Pickpockets in Europe: How to Stay Safe on Your Travels
Among overseas tourists travelling to cities in Europe like Rome or Paris, a common topic of discussion is how to protect themselves from pickpockets when sightseeing or using public transport.
American tourists in particular seem to be almost paranoid about pickpocketing and go to great lengths to take extraordinary measures that they believe will help prevent thieves from stealing their wallets, passports, phones, or other valuables.
On internet forums and social media, you often hear Americans recommend bringing a “fanny pack” (crossbody bag), fake wallets, or other special clothing or accessories as anti-pickpocketing measures.
However, such measures are either completely unnecessary or even counterproductive when it comes to effectively protecting yourself from pickpockets.
Below, you can learn more about how Europeans protect themselves against pickpockets in ways that actually work.
Pickpockets in Europe: the truth
In certain European cities, especially popular tourist destinations in southern and western Europe such as Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, or Barcelona, pickpocketing is a real danger.
Even though the problem is real and dozens of people are pickpocketed daily, there is no need to be paranoid.
The vast majority of tourists visiting Europe encounter no issues with pickpocketing.
Indeed, millions of residents of European cities such as Rome and Paris use public transport and walk the streets daily without ever being pickpocketed.
Do Europeans take extraordinary measures to protect themselves from pickpocketing?
Do they wear special accessories such as fanny packs or lanyards around their neck to store their valuables?
Absolutely not. They simply wear normal clothes and do not use any special anti-pickpocketing accessories or tools.
Europeans keep their wallets and phones in normal trouser pockets or in a standard handbag or purse, and it works fine for them.
Many Europeans would laugh at American tourists who overprepare for pickpockets while ignoring the real risks.
How pickpockets operate
To really protect yourself from pickpockets in European cities such as Paris or Rome, you need to understand how these criminals operate.
Most importantly, you need to know who they target.
Pickpockets target people they believe they can easily steal from without being caught or even noticed.
They prefer distracted people as their ideal targets.
Pickpockets only target distracted people – such as those staring at their phones, foreign tourists who are clearly overwhelmed by navigating the metro system in a city like Paris, or those standing in awe at the great sights of ancient Rome.
They target people who look out of place, since those individuals are more likely to be distracted.
For example, pickpockets ignore local businessmen in suits or students heading to university, but they watch for groups of Asian tourists or Americans wearing athleisure wear and baseball caps.
Clothing alone often reveals that someone is an inexperienced first-time visitor in a particular city, as both tend to differ from how locals dress in cities such as Rome or Paris.
The same applies to behaviour, as tourists are more likely to move around hesitantly.
For example, a tourist will stop to check their route, while locals walk quickly and with confidence.
Pickpockets do not immediately target tourists but often observe their potential victims for a while.
Whether they act alone or in groups, they then strike at the moment when someone is most distracted.
How to really protect yourself against pickpockets
Forget about fanny packs and fake wallets.
This actually helps protect you from pickpockets in Europe:
– Be observant of your surroundings
– Dress and behave less conspicuously
– Properly store away your valuables
Let’s look at these anti-pickpocketing tips one by one.
Be observant of your surroundings
Situational awareness – being observant of your surroundings and the people in them – is key to preventing pickpocketing in Europe.
No other protective measure will help you more against pickpockets than situational awareness.
Being observant of your surroundings means:
– Knowing who is standing around you at all times
– Keeping an eye on your own wallet, purse, or daypack
– Keeping an eye on your travel companions
– Taking extra care on public transport and around busy tourist sights
– Not allowing yourself to become distracted
– Staying off your phone as much as possible
Especially in large European cities such as Barcelona, Rome, or Paris, you should remain vigilant for pickpockets.
This is especially true at busy tourist sights, crowded markets, shopping streets, and on public transport.
The same applies to popular beaches, where petty theft is also common.
Don’t forget that even when sitting in a café or on an outdoor terrace, it can be easy for a thief to snatch something from your bag if you are not paying attention.
Only in places off the beaten track, and in smaller towns and villages, can you generally afford a more carefree attitude as a foreign tourist.
Dress and behave less conspicuously
Every European can spot an overseas tourist from miles away.
Especially Americans often stand out like a sore thumb in cities like Rome or Paris compared with how locals dress and move.
Of course, that means that pickpockets will also easily be able to pick you out of a crowd.
