Have you ever been "pick pocketed"?

[VAfamily1998]

I'm going to be traveling to China next month and a lot of the reviews/research I'm reading talks about being wary of "pick pocketers".

I recently bought a Baggallini messenger bag, like this one,
http://www.ebags.com/product/baggal...=GOOGFEED&couponid=40959822&CAWELAID=26882336
Because I thought it would be good for carrying travel/sightseeing essentials (umbrella, camera, all the random pamphlets/maps/guides etc you end up accumulating while sightseeing, could probably shove a light jacket in if I needed) but after reading about pick pockets I worried. Most of the pockets seem very accessible to someone standing behind the person wearing this bag. There is one pocket on the other side, facing the wearers back--so I guess I could put valuable stuff like passport, money, etc. in that one pocket, and then things that aren't as valuable like the umbrella, jacket, guidebooks etc. in the outside pocket...

Have you ever been pick pocketed? Do you think the type of bag/clothing you wore made it easier for the theif?

 

[DebbieB]

I'm going to be traveling to China next month and a lot of the reviews/research I'm reading talks about being wary of "pick pocketers".

I recently bought a Baggallini messenger bag, like this one,
http://www.ebags.com/product/baggal...=GOOGFEED&couponid=40959822&CAWELAID=26882336
Because I thought it would be good for carrying travel/sightseeing essentials (umbrella, camera, all the random pamphlets/maps/guides etc you end up accumulating while sightseeing, could probably shove a light jacket in if I needed) but after reading about pick pockets I worried. Most of the pockets seem very accessible to someone standing behind the person wearing this bag. There is one pocket on the other side, facing the wearers back--so I guess I could put valuable stuff like passport, money, etc. in that one pocket, and then things that aren't as valuable like the umbrella, jacket, guidebooks etc. in the outside pocket...

Have you ever been pick pocketed? Do you think the type of bag/clothing you wore made it easier for the theif?

I was in the grocery store. I had my purse in the child seat (I know, I know). I made the mistake of making a phone call and when I was talking I turned away for a second and someone picked my wallet out of the purse. It was crowded, it was in front of the turkey case the Sunday before Thanksgiving. As soon as I turned around and saw my purse open, I knew. I called the police. They took a report and I gave my name to the store manager. He called me a couple hours later to say they found the wallet in the produce section. Of course the money was gone but at least I got my ID's back. I had already cancelled my bank cards, so I still had to get new ones.

When I went to India for work a couple of years ago, we were told to leave our passports in the hotel room safe and carry copies when we were out. I was nervous, I felt like such a target, obviously not from India. One day we went out shopping and a woman was running after me saying "last dime, last dime". Why wasn't she saying "last rupee"? Obviously pegged me as an American.

 

[SandrA9810]

It might not be as comfortable, but I'd wear anything across the front of your chest. In school, after having everything pull on my back for so long, it felt good to have it pull forward for a bit.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I do think they type of bag you choose can make a difference.

While traveling overseas, one friend of mine put money in her backpack, outside zipper, and it was stolen while on a train. After it happened, she admitted the location of her money wasn't a wise choice. My traveling buddy and I used money belts for peace of mind. I had my passport and traveling essentials on my body. We were traveling for a month. Didn't want to risk any mishaps. I still used my backpack for other things. But I was happy with the money belt.

 

[Katy Belle]

My wallet was stlen out of my bag on a 45 second subway ride in Athens I had my bag on my shoulder, it had short handles, so it was right under my armpit. He/ she must have unzipped it. It was a very crowded train. Your valuables need to be on the front of you.

 

[cglaura]

Whenever I wear a bag like that (and yes, I have one of those too!) in a large crowd, I put a key ring (the circle kind) around the two zipper pulls (each set of zippers...).

Foolproof? No. But thieves usually will pass up something like that for an easier target.

Beware they can slice the bag too...not to scare you.... Just be aware of your surroundings...slide the bag to the front and hold on to it if you are really wall to wall people.

 

[Poohforyou]

I was in China last year for a few weeks and never felt worried about pick pocketing at all or any crime for that matter. I think the bag you have would be good for your jacket, a snack and a bottle of water. I used the Baggallini Bon Voyage Bagg for my passport, money etc. It's very small and I easily wore it like a messenger bag across my body.

The thing you need to guard the most is your passport. That'll get a pick pocket more money than anything else you probably have. Make sure you keep a copy of it locked in your room safe and another copy back home with someone. It makes getting it replaced much easier.

Have a wonderful trip, it's an amazing country.

 

[skuttle]

My wallet was stolen at the Lourve. I took it out to pay for something and must have put it down, or put it my purse but was distracted by paying and someone stole it. Thankfully my passport wasn't in it. I was a college kid at the time so who knows what I was doing or thinking at the time!

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I was pick pocketed right out of my jacket pocket on the underground tube in London! It was my own fault, though because I have a feeling the perp saw me put my money in my pocket when I bought the ticket to transfer to the rail line. Thank God the rest of my money was in my purse across my chest, otherwise I would have been broke on my first day there! The policeman said I'd been "dipped".

