Top Five European Pickpocketing Locations - No Real Surprises.

[moa999]

Think your more at risk when you have luggage as you typically have to have one hand on the luggage.

My tactic on public transport is to move anything to inside pockets or inside luggage, and at worst have wallet/phone in a pocket next to the luggage that you hold close -- they can have a go at the other empty pockets only

 

[anat0l]

Yeah, absolutely no crime in Australia is there.

Well there's not as much pickpocketing, though you've got a greater chance being harmed around the nightlife (one punch attacks and so on). The number of break-ins in suburbs seems to be on the rise, or at least more clearly and publicly reported.

Australia is one of the few countries in the world where I still feel safe to carry my wallet in my back pocket. I would not be surprised if one day whilst I'm still alive, that could change.

 

[drron]

Touche’, I’m sure your characterisation would appeal to the hand-wringers but, for want of a better word, it’s simplistic. Most people freeze or panic when faced with a threat. By being unprepared to react immediately and decisively they relinquish control over their fate, and possibly the fate of their loved ones, to the (as yet undetermined) whims of a stranger.

Reaction is not vigilantism – it is self-preservation. “In the moment” the only thing you know for sure is that someone is trying to commit a crime against you, with the exact nature and extent of the “threat” impossible to know accurately. It may just be a “petty street crime” but if you assume that and you’re wrong you may well have missed your best (only?) opportunity to manage (control) the situation.


There’s no time to ask yourself “How many are there, do they have weapons etc.”? Anyone who tries to decide what their “proportionate response” should be under such circumstances is naïve to what can happen in the real world, especially if that real world is a foreign city and you and your wife are alone against multiple offenders in an underground metro.

Everyone should give some thought, ahead of time, as to how they could or should react in a threatening scenario. I’m definitely not paranoid but I am pragmatic - to me that’s just common sense. Be alert, not alarmed, as they say! The time to give it some thought is not when something is actually happening. Even if there don’t seem to be any options you still have to think of one.

The strategy I was taught was to enlist the element of surprise and a greatly disproportionate (excessive) response to neutralise the situation in as short a time as possible. If confronting more than one person the imperative is to ensure you only turn your attention to the next one once you know the first has been rendered incapable of further participation. That means being efficient – and if you know your anatomy and have good technique it can be done safely. Edit: Doesn't help when you skin your knees scrambling up the stairs after No. 2 though!

The problem is that none of us know whether we can carry out the planned actions we have thought about.I once was confronted with a threatening situation and responded totally differently to my plans-I am not known for bravery.
The situation occurred in hospital.Prisoners with a medical problem were brought into our critical care ward until they could be transported to Long Bay.On this day the prisoner was a very large South Sea Islander.He had knocked out the prison guard and was about to attack one of the nursing staff when I walked into the ward fortunately behind him.I immediately gave him bilateral carotid sinus massage which very fortunately worked and he fell to the ground.The prison guard had just come to and saw what happened-What did you do doc?Haven't you heard of the sleeper hold was the reply.
It wasn't until about 10 minutes later when the thought of what might have happened if it hadn't worked came to me.I was a quivering wreck for a while.

 

[Renato1]

The problem is that none of us know whether we can carry out the planned actions we have thought about.I once was confronted with a threatening situation and responded totally differently to my plans-I am not known for bravery.
The situation occurred in hospital.Prisoners with a medical problem were brought into our critical care ward until they could be transported to Long Bay.On this day the prisoner was a very large South Sea Islander.He had knocked out the prison guard and was about to attack one of the nursing staff when I walked into the ward fortunately behind him.I immediately gave him bilateral carotid sinus massage which very fortunately worked and he fell to the ground.The prison guard had just come to and saw what happened-What did you do doc?Haven't you heard of the sleeper hold was the reply.
It wasn't until about 10 minutes later when the thought of what might have happened if it hadn't worked came to me.I was a quivering wreck for a while.

Astounding - both what you did, and that supposedly knowledgeable prison guard or guards could allow the situation to develop to what it did.
Regards,
Renato

 

[amaroo]

Barcelona is the only place on that list where I've felt under siege.

 

[Pushka]

Barcelona is the only place on that list where I've felt under siege.

