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I know I’ve said this before, but I’ll continue to post warnings, especially when I come across educational videos like the one below. The video shows a group of three young women (pickpockets usually work in groups of three) trying to rob a man as he boards the metro in Rome. The caption reads: “Watch how a group of pickpockets close in on a tourist and try to rob him. One pickpocket opens the zipper of his pouch, and her hand goes in, but maybe there was no wallet there! Happened in Rome!!!”
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Seeing videos like this really makes my blood boil, especially when the thieves get away without facing any consequences. They’ll just keep doing it. And when they’re successful, which is likely several times a day, they can completely ruin someone’s trip and possibly even change their life. What if someone needs to get home for an important meeting or a celebration but can’t because their passport was stolen?
So, what can travelers learn from this? Always keep your guard up, especially in crowded places like trains and tourist attractions. Also, keep your backpack, purse, or crossbody bag in front of you with your hand over it, just like the man in the video did.
And don’t let anyone block your way or slow you down. Pickpockets use various techniques, which you can read about in this story about distraction theft. For example, the thief in the video had a jacket draped over her arm to hide her hand while she dug for the victim’s wallet.
When you’re traveling (and even at home), it’s advisable to keep your valuables (cash, credit cards and phone) concealed. Women can opt for an RFID-blocking anti-theft crossbody bag like this one, which also features slash-resistant straps. A money belt is another great option to keep things hidden but easily accessible. I also wear a Scottevest jacket when I travel. It has 20+ pockets to keep all of my valuables safe and on my person at all times. They make lots of men’s and women’s styles to choose from.
This post isn’t meant to scare you; it’s meant to inform you so you don’t let these terrible people ruin your trip. I truly believe that most people in the world are good and it’s just a small percentage who are bad. Unfortunately, those few are the ones who can cause real harm, which is why you hear about them so often.
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