Pick-pockets love busy places and touristic attractions. Everywhere you are being warned for this danger. But these thieves are very cautious and are hard to get, so prepare yourself.

First of all, here are the 10 cities that are well known for pick-pocketing.

1. Barcelona (Spain): Las Ramblas, the pedestrian area
2. Rome (Italy): the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon
3. Prague (Czech Republic): Charles Bridge
4. Madrid (Spain): The flea market El Rastro, the subway and the museums
5. Paris (France): the subway
6. Firenze (Italy): The David of Michelangelo or the replica on the Piazza della Signoria
7. Buenos Aires (Argentine)
8. Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
9. Athens (Greece): The Panthenon
10. Hanoi (Vietnam): The old part of the city

How can you protect yourself?

Here some tips on how you can protect yourself against handy pick-pockets snatching your wallet away.

- Keep your handbag close to your body with the zipper on the inside. Also keep hold of the belt so it can’t be cut through.
- Your wallet is more safe in your inside pocket or the front pocket of your pants then in the back pocket (as is can’t be closed most of the time when you’re wearing jeans).
- Avoid backpacks: although they’re very practical, they’re also very ‘accessible’ for thieves while the opening is on your back.
- Don’t take more cash than you need, and if you pull out your wallet do this in a discrete way. In this way you avoid people to see how much money you got on you.
- If you DO need to carry more money with you, then divide it over different places: bag, wallet, pockets, money belt…
- Never put your money and credit card in the same pocket or wallet. You can also use a fanny pack under your shirt.
- Keep your hands in your pockets when you’re in crowded places. This way pickpockets aren’t able to grab it…

And don’t ever keep your secret codes of your cash cards in your wallet.

Statistics show that woman are more often victim of pick-pockets. They need to be aware a bit more…

Which tricks do they use?

Pick-pocketing is actually like magic, a form of art. But which tricks are being used?

- Causing panic: When you shout “Thief”! in crowded places you see people immediately reaching for their wallet. This way snatchers know where you keep your money.
- Cause an accident: the person in front of you triples over and drops his packages… A traveler misses a step leaving the bus or train… Two typical situations that bring you out of balance. A moment of carelessness where a thief proficiently makes use of. The person that causes the actual accident is of course an accomplice.
- Start a fight: sometimes they provoke a fight to mask the theft. It leads to confusion which makes the awareness of the victims drop.
- Spill something: a passer-by spills something in his hurry… Still in a hurry they apologize themselves and attempt to ‘reduce the damage’. But meanwhile he got your wallet and is long gone. The quick attempt to ‘make you descent again’ masked the theft.

Planning on visiting the number 1 pick-pocket city in the world? Take a look at barcelona holiday apartments.