Anywhere, really.

I lived in South London for much of my adult life, and became used to avoiding opportunist theft - things like putting a chair leg (or your leg) through a bag strap, always closing and putting away your wallet/phone/whatever before leaving a shop/taxi/pub, not carrying a laptop or camera in an obvious laptop or camera bag when walking around late at night, etc, etc - these all became second nature.

Now I live out in a small town, and my wife finds it bizarre that I would do any of these things. Or, for example, worry about leaving washing on the line when I leave the house.

I also find it odd to see all the warnings about Paris, and the metro. I used to live nearby, and have been visiting regularly (3+ times a year) for the last 25 years, and have yet to witness it.

Barcelona, however...

Now that it's been mentioned I remembered that maybe 15 years ago my Mother had her purse stolen at an outdoor restaurant in Covent Garden (London). She had gotten up to hug her friend who had arrived and even with my brother and I at the table, no one saw the thief abscond with her bag. Thankfully the passports, tickets and more cash, were still in the hotel room.

I got to spend more time in Citibank offices in Europe than I ever cared to on that trip.

New Orleans Super Dome the night of Steelers/Saints game this year. Huge crush of people waiting in the corridors to get into the men's room at halftime. Somehow they lifted my wallet from a buttoned pocket on my overalls. Really a bummer.

As was said earlier, much of it comes down to how you carry yourself and what you look like.

My father in law, bless him, is the tourist with the sandals with white socks, shorts, burmuda shirt, bucket hat old camera on a strap around his neck and a map in hand. It's like he MEANS to look that way as a joke. He's also in his late 60's. He gets targetted everytime. In Sydney he actually had people try to pull his camera away while accomplaces tried to get in the pockets of his shorts.

Me, I am younger, stronger, and can blend in well in most European countries. I don't carry obvious things of value and I keep everything well hidden on my person. Never had a problem, although I have been approached by the "friendly" stranger. I don't engage people who approach me in conversation, if I want to speak to people I pick the people myself.

In the US, pickpocketing is much less common except in some cities. The real crime is mugging and purse snatching. They don't even try to slip their hands into your pocket. They simply demand you hand whatever you have over. No pretense, no effort to hide it. However, unlike pickpocketing, it avoids crowds.

Yeah, that's close to my husband's description, and he's 72. He's also tall, thus easy to pick put of a crowd, and doesn't move as quickly as he used to. I'm sure that all works to his disadvantage. I'm 15 years younger and we've pretty much agreed that I carry the bulk of the cash and credit cards.

Only time it has happened to us is right here in the US taking the Chicago subway into town from Midway. Beware Roosevelt station. A man pretended to fall down entering the open door of the train, then when my fiance bent over to help him, he felt his wallet be pulled from his back pocket. Surprise, my guy wheeled and knocked the thief off his feet! Chicago's been the closest call, but other than that I have been the most wary in Naples and Rome. I always wear a cross body bag that zips and keep my hand on it in crowds. Fiance keeps his wallet in his front pocket now.

Threads like these make you paranoid and think everyone is out to get you, but honest people do exist. I left my camera in a nice clothing store in Buenos Aires and I hurried back after I realized it was gone and someone had turned it into the cashier.

I haven't had any run-ins with pick pockets fortunately. Sounds like other people have though. Maybe because I don't look like I'd be much of a target.

The worst place in my experience is the area around Las Ramblas in Barcelona. You get prostitutes and pick pockets working in packs. While the girl is hassling you from the front an accomplace or two will be trying to access your pockets and bags.

The RER in Paris from CDG to Gare du Nord is infamous for thieves. Some years back, I was there with a business associate, as we were transiting to the train station. Despite my warnings to him, he placed his briefcase under the seat.

We spent the entire afternoon getting his replacement passport.

On the subway in Rome (Nov 2009), my wife had her purse UNZIPPED and her wallet stolen while the purse was across her neck and shoulder. She is not unattentive. it was crowded and they are pros.

me - three times, once in paris and once in milan and once in nyc.

you?

once - in Macau, lost my iPhone 3G. It was picked from the outer pocket of my backpack... as I exited from the ferry terminal immigration a bunch of guys rushed into my face asking if I wanted to take this or that tour, within 45 or so seconds I managed to tell them to get away but the job was done, looked around to discover my backpack unzipped and the phone gone!

My mistake for: 1) putting anything of value in the outermost backpack pocket 2) Not locking my backpack 3) Not being on guard when people approach me like that

well...live and learn!

Zero (Knocking on wood).

Zero, either traveling or not traveling. Close once in Grand Central on the way to work, either that or they were trying to grab my ..., still am not sure.

Zero here, too. Knock on wood.