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Re: Wallet theft in Brussels train station

2010-07-24 02:31:50


On 7/22/2010 9:33 PM, Michael Dillon wrote:
One moment of inattentiveness while
...
This is likely a common style of picking pockets.


Seems to be the key to their success.

After my wallet was taken by a double-teamed effort at a Paris metro escalator, some years ago, I put effort into researching the topic.

Not surprisingly, situational awareness is the most important factor -- staying aware of what is going on around you and taking simple actions to stay in control. (I was frankly charmed by the simplicity of idea, on this thread, of stepping into your seating row with your goods, to let/force other folks by, in order to break up their control of the space around you.)

Alcohol, juggling bags, being overwhelmed by the wonderful sights. All of these distract one from situational awareness. Keeping firm control of your items and limiting access to them by someone passing by are examples of actions that make you an unattractive target.

Many of the websites on pickpocketing advise putting your wallet in a front pocket. Since that's where mine was when it was taken, I'd class it has reasonable, but not definitive, help. It took the guys a bit longer, but my level of distraction (good wine at dinner, too much sense of comfort from a pleasant day of sightseeing) made the choice of pocket irrelevant; they had plenty of time...

Some places are particularly intractable. Last month in Barcelona, a local complained that her bag had been stolen 3 times! (I'm guessing they were different bags...)

d/
--

  Dave Crocker
  Brandenburg InternetWorking
  bbiw.net
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