How to OUTSMART Pickpockets in Europe (Avoid Scams + Stay Safe)

Avoid Pickpockets in Europe by understanding the 3 Ways Pickpockets Trick You and 5 Ways to OUTSMART Pickpockets.

In today’s video we answer why pickpocketing is so prevalent in Europe, the worst European cities for pickpockets, and most importantly, how to prevent being pickpocketed yourself!

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 How to Avoid Pickpockets in Europe
0:47 Why Does Europe Have So Many Pickpockets?
1:10 Top Cities for Pickpockets
1:29 Three Circumstances Pickpockets Use to Trick You
1:45 Circumstance #1: You're in a Crowd
2:52 Circumstance #2: You're Distracted
3:31 Circumstance #3: Your Guard is Down
5:20 5 Ways to Outsmart Pickpockets in Europe
5:31 Tip #1: Have a Plan for Your Stuff
6:25 Use a Travel Sling
6:44 Are Money Belts Necessary?
7:00 Front Pocket Wallet
7:13 Tip #2: Wear Travel Clothing with Zippered Pockets
7:24 Benefits of Merino Wool for Travel
7:45 Unbound Merino Review
8:13 Tip #3: Make Copies of Important Documents
8:58 Tip #4: Get Travel Insurance
9:17 World Nomads Travel Insurance
9:52 Tip #5: Don't Let Pickpockets Ruin Your Trip
10:38 Europe Travel Scams to Avoid

#ad #pickpockets #unboundmerino

[squonks]

Caught a guy trying to get into my purse on a bus in Paris. Grabbed his arm and screamed Pick pocket

[housevinyl]

This video makes me want to fill a backpack with old school mousetraps and ride the Paris metro from the Louvre station. I’ll look forward to the snapping and the screaming.

[purplerose]

My family just visited Rome and Barcelona. We had a great time and didn’t experience anything bad. However, when we were at a restaurant, we sat at a table inside right behind the restaurant’s sliding door). Our waitress told us to do not hang purse on the chair and phone on the table. She said thief will wait for the door to open and snag our purse/ phone. I noticed waiters occasionally stood outside of the sliding door as if they guarded the door. That was very nice of the staff.

When we were at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC in Spanish), staff walked around and reminded visitors to carry crossbody bags in the front, not on our sides or the back. When I was looking at a painting, as I turned around, I almost bumped into a woman who stood unusually close to me. At the time, the room was very empty. There were only 2 or 3 other people in the room besides her and myself, and the painting was huge. She didn’t have to be that close to me in order to see. I told my friend about that and my friend said the woman probably attempted to pick-pocket me.

[cmo]

My husband and me used to travel together (the 2 of us) and are always very observant for pickpockets. We look around, hold our hands in front of our pockets (often pockets on the inside of jacket with zipper. We never found ourself being preyed on and never were victim of pickpockets. Then, we had our first city trip after our children were born, to Paris. With a stroller and a toddler in the metro. Immediately, we were targeted. They just knew that we literally had our hands full, were distracted by our kids. There was a guy asking me directions (or something, my French is not that good and he was deliberately speaking unclear and sort of jibberish) and another was moving unnecessary close to my husband and he felt him reaching to his pocket. He still had his wallet in his pocket on the inside of his jacket, so no loot for the pickpockets, but I was shocked that we were suddenly been seen as an easy target (and were more vulnarable) with small children. My husband gave the pickpocket a death stare and the guys got out of the train at the next stop. We always try to avoid standing close to others, but sometimes it is so busy

Anyone who is friendly without a reason is a suspect to me and will get no response. I was a victim of a pickpocket in Prague and I had to learn the hard way. Everyone around me is an enemy when I am out anywhere.

[macem]

We were at the end of our 2 week European vacation and we got complacent. My cousin was using her Travelon anti-theft bag for most of our trip and then she used a bag that she bought from Florence. We were walking back to our bus in Bratislava when the pick pocket incident happened. Thankfully, they were unsuccessful. My cousin had clipped her wallet in the key ring inside the bag. The pick pocketer managed to open her bag and got her wallet but because it was clipped, she wasn’t able to pull it out completely. The 2 women passed me and they were nicely dressed. I wouldn’t have thought that they were evil.

[Ray__E]

Great tips. Complacency is probably the number one thing that gets people. Always be aware of your surroundings. We all can become awe-struck, especially when visiting a new place. But keep your head on a swivel. If something doesn't feel right in your gut, follow those instincts. Removing yourself from a situation/area can not only save you from being robbed but may even save your life.

[lauriedavis]

I was in London, Paris and Dublin for 21 days during August 2023. I noticed a lot of women had the Lululemon bag, crossed over their chest (sling). I had one, too, but a woman tried to unzip it while I was getting on to the metro in Paris. She got my Asthma inhaler, she could not find the secret zipper, so totally worth it.

[lionessm]

Yay! Congratulations on your sponsor! 👏🏻 Excellent clothing choices! I remember stashing cash all over my person in high school and college during mission trips. Would have loved zipper pockets and clothing that could be worn more frequently!
Great video! Thanks! 👌🏻

[Freco]

Thanks Nik. We just got back from our trip to Europe and fortunately had no problems with pickpockets, but found that all the taxi drivers were willing to rob you blind in broad daylight. None that we hired used meters, so pricing was arbitrary. Fortunately we traveled with other families so we were able to compare notes about pricing differences. From cab to cab pricing could be DOUBLE depending on who you were dealing with. This was a bit of a drag to deal with, but overall we still had an amazing time. Cheers!

[acbc]

I’m always on high alert when I travel to Europe and it pays off !I was in Liverpool during the coronation of King Charles and after touring Anfield Stadium I looked for a pub in order to chill and check on what I had bought there . Keep in mind I had a loud REI red backpack that kept my credit cards, passport, cash, GoPro and camera . Yeah I was target for this good looking lad who broke the ice and started chatting but he didn’t get anything because I kept my stuff near me by all means. He later left empty handed because I’m a wiser solo female traveler . I’ll be back to Liverpool next year ! I still have a lot to see there .Claudia . Austin Texas

[nikkioperas]

Great job! Your videos are right on. We’ve beeb to Europe multiple times, and agree with everything you said.

[kuraihiroma]

Studying abroad in the UK next week so this video came at the perfect time! Realistically I'm trying not to buy anymore gear than I already own, but I guess I need to be especially cautious when I visit Paris. Many thanks!

[lillianbarker]

I sewed pockets into the waistband inside my favorite travel skirt and pants—one for my credit card and cash, the other for my passport. That may be overkill since I always use a sling bag held in front. 😊

[titocris]

Thankfully, when I traveled to Paris and Madrid, I didn’t lose anything. I had a chain wallet with some euros in my front pocket. And I attached my cell phone to a lanyard that I wore around my neck. My first trip to Europe was awesome and unforgettable. 🇪🇺😎

[steliospodimatis]

Thanks for that Nik some very helpful tips as we head of to Europe. Really enjoy your channel...safe travels!

[candy.yankovska]

“Wise as serpents, harmless as doves”
☺️🙏🏻♥️IYKYK 🙌🏻

[c.greystone]

Anther important and well-presented vid! Danke!

[jenniferhernandez]

Thank you for this! I'm going solo to Italy in September and this has helped tremendously

[labtechsuperstar]

Sometimes even putting things in the front pocket won't be foolproof. A colleague's husband got his phone stolen out of his front pocket in Barcelona. It's sad but true that children are often used in pickpocketing scams. The worst is the people who keep a baby/toddler drugged and asleep all day to be used as a cover for stealing people's stuff.