13 Ways People Try To Pickpocket You — And How To Prevent It

Having an encounter with a pickpocket is a surefire way to ruin a vacation, or even just a normal day in the city.

You think you’ve never been happier, but when you reach for your wallet or phone, you realize your good time just came to an end. Luckily, if you educate yourself on how pickpockets operate and the methods they oftentimes use to snag your goods, you can better protect yourself from being robbed right under your nose.

We’ve compiled a list of the most common ways pickpockets steal from unsuspecting people, and have included ways ensure sure you don’t fall victim to a well-known pickpocket scheme.

While you’re taking preventative measures to stop robbers from sneaking items from your bags and pockets, you should also exude a confidence that lets people know you are very aware of your situation and surroundings.

For example, if you’re a tourist, don’t make it entirely obvious that you’re not from around there. Leave the extra backpack, tote bag, and purse at the hotel, and only carry essentials in a small back kept on the front of your person. The less you carry, the less items you are risking being stolen.

Be alert, and take note of these pickpocket methods to make sure your belongings stay as safe as possible.

1. METHOD:

The classic push.

This may be one of the oldest pickpocketing techniques in the book. Simply put, a pickpocket will bump into an unsuspecting person on the street and slyly remove a wallet or phone from the victim’s pocket or purse.

If the pickpocket is really good at distraction, they may even be able to bump into a person and take a phone right from their victim’s hands.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Keep an eye on your surroundings.

If someone looks like they’re headed right for you, avoid the bump altogether, or make sure you know exactly where your wallet and belongings are.

Furthermore, keep your valuables in zipped pockets, purses, and out of easy reach.

2. METHOD:

The bottleneck pick.

This pickpocket method requires at least two thieves.

The first thief will stand in a crowded, narrow area, like the opening of a stairwell or subway car.

They’ll look distracted, and one a victim approaches, the thief will seemingly decide not to climb the stairs or enter the subway car.

They “accidentally” bump into the victim, and while doing so, the second thief pickpockets the distracted victim.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Take note of who is looking at you.

Although thieves who employ the bottleneck tactic want to look as though nothing suspicious is taking place, they need to communicate to one another who the victim in question is.

That means there will be at least two people looking at you before this heist happens.

If you notice glaring eyes, leave the scene or keep a firm hand on your valuables.

3. METHOD:

The headphones distraction.

A victim wearing headphones is a pickpocket’s dream. When a victim is listening to music or on a call through their headphones, they’re obviously distracted. Then, walking themselves into a chaotic environment like a busy subway platform establishes them as a perfect target.

Pickpockets have been known to discreetly unplug headphones from phones left in pockets or bags.

The victim assumes their headphones are to blame, and by the time they realize their phone has gone missing, the pickpocket has taken off.

With the invention of wireless earbuds, this scheme has gotten even easier for pickpockets to pull off.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Keep your phone in your hand while wearing headphones or earbuds.

To ensure you don’t get scammed with this pickpocket method, keep your phone in your hand while you’re listening to music or talking on the phone.

Alternatively, keep it in an inner jacket pocket, and keep that jacket zipped up, so that it’s impossible for a pickpocket to gain access to your device.

4. METHOD:

The busy subway grab.

Rush hour is primetime for pickpockets. Stuffed subway cars make slipping fingers into pockets and bags a breeze.

They may even attempt an even bolder move by snatching a phone or wallet from a person’s hands seconds before the subway door closes.

They’re then able to run off while you’re stuck on the train, never to see your personal item again.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Keep personal items on your front. Never turn your back to someone.

The obvious way to keep your things safe while riding on a jam-packed subway car is to keep your belongings in front of you. Wear backpacks on your front, or keep them firmly between your feet.

Hold purses tight across your chest.

And wait until the car doors close before accessing your phone to ensure no one will snatch it and run.

5. METHOD:

The ‘ole hug-and-mug trick.

This pickpocket technique is often used on unsuspecting tourists in foreign countries.

The mugger pretends to act drunk while stumbling out of a pub, for example, and goes in for a hug with a foreign tourist.

While in the embrace, the pickpocket will grab a passport or wallet during the confusion, and the victim won’t notice until they go in and order a drink.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

If you see a hugger coming, stay back.

You may come off as a bit of stick in the mud, but refusing to hug someone who may be looking to mug you is really the only way to ensure your valuables are safe.

You can also keep your passport and wallet in a zipped bag kept on the front of your person to ward off a hugger-mugger.

6. METHOD:

The doggy bag.

Possible pickpockets may leave a restaurant with a lot more than their leftovers if they see you have left your jacket or bag on the back of your chair.

Even when you’re sitting there, experienced pickpockets can easily slip a wallet or phone from a jacket pocket or open purse hanging on the back of your seat by causing a slight distraction next to your table.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Keep your jacket on and your purse close by.