Although it is really up to you what to wear on your trip to Europe, dressing and behaving less like a tourist is an effective way to deter pickpockets.
Clothes or accessories such as shorts with polo shirts tucked in, athleisure wear, and baseball caps often give away that someone is an American tourist rather than a local.
White tourist T-shirts with cliché prints such as “I love Paris” or designs featuring a Czech flag and a pint of beer, which are commonly sold in tourist shops in Prague, also give away that someone is a tourist rather than a local.
If you dress less like a tourist, there is a big chance that pickpockets will shift their attention to others on a crowded metro train or at a tourist hotspot such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Colosseum in Rome.
It is not just the way you dress as a tourist – behaviour also plays a role.
For example, many American tourists can be heard from a mile away because they are so loud.
Tourists generally move around somewhat hesitantly, so walking with a bit more confidence can also help.
This is especially true on public transport, where you should always move with the flow.
Even when you are unsure whether you are going in the right direction, it is sensible to move out of the crowds first.
You can then check a metro map or your phone in a less crowded place.
Properly store away your valuables
It is important to store your money and valuables properly.
However, you should do this in the European way, rather than the way many American tourists do when visiting Europe.
Fanny packs and lanyards for storing cards, money, or phones are completely unnecessary.
Not a single European uses them when they go around town or use public transport.
They can even have the opposite effect, making you stand out as a tourist and increasing your risk of pickpockets targeting you.
Simple measures to protect your valuables are much more effective.
If you are a man, make sure your wallet is tucked deep into your trouser pockets.
When you are in a crowded bus or metro, keep your hand on your pocket until you get off.
For women, it is perfectly fine to go sightseeing in cities such as Rome or Paris with a purse.
If you store valuables in your purse or daypack, keep them at the bottom, beneath other belongings.
Ideally, a purse or daypack has an inner pocket where you can store your valuables.
This way, any pickpocket attempting a quick grab will not be able to access anything of value immediately.
Extra tips against pickpocketing
Pickpockets usually rely on stealth to steal something.
By the time you notice someone has stolen something from your pocket or bag, it is already too late and the thieves have long gone.
However, other pickpocketing tactics also exist in European cities such as Paris and Rome.
Pickpockets often work in pairs or groups in more blatant ways.
One pickpocket will deliberately bumping into a tourist to distract them while another empties their pockets.
Be extra vigilant if someone bumps into you or suddenly tries to start an argument.
Similarly, pickpockets can use other tricks to distract your attention.
These distraction tricks include:
– Smearing dirt on your clothes, then pointing it out and offering to help clean it while an accomplice empties your pockets.
– Pretending you caused an accident while driving a car in Europe, then distracting you with an argument while an accomplice empties your bag or pockets.
– Asking you for directions using a map or mobile phone while an accomplice empties your pockets.
Other pickpocketing tricks to watch out for
A less common pickpocketing trick in Europe – but not unheard of – is being surrounded by a group.
Suddenly, you could find yourself closely surrounded by three or four people.
This makes it nearly impossible to fend them all off at once, and one of them will easily manage to take something from your pocket.
You can easily avoid this by avoiding empty streets, especially in rough neighbourhoods of tourist cities.
Similarly, avoid walking around streets late at night while heavily intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
This is especially true if you do not know your way around town
You are simply making yourself an easy target for any would-be pickpocket or thief.
Remember that pickpockets and thieves also frequent bars and nightclubs in European cities such as Paris or Rome.
In such places, it is also important to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
Conclusion
Pickpockets are a real threat in popular European tourist destinations such as Barcelona, Rome, and Paris.
However, with the right measures you can avoid becoming a victim.
Unlike what many American tourists seem to think, fanny packs, lanyards, and similar accessories are completely unnecessary.
They can even be counterproductive in protecting you from pickpockets, as they make you stand out as a target.
The most important anti-pickpocket measure is the right mindset.
Make sure you always maintain situational awareness, knowing where you are and who is standing around you.
This is especially important in crowded tourist spots and on public transport.
What is equally important is not to stand out as a tourist.
It helps if you can blend in with the local crowd in terms of how you dress, your behaviour, and the way you move around.
Last but not least, store your valuables such as your wallet or phone deep in your pockets or bag.
Remember that pickpockets single out foreign tourists and others who are easily distracted.
Pickpockets target foreign tourists more often despite their use of extraordinary anti-theft measures, while they rarely target Europeans who go around in normal clothes and with ordinary bags.
