PICK POCKETS, VAGABONDS AND VOLEURS (Thieves)

19 Avril, 2025

When the train doors opened, there was NO room - all seats taken and the entry corridor packed door to exit door. How will we fit on? Maybe 30 of us trying to get onto this no space packed train, while behind us people pushing us in...two girls kept telling me to go, go and when I tried to turn back they said the next train was also full. You've seen those photos of people cramming into the buses and trains in third world countries, sometimes with chickens carried overhead in a box...well this was like that. The crowd was anxious and the two gals behind me insisted that I go ahead of them, and then began pushing me, I thought to make sure I would get onboard. They pushed me and wedged me and I could not get to Steve who was behind me. When he appeared he was also shoved into the train just as the doors closed and the train pulled out of the station - no danger of falling as we were packed in like hot dog buns and I was staring into the neck of the girl who held aloft a box of vegetables to sell which she was balancing on her friend's head in front of her.

Uncomfortable and alarmed, I was close to Steve's ear as I asked if he knew where his wallet was...we could barely raise our arms...a panicked look came across his face as he felt for the wallet he had put in his back pocket. Gone!! Just then, I noticed my large carry bag was unzipped.

Now at the next stop and another crowd pushed in...but a man stopped in front of us, stooped down and picked up my black wallet and Steve's wallet just below our feet in the mash of legs. OMG!!

Profuse thank you to the man, who crammed into the train on the opposite side of the aisle...and two stops further we wedged out with the exiting crowd. Was he part of the gang of girls? We will never know.

We were targets being pushed and shoved while the pocket pickers were at work. There was nothing to do now and we were extremely grateful to have our wallets back.

We walked the few blocks home, and once inside we found our credit cards were still in our wallets but the cash money was gone...about 2-20€ bills for me, 1-10€ for Steve. The thieves must have opened the wallets and grabbed €€ in minutes and dropped the wallets at our feet... in case they were caught on the train with them. Another day, another lesson.

This was actually the second time I had been accosted by pick pockets. The first was in a church in Italy over 20 years ago that we had walked into in order to see the ceiling frescoes. I had a black small fanny pack with the zipper part turned around to my front so I could see it. The problem was, they gypsy gal with a "baby" in her arms could also see it. She came uncomfortably close to me and I put up my arms to stop her as she backed me up, seeming to be pleading for money with her hands. Then I felt a tug at my waist...and as I jerked back I yelled, "hey" or something else unhelpful, and Steve, standing quite near and seeing and hearing my alarm, gave her a mighty shove away. By the time we looked up, there was not a sign of her, as if she had never been there. Turned out the "baby" and her pleading hands were fake. While she had directed my attention to fend her off, her real hands were at work at my pack. And, she would have succeeded in her robbery, except that the pack was so full, the zipper could not be opened without alerting me. She got nothing.

How to avoid being a victim:

What they cannot see, they cannot take.

1. Thieves also like Mobile phones. On your person, especially in crowds or public conveyance, only take single credit card or enough money that you will need for the day. Wedge items in a front tight pocket or small bag. Never carry phone showing out of your back pocket.

   
   

2. Conceal whatever carries your valuables under your clothes. Easy to put under a shirt or scarf, put long bag strap around your neck, under your coat or scarf and make certain that you cover any items of importance. ater over your hidden items.

3. If possible, travel with a partner, and don't allow yourselves to be separted by redirecton.

4. If the train/tram, metro is too crowded, wait for the next one...or walk or find another way to travel, maybe a taxi or uber.

   
   

   
   

    Think like a Pick Pocket:

   
   

   We work in groups. Contrary to the image of the solitary thief pickpockets often team up in groups to get their victims.

   
   

   We love high-traffic areas. Think transportation hubs, busy streets, and any other place where you expect to have limited personal space. In crowded locations, professionals know that people are less likely to notice slight bumps or jostling.

   
   

   We move in when you look most distracted. When our targets are looking around at signage, trying to read directions, carrying packages, navigating stairs, this is our time to strike.

   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   A Bientǒt (see you soon)

   
   

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