61–68 of 68 posts
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In most parts of the US such lessons are rare. I grew up in the Middle East where I learned similar lessons. To many here's unthinkable that one can't just leave their bag lying next to them, or some such. Heck, outside of the cities many people here don't even lock their doors.
Same lessons from India, so I think it's a developing world thing. Or maybe even a high-income-disparity-culture thing?
Barcelona is damn bad for pickpocketing so watch yourself if you are in town and look around you for potential thieves. Be especially vary of people who are very nicely dresses as it's a normal rouse to dress sharply so you have your guard down. Also a jacket casually over the arm can be a sign that they are looking for quick dives into open handbags etc. I usually just assume an agressive posture and look around. If…
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My mother taught me never to take out valuables, especially money, in crowded public places. Isn't this a common teaching, such as "never cross the road without checking for cars"?
In most parts of the US such lessons are rare. I grew up in the Middle East where I learned similar lessons. To many here's unthinkable that one can't just leave their bag lying next to them, or some such. Heck, outside of the cities many people here don't even lock their doors.
I'm sure I'm not pickpocket proof but I don't have to be. I just have to not be the easiest one in the area.
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$400 seems right. Jack someone's wallet and then walk into the nearest big box store to use their credit cards. I've had my credit card # stolen 3 or 4 times and $400 is about the average amount of fraud that happened each time. It's usually like a tank of gas and a trip to Best Buy to purchase something like a video game console. One time they bought a plane ticket online for $350.
One time they bought a plane ticket online for $350. I assume this one get caught?
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One time they bought a plane ticket online for $350. I assume this one get caught?
Don't assume anything. I had someone steal my card info and use it to by a bed and mattress, which was delivered to their house. Sears (ahem) wouldn't tell me who bought it, or where it was delivered, because I wasn't the purchaser, but they were happy to charge me for it. I turned it over to the police, but they said they weren't going to deal with it as it was 'only' ~$1200. This was in 2002 IIRC.
i bet the proliferation of skinny jeans is to blame. the person wearing the jeans can barely get their own hand in their pocket, how's a pickpocket supposed to do it undetected?
I can confirm this first hand. Two pickpockets tried to get my stuff in Barcelona. One had his hand in my left pocket with my cell phone, the other one in the right pocket with my wallet and passport. Sorry, folks, but my jeans pockets are like monkey traps. If you grab anything in there you won't be able to get your hand out. They pickpockets figured that out quickly and ran off without any loot. Tight jeans saved m…
If a hot girl touches your arm and look at you in the eyes with a vivid smile, you won't feel the hand searching for your pocket. I'm pretty sure someone could put a leg in your back pocket and you wouldn't still feel a thing!
The real protection is to have your money inside your belt or similar location and just have decoys in your pockets.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't assume anything. I had someone steal my card info and use it to by a bed and mattress, which was delivered to their house. Sears (ahem) wouldn't tell me who bought it, or where it was delivered, because I wasn't the purchaser, but they were happy to charge me for it. I turned it over to the police, but they said they weren't going to deal with it as it was 'only' ~$1200. This was in 2002 IIRC.
I'm pretty sure Sears committed a crime in not telling you. But every state/country is different.
Those who have no stomach for violence can eke out a living snatching cell phones on the subway, which are much easier to convert to cash than stolen credit cards... At first I thought this was a fake semantic distinction, but now I see: Snatching is not the same as pickpocketing, because the mark helpfully takes out the most valuable item they own and holds it in prime stealing position for you, instead of concealin…
My mother taught me never to take out valuables, especially money, in crowded public places. Isn't this a common teaching, such as "never cross the road without checking for cars"?