5 Tips for recognizing a Pickpocket
You’ve probably heard the stories too, of people who’ve been robbed on their holidays. They’ve lost everything: passport, money, maybe clothes and jewerly. 
You don’t want to think about such a horror. You don’t want to have a bad memory attached to travel. You don’t want these experiences at all, wether your traveling or are at home! What can you do to prevent it from happening? What are signs to look for and how can you avoid being at the wrong spot at the wrong time?
5 Tips for recognizing a Pickpocket
Ramblas – Barcelona, famous for pickpocketsPeople’s behaviour
Pickpockets behave differently from other people. Imagine your watching a show on the street, one that is performed for the tourists. Everybody is looking in the same direction and is enjoying the show. A pickpocket is not looking at the show, that person is looking at the tourists, and at when and where he can get something. These are the moments they wait for.
Normally, people look at others by looking into their eyes, but pickpockets will look at people’s bags and pockets. They are checking out circumstances for getting something out of someone’s pocket or bag.
People who are in your personal space
5 Tips for recognizing a Pickpocket
Change money trick
5 Tips for recognizing a Pickpocket
Great offers
It seems great, of course, when you get a good offer you can’t resist and people don’t want anything in return. I’ve done enough traveling to know there are people out there who are sincere and just want to talk and spend time with a Western person. But do make sure that when you interact with people on this level that your antenna is highly activated. If you have any doubts or see anything strange, you should choose not to participate. Don’t take any risks, there are many other great changes to get your experience.
Trust your Gut Feeling
The best thing you can do is really trust your gut feeling. That feeling doesn’t lie. We are not used to relying on that anymore. Most of us have even shut down parts of it because sometimes it didn’t lead to the right conclusion. You might feel it scares you more than necessary. Maybe that is true to a certain extent, but when I’m traveling I don’t need to make any bad memories. I’d rather miss out on a experience then one too many.
5 Tips for recognizing a Pickpocket
Do you want to read more safety tips?
5 Tips to Drive Safe in a Foreign Country
How to Travel Safe as a Female Solo traveler
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Jacomijn is een politieagent uit Nederland die jou graag laat zien hoe je veilig, actief en gezond de wereld kan over reizen. Safe and Healthy travel is a MUST
Well…learning from that is also good 🙂 Trust your feelings…they tell you often the truth!!
Yes, I can imagine there are situations you just don’t notice, but when it occured to me in Barcelona (a long time ago) I could have known. Yes, I should have trusted my gut feeling.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked them!
Great tips, thanks!