We felt under siege in Vietnam - grew steadily more so the further south we got.

 

[Austff]

We felt under siege in Vietnam - grew steadily more so the further south we got.

Mrs A & I just got back from Hanoi but felt safe , although she was terrified by the road traffic.
The trains in Rome was were we saw theft.

 

[Cynicor]

No, that was before I realised a swift right hook causing possible brain damage or even death was an entirely proportionate response to petty street theft. I'll be sure to be more vigilant(e) next time.

It is to me. You make your choices and pay the consequences.

 

[Pushka]

Mrs A & I just got back from Hanoi but felt safe , although she was terrified by the road traffic.
The trains in Rome was were we saw theft.

We loved HaNoi too. Once we got to NhaTrang we felt a little targeted.

 

[Guvner]

I told my Brother in law to watch out for thieves in Barcelona.
He landed at the airport after a long trek from Melbourne and hadn't even retrieved his bags from the carousel before his iPhone was snatched.
Welcome to Spain.

 

[opusman]

I told my Brother in law to watch out for thieves in Barcelona.
He landed at the airport after a long trek from Melbourne and hadn't even retrieved his bags from the carousel before his iPhone was snatched.
Welcome to Spain.

Impressive, considering he wouldn't have even gone through customs at that point. I find it hard to believe Spanish airports are that insecure.

 

[Guvner]

That was my point. He hadn't gone thru yet..

 

[Boca68]

Luckily, never been pickpocketed. (touch wood!!)

Although did see one nasty incident in Barcelona (of course). Walking back from my favourite bar (Ruby's, do try it . its amazing) in Barrio Gotic. I wasn't taking much notice, as I'd had enjoyable evening (hic!). Suddenly there was commotion about 10 metres in front of me. Dutch couple in there early sixties, were grappling with a couple of late teenage boys.

One of the boys had hold of a satchel and trying to run, but the man had hold of him by his belt. It was then a third boy came running from the opposite direction to me and laid the Dutch man out cold with a flying kick! His partner was hysterical, understandably. I tried to intervene, but was a few seconds too late. Others also tried, but the boys all ran off towards Ramblas.

Several people help the man , who came around in about 30 seconds. Thankfully not seriously injured. But made sure he got seen to by the ambulance at least. Despite his insistence that he was ok. By the way, he still had the satchel.

I have had the usual scams tried on me, bracelet in Paris, pettiton scam in Madrid, the rose in Sevilla and " tourist Poilce" in Bogota. Almost fell for the tourist police one. But, as soon as I asked to see proper ID apart from just a business card, they made thier excuses and left.

 

[Cynicor]

That was my point. He hadn't gone thru yet..

You mean it was taken from him (airside) or his luggage before he got to it?

 

[opusman]

You mean it was taken from him (airside) or his luggage before he got to it?

More likely he left it on the plane

 

[Virgin Bart]

Barcelona really does sound terrible from this thread. Never been, never been overly keen. Now not at all.

 

[opusman]

Barcelona really does sound terrible from this thread. Never been, never been overly keen. Now not at all.

Yeah, it's a warzone. Definitely stay away. I hear Wonthaggi is nice and safe this time of year.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Barcelona really does sound terrible from this thread. Never been, never been overly keen. Now not at all.

I spent 4 nights in Barcelona and would return in a heartbeat. Loved it.

 

[anat0l]

Barcelona really does sound terrible from this thread. Never been, never been overly keen. Now not at all.

That is a real shame. Barcelona has some beautiful sights to be seen. Of course, I can only comment on the sightseeing aspect; not so much the stuff-to-do part. If that's not enough to convince you to go in spite of the number of incidents, then so be it.

Barcelona does come out as the place to get pickpocketed or mugged in Europe. Sometimes you do wonder how many people manage to return safely in the first place. Other times you wonder how the Spanish people do it (though I imagine sometimes one might not want to rob or hurt your fellow countryman / countrywoman), viz. the ones who live in Barcelona.

 

[Guvner]

You mean it was taken from him (airside) or his luggage before he got to it?

It was taken from his backpocket whilst he was waiting for luggage. I don't have any more details such as flight number or carousel but I can pass on his email if you need it.