If you want to leave your jacket on the back of your chair, make sure there’s nothing in the pockets.

Either keep your wallet on your lap, in your purse between your feet, or in front of you on the table. And keep an eye on your valuables during the entire meal.

7. METHOD:

The turnstiles target.

It’s happened to anyone who rides the subway — a freeloader who doesn’t want to pay fare may jump through the turnstile with you to get a free ride. However, these cheapskates may be after more than a ride on your dime.

Anyone who tries rushing in after you through a subway turnstile may be after a wallet in your back pocket or open backpack.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Move your belongings to your front while you use the turnstile.

If a person wants to get a free ride, fine. But if they’re after your goods, don’t let them have them.

Move your bag to the front of your person and keep your phone and wallet firmly in your hand or in a zipped compartment on your front.

8. METHOD:

The map quest.

Sometimes pickpockets and muggers pretend to be tourists in order to get close to a potential victim.

They may be equipped with a map, or have a map app pulled up on their phone. Perhaps they don’t speak the same language, so there’s a bit of a miscommunication, and therefore, more confusion.

While a victim attempts to help them figure out where they need to go, the pickpocket will use this opportunity to swipe wallets and phones from back pockets and bags.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Maintain distance between you and the map.

If the person is trying to push the map closer to your face, they’re trying to cause a larger distraction.

Take a few steps away and keep a hand on your valuables. And if the situation becomes too confusing, simply tell them you cannot help and keep moving.

9. METHOD:

Bag slashing.

Not only can pickpockets ruin your day by stealing your belongings, they can also ruin a perfectly nice bag.

Pickpockets have been known to cut deep slashes in the bottoms and bodies of bags to gain access to the items inside.

This is super easy for them to do when in a crowded space and when bags are worn on a traveler’s bag or slung behind them.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Purchase an anti-theft bag.

Even when a bag is worn on one’s front, it’s still susceptible to slashing when you least expect it.

Luckily, there are some stylish and affordable antitheft bags on the market, each of which are made with metal mesh linings to thwart slashers.

10. METHOD:

Get the kids involved.

Many times, the most effective pickpockets are children.

Because kids are seen as innocent, tourists and travelers are less guarded when children approach them to ask a question or offer them a pamphlet, etc.

And because they’re minors, children are less likely to be caught and prosecuted for pickpocketing in many countries around the world.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Be aware of kid gangs.

Honestly. If you see a bunch of kids — two or more — approaching people for one reason or another, assume the worst. While one or two kids distract the victim, the others get to work cleaning out the person’s pockets.

Unfortunately, one must treat a gang of kids like a gang of adults.

Push through, say no thank you, and keep your hands on your valuables as you move past them.

11. METHOD:

The charity worker.

Similar to how children seem innocent enough, many pickpockets will pose as charity workers with clipboards and sometimes they may even pretend to have a disability.

While you’re filling out your information on the clipboard, an accomplice may be searching the person’s pockets.

Or, the money you donate will go to something much more vile like their own funds, or even human trafficking.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Don’t sign the clipboard.

Even if you think this person is volunteering for a reputable charity, do not give them any information or money.

If you’d like to donate to the charity they are advertising, wait until you get home and research the place and how to successfully donate to the cause.

12. METHOD:

The ATM setup.

When a pickpocket sees a person taking out money from a rogue ATM on the street, they see this as the perfect opportunity to pull a scam.

Not only could they remove your wallet or phone from your coat pocket while you punch in numbers at the machine, but they could also cause a distraction behind you after your money is dispensed and take off with the bundle of cash before you even realize it’s gone missing.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Try to use an indoor ATM at a bank, if possible.

Pickpockets are less likely to try something when they know other people are around and cameras are keeping an eye on them.

But to make sure no one will take off with your cash, don’t become too distracted if you hear a ruckus going on behind you.

Grab your money before turning around.

13. METHOD:

The street performance.

Everyone loves watching an entertaining street performance, and it can really turn a person’s day around.

However, while watching, be aware that this may be a pickpocket setup.

Sure, these people are talented.

But so are the accomplices making their way around the group of onlookers, nabbing wallets, passports, and phones as they go.

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HOW TO PREVENT:

Enjoy, but be vigilant.

Just like any other situation, be alert of who is around you. If you notice a few people in the crowd that aren’t necessarily watching the performance, keep your eye on them and keep your personal items safely tucked away.

Our best advice is to trust your gut.

If you don’t trust someone who is approaching you, or you get a bad feeling about that person with the shifty eyes on the subway, back away and keep hold of your personal items.

Pickpockets are everywhere, and unfortunately, it’s only up to you to keep track of your valuables.

Hopefully you’re now equipped with the knowledge to do so and feel confident that pickpockets will never ruin a good day.