallet was stolen out of his back pocket while he was waiting in line to check into a hotel in Virginia-I think Petersburg.

Tip. Whatever valuable you put in your pockets, put a few or a wad tissues on top. It will be the first thing that a thief’s fingers will touch and he will have to deal with an obstacle. Usually not enough time for them to deal with it before moving in or you noticing.
People often mention zippered pockets, but better than that is Velcro. Velcro is much harder to undo than a zipper and causes pressure that you will notice.

Posted by treemoss2

Tip. Whatever valuable you put in your pockets, put a few or a wad
tissues on top. It will be the first thing that a thief’s fingers will
touch and he will have to deal with an obstacle. Usually not enough
time for them to deal with it before moving in or you noticing. People
often mention zippered pockets, but better than that is Velcro. Velcro
is much harder to undo than a zipper and causes pressure that you will
notice.

The thief will also have to deal with having touched a possibly used tissue. Ewwww! Bwa-ha-ha.

The Velcro is also noisier than a zipper or snap.

I have an old Ameribag with Velcro on the outer flap pocket. I bought a new one in a smaller size and newer design. One of the changes was to replace the outer Velcro flap pocket with a no flap pocket with a magnetic snap. The first thing that came to my mind was that I would never hear the snap being opened like I would the Velcro. Nothing valuable going in there, but still.

I had a strange encounter last year in Aix. I am very aware of pick pocket ploys (try saying that fast three times). Anyway, a college aged kid with a baguette in his hand walked up to me and started speaking in French. I speak very little French but enough to respond. He then asked me if I was British. and started speaking in English. I thought for sure it was a scam and my husband stayed close behind me. He asked me if it looked like he had been crying! I said no, and he proceeded to tell me that he didn't want his friends to know he had been crying. LOL! Anyway, I gave him some reassurance and a wee bit of advice and he went on his way to find his friends. I think he was looking for a little comfort from a mom type person. It was a strange travel encounter.

A college age kid approaching me in France speaking whatever language , French or English, I 've not had that experience.

Something similar took place this trip in Berlin with the "kid" approaching speaking in German. He didn't stick around for long, since after a few moments he left. I must have turned him off.

Wearing pants with Velcro pockets I don't do. They are a signal to the bad guys you have stuff to hide. Of course, we do indeed have stuff to hide but "they" don't know that.

It's called a "Crazy Ivan."

I remember one of the submarines making a Crazy Ivan in the movie "The Hunt for Red October." :-)

travel4fun, glad everything worked out! That must have been a little scary.

My trips to France, Paris, and Europe are done for this year, can't enter Schengen anyway as the passport expires in April.

Going solo I never came close to being picked , let alone accosted, or any such behaviour this trip or that of last summer...not going to happen.