Paris Metro and Prague Trams (specifically #22 and #9)

I wanted to go to Barcelona..but I should maybe consider avoid visiting this city I guess.. been to Paris, but never had problem before.. I guess I am lucky!

My parents were on the Paris metro. My father saw that a young kid was sitting next to her, next to her purse. He said to her, "grab your purse". Sure enough, when the door opened, he tried to grab her purse and get out the door. Fortunately, she had it clutched, and he couldn't get it. He ran away.

Pickpockets can be found in almost every city in the world - however it does seem that most of the reports seem to be focused in Europe, South America, and other parts for the world where tourists tend to visit. If one really wanted to make sure they were prepared to avoid these types of thieves - you should spend a little time to understand how they operate.

Pickpockets use many of the same scams in Paris and they do in Barcelona, as the do in Mexico City. Most of their techniques have been honed over the last 30 years and passed on from crook to crook.

Just take a little time to research how pickpockets operate so you can be alerted to their sneaky ways before it is too late.

Lastly, know that pickpockets come in all skill levels - from the opportunist - who is just starting to learn his/her trade, to the full blown professional thief who works in a team, and even used distraction as one of their ways to get you to turn your attention away from your property.

It's especially bad for purse snatchers there. If you're in a casino, be careful. There are thieves just waiting for you.

I wouldn't dramatize things, be aware, but there is really no need to avoid nice places such as Barcelona, or to call a purse snatching attempt a robbery.

I'm not talking about violent crime, it's just pickpocketing i.e. really frustrating but all you will lose is some cash, maybe some sleep, and time (to block credit cards, arrange new documents etc.).

That being said, pickpocketing is becoming a real plague in European cities. I live in small city that recently had an invasion of pickpocketing Roma gypsies (usually the children).

It's really heaven for pickpockets:

-Justice system and police cannot be bothered. Such petty crimes are not even penalized when the culprits are caught.

-Culprits are usually underaged, so at worst they will get a slap on the wrist. These boys and girls actually laugh at the police when caught. They know they'll be back on the streets in less than 1 hour.

-It is considered racism to say it are the Roma gypsies in this city (although everybody knows) thanks to our naive policitians that still believe in a multicultural utopia and sweep any misdemeanors of minorities under the rug.

You are 100% correct - Barcelona is a great city - and one that everyone should try to see. I have always told folks going there - or any other city for that mater, just do a little research about where you are going - and don't check your common sense in your luggage when you walk around carrying items which can be frustrating to replace like your passport - identification - credit cards.

In Cities I have been to
Paris
Rome

Also I would encourage everyone to buy a Money belt if you can that you were under your clothing.

No, that used to be a problem but isn't much anymore. Statistics are sometimes given, but they are often misleading. What I do find in almost all of the warnings is a breakdown of where specific types of problems are occurring and events planned that might just be disruptive- large demonstrations, etc.

+1

I never carry a wallet at home in the US or overseas. Just an ID and a credit card in the front pocket. Loose money in another front pocket. Forget about wallets. Never seen the sense for them. Most americans are pretty naive when it comes to international travel. Sad, but true.

--J

I don't quite see how my post had anything to do with Americans being naive. For one thing, I'm a born and bred New Yorker--so your logic doesn't seem to particularly apply.

Your message did not imply that. I'm sorry if you took it that way. My message was that americans are very naive when it comes to common sense during international travel and dealing with other cultures.

-- J

In my experience, there are worldly-wise Americans, naive Americans, and every shade in between. Overall, they're no better and no worse than any other nationality. My suggestion would be to judge individuals on their own merits.

I agree- we loved Barcelona, and also treasure our memories of our trips to St. Petersburg and Rome even though my husband got his pockets picked there, too. It could happen anywhere including most large cities in the US, so you'd have to avoid an awful lot of interesting places.

jcf27, the incident in Rome occurred when my husband had his wallet in his back pocket while we were on the subway. This is a man who lived in NYC for years. The only possible explanation is jet lag, since we'd arrived only the day before.

We loved Spain so much we're going back this year even though we went last year- we've never gone the same places 2 years in a row. I'm concerned that the petty theft is going to be worse with all the young people unable to find legitimate jobs, but we're just going to have to be extra-vigilant.

Yeah, I wouldn't trust pickpocketing statistics at all. We reported only one out of the 3 incidents we've experienced. It didn't seem to be a good use of our limited vacation time to spend a few hours in the police station when the culprits were unlikely to be caught and they were unlikely to investigate.

I've had three attempts. None successful. I've been to most of the cities mentioned here, except Barcelona. I do try to be very careful when traveling, and split up cash/credit cards, as well as having a hidden interior pocket in my shirts.

Gypsy kid in Bucharest, Romania. Caught him with my hand in my pocket. He was scared until he realized that I wasn't going to smack him, and only yell.

Team of three on a Buenos Aires subway. One blocked getting on the train, one went for my pants pockets, the other for my shirt pocket. Caught the last one. Grabbed her fingers, and bent them back a bit. Yelled "Thief" in spanish. She smacked me with a half filled plastic bottle of pop. Then all three vanished off the train, as the doors were closing.

Last, was snuck up on in Quito in the evening, walking along a street. Saw a couple of very shady characters on the corner, and started to turn around, just as a guy was trying to put his hand into my pants pocket.