Tips on Protecting Yourself From Pickpockets - as part of the expert series by GeoBeats.
Tips on Protecting Yourself From Pickpockets
It is important to protect yourself from pickpockets, because they do exist and, and they do try to get things from you. So ah, the first thing is to kind of be low key, don't draw attention to yourself. Don't wear flashy jewelry. Don't carry your gear out in front of you... don't be a mark. So try to blend in. And then when it comes to actually protecting - your wallet, your documents, your things...there are two things: For a woman, a purse, carry a purse that goes across your shoulder and across your body with a good strong strap, one that can't break easily. Ah, people can pull the purse, break the strap and get it if that's what they are so inclined. And I did have a situation in Napals, Italy when that was the case they did not get my purse, but I got the lesson. So a purse that goes across your body and when you do put it across your body, turn the opening of your purse against your body, again it makes it difficult for anyone to pick pocket you. If your not carrying a purse, carry a day pack, put it in the front of your body and wrap your arm around it and that way again no one can get it. The other thing is if you don't wanna carry a purse or a day pack use a local shopping bag and people will think you are just carrying your groceries home. You put your camera gear into a grocery bag and no one is going to know thats what it is. You can avoid pick pockets many ways but mostly by being aware of your surroundings and not attracting their attention.
