Yet Another Pick Pocket Awareness Reminder

I always put a small travel lock on my backpack or baggalini or whatever I'm traveling with. I'd rather be inconvenienced that way, than getting things stolen. Glad she outsmarted the situation.

That could’ve gone worse, so she did well, and thank you for sharing what she shared. I hope the rest of your tour group went unscathed the whole time.

If this happened during a tram or bus ride, my one additional recommendation, based on personal experience, is to move a backpack to your front when on public transportation. That way, the would-be thieves are facing you, not working behind your back.

Moving a backpack in front of you in public transit is also considerate to other passengers. Less likely to hit someone with it while turning around on a crowded bus or train.

I actually have a packsafe backpack, and this is great, as you can lock the zippers, making it non trivial to open it.

There's occasionally a cute little girl with a balloon dancing in a circle on the piazza in front of the Pantheon in Rome.

If you think for a moment, you'll notice that she seems to be unaccompanied by parents, and there are no balloon vendors in the vicinity.

She is a honeypot.

Each trip I’ve been traveling lighter during the day. I no longer carry a backpack or day bag. I’ve gotten it down to either a hip pack or small crossbody which I wear under my jacket or sweater so the strap isn’t showing. Also my phone lanyard has a small pocket for my credit card and driver’s license, again, I wear it under my jacket. I have even used a wristlet on occasion since all my jackets have zippered pockets.
Since retiring we rarely travel in the hot weather so a light jacket is usually with me.
Also, I am very aware at all times where my valuables are.

A small party of us were in Lisbon a couple of weeks back and the pickpockets were rife and brazen with it. Of the six of us two were targeted, one guy three times (he must have that ‘look’ about him). Fortunately, due to other hawk eyes in the group no attempt was successful, but it did rather spoil the experience, being on your guard 100% of the time. After a failed attempt all the pickpockets would unconcernedly pretend to be taking photographs on their phones. As far as we could tell they seem to work in groups of three - two light fingered women (not exclusively - one who targeted us was a guy) and a big guy who acted as ‘muscle’ and who they would palm their ill gotten gains off to.

Takeaways? Take out with you only what you need - in my wallet I had a few euros and a single credit card plus my ‘Lisbon pass’. Phone and wallet were zipped into my front shorts pockets - this on the basis that I should notice if anybody got close to my private parts! Don’t take out a zipped ‘man bag’ - attracts them like honey does bees. Julie secured her handbag (purse) with mini karabiners to make life difficult for them and wore it in front of her at all times. Beware of anybody getting too close to you and if they suddenly change direction to go in your direction. I carried my ‘extraneous stuff’ - waterproof/windproof, spare layer - it wasn’t that warm on arrival - sunglasses case, specs etc in an old drawstring bag. Theory behind this latter is that you’d likely/ hopefully notice if someone tried to prise it open and you could sit with it on, pressed into the seat on a tram or train. I have heard that in some places they slash these bags, but this will only lead to disappointment - nothing of value for the pickpockets and me that I need a new drawstring bag. Fortunately A) this didn’t happen and B) Lisbon has more branches of Ale-Hop than you can shake a stick at. But exercise extreme caution and vigilance in Lisbon!

Ian