One of the biggest fears that I have while traveling is getting pickpocketed; it happened with a family member of mine the first time I left the United States at nine, and ever since I have been paranoid about the same happening to me on the next trip. These fears got even stronger in my recent trip to Italy (where pickpocketing is a well known concern), but thankfully I made sure that I was fully prepared. With that in mind, here are 3 tips that I have learned over the years to avoid being robbed, as well as 5 tools that me and my family have used to keep our belongings safe.
Tip #1: Don’t Accept any “Free” Gifts from People on the Street.
All over the world, people will attempt to give you “free” trinkets in order to take money from unsuspecting tourists. Typically they’ll do anything from offer you small trinkets to forcing them in your hand to even throwing them at you hoping you’ll catch them. If these items end up in your hands in any way, two things are likely to happen; the first is that the person offering will yell at you and accuse you of stealing until you give them money, or another person will steal your possessions while you’re distracted.
What I typically do to avoid this is just to ignore these people at all costs, and to not accept anything from people on the streets. My family will also go into full dodgeball mode if they do decide to start throwing the trinkets, and it can easily turn a stressful experience into a fun one that we can talk about for hours afterwards.
Tip #2: Be Wary of Taking Pictures of People you Don’t Know.
This is another tactic that some people will use to steal your attention, although it’s not nearly as obvious as offering obviously not free souvenirs. While most people that you come across are likely just other tourists that want a family photo, there are some (typically people that look like they’re alone, although not all solo travelers are like this so use your judgement) that will use the fact that your hands are full in order to steal your goods by another person.
It’s hard to combat this while you’re alone, so I recommend always traveling with someone in large cities or countries with a high crime rate so that you can have someone hold your belongings while taking the picture. It’s also a good idea to ignore some of these people if you don’t have another option.
Tip #3: Try to Blend in With the Locals.
I know not standing out in the crowds may seem like really basic advice, but making sure that you don’t get targeted by pickpockets is one of the best ways of guaranteeing you don’t get robbed. There are a few ways of doing this, but the most simple way is to find out how the locals dress and then pack your suitcase with these items. When I was going to Italy, my father informed me that most of the people dress in more elegant clothing, so I made sure that I brought absolutely NO T-shirts and kept most of my clothes that were more formal.
Another seemingly obvious way of blending in is to learn as much of the language as possible. This makes you sound less naive but it can also help you to understand if a shopkeeper is trying to scam you or if someone is targeting you as a tourist.
Of course, it’s not entirely possible to become exactly like the locals, and when you inevitably so something that marks you as a tourist (such as getting drawn into the street markets by the sea like I do) the employees will know that you aren’t form the region. However, being aware of the customs and demeanors of the people surrounding you is likely to help locals to respect you, which is also a big factor in not getting yourself robbed.
Tools That Have Kept My Belongings Safe
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This is the ultimate solution to keep your possessions safe if you are traveling somewhere cold, or if you’re traveling during the winter. Many good quality jackets (like my Austrian jacket pictured below) have small pockets on the inside of the jacket that are the perfect size for your passport wallet, and sometimes your phone as well! They’re also close to your person at all times, and it takes off some stress knowing that your most important belongings are in a location where people cannot reach easily.
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While it’s definitely not the cheapest option, these shorts are so secure that even you won’t be able to get to your wallet. My father uses these shorts on almost every single outing, and it’s easy to see why; these come with so many pockets zippers, and locks on the zippers that it’s almost impossible for your pockets to be open.
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This handy-dandy tool is wonderful for having easily accessible phones and wallets without having to put them in pockets. You simply hook one side of the Hold Mate to your phone or wallet, and the other side is a locking carabiner that you can place through your belt loops, bags, and more. They are also really sturdy and flexible, which is certainly helpful in making sure that your phone can’t be grabbed out of your hands while you are taking a picture.
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While not being the most fashionable item for female travelers, these bags are great for carrying anything you could possibly need securely. These are used by locals in large cities, and it was an absolute lifesaver for me when I was in Italy. I used it to connect my Hold mate and to hold my souvenirs and my water bottle, and it’s made of just the right material to keep your water cool. The back pockets were also perfect for storing my wallet and passport.
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Similar to crossbody bags, money belts are like small fanny packs that you can carry on your person, and while they’re not nearly as large as crossbody bags, they can certainly hold all of your essentials. They can also be hidden underneath your clothing, making for a much more fashionable experience. Because they’re hidden, they’re the perfect tool to blend in with your surroundings.
This was a waterproof jacket that I bought while I was in Austria, and it was fantastic! It has an arm pocket, breast pocket, front pockets and the inside pocket that I mentioned earlier, not to mention it’s light and waterproof!
This was the type of crossbody bag that I used, and it worked really well!
Conclusion
In short, while pickpocketing is certainly a terrifying experience that worries many travelers, it’s also something that can be easily avoided as long as you come prepared. From scams to tools, there are so many things that you can do to ensure that your vacation is a stress-free experience. For someone that gets stressed easily about the small things, these have helped me to relax over the years, and I hope that after reading this you’ll feel the same.