Be careful!

 

[robinb]

I was pickpocketed in Notre Dame Cathedral during Sunday Mass. My friends at me since I am an atheist. They said I deserved it, LOL. I had a Coach bag with an easy to open top ... it didn't even have a zipper! I never felt a thing. We were out about $100 US and all our credit cards had to be replaced. Live and learn. The French police found my mostly empty wallet and sent it back to me a few weeks later. I carry a harder to open bag from now on, but in reality you cannot stop a determined thief.

FWIW, I was in Beijing a couple years ago and didn't feel threatened at all by crime.

 

[katie26]

I work in a criminal courthouse, and my iPod touch got stolen from my purse either on a crowded elevator or when I left it, for thirty seconds, on a bench next to a bunch of other lawyers while I went to speak with a clerk. I totally thought I was safe because I wear a cross-body style purse but... yeah. Doesn't work so great when you wear it with the bag behind you instead of underneath your hand. (Or when you leave it unattended in a public place.)

Lesson learned!

 

[UConnJack]

I personally never have, but my Uncle was twice in one day in Barcelona. When I went to Paris, I only used a body wallet and never had a problem. Just don't give them an opportunity.

 

[robinb]

I work in a criminal courthouse, and my iPod touch got stolen from my purse either on a crowded elevator or when I left it, for thirty seconds, on a bench next to a bunch of other lawyers while I went to speak with a clerk.

Someone has some serious chutzpa to steal something in a courthouse!

 

[hereyago]

2 words Money Belt.

No I haven't been pick pocketed. but years ago on a bus tour through Europe, a few of the other people on the bus were either pickpocketed or some one attempted to.

You can have that bag for the non important stuff, umbrella, but money belt for currency, passport,etc.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Someone has some serious chutzpa to steal something in a courthouse!

You have never dealt with lawyers?

seriously though,

there are some really good solutions. there are a whole line of products in some travel catalogs that will make you a bit safer.

For those that carry a bag, they have some that have a wire mesh in them that will prevent the slash open the bag with a razor, and so on, as well as different versions of the "money belt'.

try:

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php

or

http://dyna.magellans.com/cgi-bin/mitcus/dyna/dynasyWliy?page_number=1

good luck!

 

[katie26]

Someone has some serious chutzpa to steal something in a courthouse!

I know, right?! Court officers, cops and prosecutors everywhere!

It's actually funny - when I first started working there, someone reminded me not to leave my belongings lying around in court. "It's called a CRIMINAL courthouse for a reason," she said, "It's full of CRIMINALS." I got all huffy and was like, "they're ALLEGED criminals, okay?!"

Then my iPod got stolen, and I was like, "Oh. Right. Criminal courthouse."

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Caught a pickpocket in the act once. Madrid. I was saved by my mom's sage advice to always wear my purse with the straps across my chest and keep one hand on a purse strap at all times. I felt something tugging on it and turned around. The woman just looked away and pretended she hadn't been doing anything. I didn't manage to come up with an appropriate insult in Spanish before the light changed and I had to cross the street.

 

[librarygal]

I don't think pickpocketing is common in China but scams are.

http://www.chinaprimer.com/china-travel-tips/china-tourism-scams.html

I usually wear a cross body bag when traveling as it is difficult to rip off and is always in front of me. I hate backpacks because you always have to take them off to get anything out. If you put just water, tour guides and clothes in your bag you should be fine. Leave you passports and most of your money in the hotel safe or wear in a money belt.

 

[Pakey]

In Europe yes; Italy was the worst. China, I was never worried. I was out during the day, late at night, etc. Alone as a female. I wore a Janzen backpack. I was all over the country in high tourist areas for 2 weeks, crammed into subways, trains, etc.

 

[Deb in IA]

In Europe yes; Italy was the worst. China, I was never worried. I was out during the day, late at night, etc. Alone as a female. I wore a Janzen backpack. I was all over the country in high tourist areas for 2 weeks, crammed into subways, trains, etc.

I agree with this.

My parents were pick pocketed in Rome, just after they had gone to the Vatican and the tour bus had dropped them off at their hotel. They were walking to a restaurant for lunch, and some guy comes up and uses a box cutter to try to slice off the straps of dad's camera and mom's purse. They instinctively grabbed for them, and in the ensuing struggle, they both got their hands severely cut. They had to go to the hospital for surgery, as some of their tendons were lacerated. Very scary, as they didn't speak Italian and the doctors didn't speak English.

I was pick pocketed in NYC, in Chinatown. My fault, I had a shoulder bag and was carrying our daughter, who was about 2 at the time. We walked through a crowded street with lots of people bumping up against you. As soon as we got to the end of the block, I saw my purse hanging open and I knew what had happened.

I've been to China twice, including in the big cities of Shanghai and Beijing, and never worried. Just take reasonable precautions - keep bag in front, zip things up, money belt is good, anything valuable (money, credit cards, passport) you should wear inside your clothing.