How to Prevent a Pickpocket in Eastern Europe and beyond

Guest post by Cassie Phillips

Eastern Europe is a fantastic travel destination, with countries that are rich in culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. However, while taking in these wondrous sights, don’t forget to be aware of the dangers lurking in the form of thieves and pickpockets, and be sure to protect yourself when you’re discovering new destinations.

For reference, the worst places in Eastern Europe for pickpocketing are:

• Russia (1,038,566 thefts per year)

• Ukraine (254,755 thefts per year)

• Poland (230,751 thefts per year)

• Hungary (130,229 thefts per year)

• Czech Republic (119,367 thefts per year)

[FRANCIS INTERJECTS: Don't conclude that Russia is the most likely place to get pickpocketed. Russia is the most populous Eastern European country, so you'd expect it to have the most thefts per year. What matters is thefts per capita, not the gross number of thefts.] 

To keep your cash and personal belongings safe when traveling, practice caution. Here are some helpful tips to help you minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.

Be Aware of the Most Popular Spots for Pickpockets

There are specific locations in any tourist city that are popular among pickpockets. It is essential to know when and where you are most vulnerable to theft so that you can practice that extra bit of caution.

• Tourist Attractions. Since pickpockets target unwitting tourists, you will most likely encounter thieves at various attractions. Whether you’re visiting the Charles Bridge in Prague or Bratislava Castle, pickpockets are abundant as they wait for tourists to get distracted while taking in the sights or snapping photos.

• Public Transportation. Subways and buses are hotspots for pickpockets as they are typically very busy and crowded, especially during rush hour. It is easy to get distracted or confused when traveling on public transit, making tourists prime targets. You should wear your backpack on your chest when using the subway or bus.

• Train Stations. When fumbling with luggage and travel documents, tourists are even more of a target for pickpockets. Ensure you are organized when visiting train stations, so you don’t get caught off guard.

Don’t Fall for Common Scams

There are some tried-and-true methods that pickpockets rely on to steal money from unsuspecting tourists. If you ever find yourself in one of the following situations, be cautious:

• Ticket Machines: If a pickpocket sees a tourist struggling to purchase train tickets, they will step in and offer their assistance. They will offer to navigate the complex framework and use their card to purchase the tickets if the tourist gives them the cash. They will often buy you the cheapest ticket while pocketing the cash for a daily or weekly pass.

• Helping with Bags: When you’re struggling to take your bag up or down a flight of stairs, some helpful people out there will offer to help. While you can generally depend on the kindness of strangers, it is best to be cautious when traveling. When one person is helping you with your bag, their friend will come along and reach into your pockets.

• Broken Cameras: Tourists often offer to take photos of each other at popular attractions, but it is essential to be wary when doing so. Pickpockets will often ask you to take their photo, but the camera will be broken when you attempt to. As you’re handing it back to them, they will drop the camera, and either demand that you pay for the equipment or they will pick your pockets while you’re helping them pick up the pieces.

• The Flirt: Men traveling alone may be approached by an attractive woman who wants to go for a drink at a local nightclub. The woman will disappear at the end of the night, and the bill will arrive with several hundred euros more than expected. When you dispute the bill, bouncers will attempt to intimidate you.

• Cash Machines: If you’re using a cash machine to withdraw money, do so with caution. It is not uncommon for tourists to be approached by beggars whole will try to distract them. While one distracts you, the other will attempt to grab your cash before you have the chance. Protecting your PIN when entering it into a bank machine is also vital. Some thieves will remember your code and then follow you for the chance to steal your card.

You can’t always avoid these situations, so be sure to proceed with caution. If you’re offered help by anyone who isn’t a police officer or public transit employee, then politely refuse their assistance. When you are approached by locals or other tourists, it may seem antisocial to refuse to engage with them. However, it is best to rely on people you already know, such as tour guides or new friends you have made in your accommodation.

Pickpocket Precautions

When traveling across Eastern Europe, ensure that you are adequately prepared against pickpockets. There are many different tools that can keep you extra safe when traveling, so you can worry less about being stolen from and spend more time taking in the sights.

• Theft-Proof Bags. Plenty of backpacks and purses are designed to be stylish and safe, helping to keep your belongings safe while traveling abroad. Brands like PacSafe and Travelon offer a wide range of bags with various anti-theft features like puncture-proof zippers, slash-guard straps, and security buckles.

• Money Belts. These are less specialized than theft-proof bags but are much more affordable. You can store your money and essential personal items in the belt and wear them underneath your clothing. So, pickpockets won’t be able to get anything out of you when they are for the usual spots, such as back pockets or purses.

• Zippered Pockets. If you plan on shopping, a money belt may be somewhat inconvenient, as you must continuously lift your clothing to access your money. In these cases, ensure that you have some clothing with zippered pockets. When you can zip up your money or cards into your pockets, pickpockets will have difficulty getting them. [Francis recommends ExOfficio clothes.]

Protect Against Digital Pickpockets

A new type of pickpocketing is emerging, as thieves aim to target tourists digitally. There are various tools available to help protect you from these scams, keeping all your sensitive data safe when you travel abroad.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is used in credit cards and passports to track sensitive data. A new form of theft called RFID skimming is a type of electronic pickpocketing in which thieves can scan and store sensitive information about your banking details and identity. To protect yourself from these scams, RFID-blocking wallets cannot be penetrated by the radio waves that skim the data off your card.

Tourists can also fall victim to digital pickpockets when using public Wi-Fi while traveling abroad. Data roaming rates can be extortionate, so you’ll be tempted to connect to public Wi-Fi networks when traveling abroad. These networks are usually unsecured, and you risk compromising your details whenever you connect and send personal information.

If you’re going to log in to your email account or access your online banking, ensure that you are using a Virtual Private Network that will encrypt any of your online communications. This type of security software is available for mobile and desktop devices, and you can quickly activate it whenever you go online.

Awareness and preparation are the most successful strategies for avoiding pickpocketing scams while traveling across Eastern Europe. With the right knowledge and tools, you can rest assured that you’ll have a safe travel experience wherever you go!

Author Bio: Cassie is a technology blogger for Secure Thoughts, a leading online resource on cyber-security. As an avid traveler, she knows the ins-and-outs of keeping herself safe from in-person and cyber pickpockets.