Pickpockets

101 London Tips  Today’s London Tip: Watch out for pickpockets. I know that sounds like travel advice from the 1880’s but believe it or not they are everywhere...

Don't you live in San Fracisco?

You see this warning plastered everywhere in Central London. A friend of mine got pickpocketed back in November on Oxford St. She claims it had to do with her being Asian, since many people think at first glance that she is merely a tourist.  She had just got done shopping at H&M and an older guy bumped into her. She thought nothing of it until she tried to go home and couldn't find her wallet.

Thankfully, someone had found her wallet with all her ID cards and mailed them to her. Her money was gone, but she didn't carry much to begin with. At the time, she was very worried about the long procedure of getting a replacement ID card from her country's embassy.

They work all the main tourist/shopping areas like Oxford St Regent St Bond St Piccadilly Circus Trafalgar Square etc. The police watch the crowds through the CCTV system to spot pickpockets. When they see any, they radio the plainclothes cops mingling with the crowds to arrest them but they are very alert and quick.

A friend of mine got pickpocketed back in November on Oxford St. She claims it had to do with her being Asian, since many people think at first glance that she is merely a tourist.

I sincerely doubt this.

Huh.  I've not had a problem with this (either here or back in NY) - I mean, I think if you're just aware, no matter where you are regarding where your wallet/purse is, you'll be fine.

I got warned so many times about pickpockets in Barcelona I was super paranoid, but nothing happened.  Same rules really just applied - kept my bag zipped shut and in front of me, with my arm/hand on it, and kept an eye out.

It happened to me, two years ago in London.  My bag was zipped, it was in front of me with
my arm over it, but I was jostled in a crowd, and my wallet was gone.  In addition to my credit cards, they also got our train tickets home, which meant we had to buy new ones.  Not a fun experience, people should really be very, very careful.

It happened to me, two years ago in London.  My bag was zipped, it was in front of me with
my arm over it, but I was jostled in a crowd, and my wallet was gone.  In addition to my credit cards, they also got our train tickets home, which meant we had to buy new ones.  Not a fun experience, people should really be very, very careful.

It's amazing how fast and completely unobtrusive they can be.  I guess if it's your "profession" you get good.  And they are quick! 

My dad was pickpocketed when we were in Rome a few weeks ago.  Luckily, he lost very little cash and we cancelled the credit cards quickly, but had he been travelling alone, it could have been a disaster. 

I'm straight up paranoid about anyone in my personal space, only use bags that fully zip, and if I'm in a crowd, my hand is on the zipper.  But really, I think that's down to luck more than anything.