How to Avoid Pickpockets

Hohoho
martin found a new target

"Martin" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
...

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:53:09 +0100, Magda wrote:

On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 09:28:18 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, Dan Stephenson
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

... When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
... faster-then normal pace.

The Mixi method of walking.

...
... If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
... something as you take your photo.
...
... And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


How? All kids are scruffy.

Maybe Dan collects them?
--

Martin

On 2011-01-09 10:54:32 -0600, Mike Lane said:

Dan Stephenson wrote on Jan 9, 2011:

When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
faster-then normal pace.

If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
something as you take your photo.

And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


Why do we need this advice?

Well mabe you do not need this advice, but the original poster asked
for it. I didn't hit Reply for you.
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

On 2011-01-09 14:12:29 -0600, Mike Lane said:

Erilar wrote on Jan 9, 2011:

Mike Lane wrote:
Dan Stephenson wrote on Jan 9, 2011:

When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
faster-then normal pace.

If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
something as you take your photo.

And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


Why do we need this advice?

Good question 8-). I've never done any of those things and never been
pickpocketed. Maybe I just visit safer places? On the other hand, I don't
run around with a fanny pack and a sign saying "clueless tourist" on my
back. . .

Yes exactly. I've never been pickpocketed either.

What irritates me about the pickpocket thread is first the horror stories
that I'm sure are mostly based on urban mythology, and secondly the bizarre
precautions that are supposedly taken like mouse-traps, and razor blades in
the back pocket and so on.

I'll point out none of my suggestions in reply to the OP are anything
crazy, as you've exampled. I've seen how pickpockets work and they're
attracted to tourists who are stationary and oblivious to the
surroundings. And I've had scruffy kids try to stop me and thanks to
great anti-pickpocket advice I got in the past form this newsgroup, I
was able to spot it in time.

Regards,
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

On 2011-01-10 05:53:09 -0600, Magda said:

On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 09:28:18 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, Dan Stephenson
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

... When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
... faster-then normal pace.
...
... If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
... something as you take your photo.
...
... And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


How? All kids are scruffy.


=====
It sounds much better in French, but then, everything does.

heh, scruffi-ER kids

I totally understand pickpockets do not have to look a certain way, but
there is a stererotype for a reason. When two scruffy kids communicate
body language that says, "that guy there, let's go" and one goes on a
constant bearing to get right in front of you and the other is on a
constant bearing to get right behind you -- this is no co-incidence.

I hope the OP sees this and remembers this and I hope it helps.
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

On 2011-01-10 16:02:21 -0600, Magda said:

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:20:50 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Runge 127"

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

...
... Hohoho
... martin found a new target

Why don't you?

You know it's defeats the purpose of a killfile if people reply to
people in the killfile.

You know, some kind of killfile server would be a great idea. I'll
have to suggest it to my newsreader people.
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

va donc te coucher et pas avec moi.

"Magda" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
...

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:20:50 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Runge 127"

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

....
.... Hohoho
.... martin found a new target

Why don't you?


.... "Martin" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
.... ...
....
.... On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:53:09 +0100, Magda wrote:
....
.... On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 09:28:18 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, Dan Stephenson
.... arranged some electrons, so they looked like
this:
....
.... ... When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
.... ... faster-then normal pace.
....
.... The Mixi method of walking.
....
.... ...
.... ... If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
.... ... something as you take your photo.
.... ...
.... ... And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.
....
....
.... How? All kids are scruffy.
....
.... Maybe Dan collects them?

=====
It sounds much better in French, but then, everything does.

lol martin is happy happy.


"Martin" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
...

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:02:21 +0100, Magda wrote:

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:20:50 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Runge 127"

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

...
... Hohoho
... martin found a new target

Why don't you?

FOAD?

Good thinking, Magda!
--

Martin

His people...duh.


"Dan Stephenson" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
2011011022290922922-stephedanospam@maccom...

On 2011-01-10 16:02:21 -0600, Magda said:

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:20:50 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, "Runge 127"

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

...
... Hohoho
... martin found a new target

Why don't you?

You know it's defeats the purpose of a killfile if people reply to
people in the killfile.

You know, some kind of killfile server would be a great idea. I'll
have to suggest it to my newsreader people.
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

with stephenson around you're sure to travel better !


"Dan Stephenson" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
2011011022270398574-stephedanospam@maccom...

On 2011-01-10 05:53:09 -0600, Magda said:

On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 09:28:18 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, Dan Stephenson
arranged some electrons, so they looked like
this:

... When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
... faster-then normal pace.
...
... If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
... something as you take your photo.
...
... And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


How? All kids are scruffy.


=====
It sounds much better in French, but then, everything does.

heh, scruffi-ER kids

I totally understand pickpockets do not have to look a certain way, but
there is a stererotype for a reason. When two scruffy kids communicate
body language that says, "that guy there, let's go" and one goes on a
constant bearing to get right in front of you and the other is on a
constant bearing to get right behind you -- this is no co-incidence.

I hope the OP sees this and remembers this and I hope it helps.
--
Dan Stephenson
http://web.mac.com/stepheda/Home_Page/Index.html
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

Dan Stephenson wrote on Jan 11, 2011:

On 2011-01-09 14:12:29 -0600, Mike Lane said:

Erilar wrote on Jan 9, 2011:

Mike Lane wrote:
Dan Stephenson wrote on Jan 9, 2011:

When travelling in more crowded areas, I recommend walking at a
faster-then normal pace.

If you want to stop, look around. If possible, put your back to
something as you take your photo.

And frankly, look out for scruffy kids.


Why do we need this advice?

Good question 8-). I've never done any of those things and never been
pickpocketed. Maybe I just visit safer places? On the other hand, I don't
run around with a fanny pack and a sign saying "clueless tourist" on my
back. . .

Yes exactly. I've never been pickpocketed either.

What irritates me about the pickpocket thread is first the horror stories
that I'm sure are mostly based on urban mythology, and secondly the bizarre
precautions that are supposedly taken like mouse-traps, and razor blades in
the back pocket and so on.

I'll point out none of my suggestions in reply to the OP are anything
crazy, as you've exampled. I've seen how pickpockets work and they're
attracted to tourists who are stationary and oblivious to the
surroundings. And I've had scruffy kids try to stop me and thanks to
great anti-pickpocket advice I got in the past form this newsgroup, I
was able to spot it in time.


If you are replying to a specific post, then it is customary to quote the
original post above your reply. Otherwise it will be taken that you are
giving general advice to everyone.


--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
mike_lane at mac dot com