Pickpockets love to pick pockets - That's their job. The more successful they are the more money they make. So in order protect your valuables from these slick fingered thieves, travels should understand how thieves remove items from your pockets - specifically the pockets which pickpockets find the easiest to pick.
Front Pants Pocket
Probably the safest pocket to place your valuables - especially if your pants are somewhat tight so a thief can't easily remove an item easily. The human eye has a weakness in how it perceives motion; it has trouble watching an object that arcs rather than moves straight. This means a talented thief can easily distract you by arcing one of his hands in the air. Looking away, you won't notice his free hand robbing you. Even a man who knows he's about to be robbed can be fooled with this technique. The following is a link to a study that was done on this subject and reported in this 2008 article in the scientific publication Nature Reviews. Keeping a wallet in your front pocket is a good defense. It's a relatively difficult spot for someone else to fish objects out of.
Inside pocket of your jacket
Pickabilty of this pocket - medium. This type of theft may occur by a thief who may "stake out" a location waiting to find the perfect "mark." This type of thief may hand out in a lobby of your major urban hotel. The thief is not a guest, but hangs out in the lobby like he or she is one. Let's say you pay your bill at the front desk, placing your wallet in an inner pocket of your jacket when you're done. The thief will see this and use her cell phone to contact her accomplice standing outside. She may describe your physical description -- and where you've stashed your wallet. After you exit the hotel, you'll be followed. This second person has been told exactly where to reach for your money -- yet you've never seen each other before.
Backpack Pickpockets
Pickability to a backpack is very high. Pickpockets often use objects to divert your attention. For example, the thief may be dressed as a tourist carrying a map. He'll ask for help with directions, distracting you with the map. It's easy for a pickpocket to open your backpack while you walk. Pickpocketing of pockets on the rear of an unsecured backpack - especially when worn in a crowded area - bust- train - subway - can't always be avoided. You should consider a zipper lock or using a a security backpack with locking zipper located here.
Back Pocket of your Pants
Pickability: High. A pickpocket distracts you with one hand while robbing you with the other. The timeless ploy: He squirts a gooey liquid on you without you realizing it. Then he comes up to you and volunteers to help clean the stain. When he leaves, your money has left with him. Still unaware, you turn to your wife and say, "Aren't the locals nice, dear?"
A wallet in a back pocket screams, "Rob me!" If you're going to take the risk, be sure you know what's in it. Limit the number of credit cards you carry.
Purse Pickpockets
Pickability: High. A pickpocket will lock eye contact with you as he approaches. Your natural reflex will be to stay focused on his face and upper body. You'll miss what's happening with his hands and with your purse. Leave your purse back in your hotel room - in the hotel room safe. If you still want to take a purse with you, consider a security purse which has built-in security features to keep your bag's valuables safe from slick pickpockets. Here you can find a wide variety of security purses to keep your valuables safe.
Our site contains over 100 pages of travel safety tips and security tips that are useful for any traveler. You will find tips involving luggage theft, avoiding pickpockets, laptop theft, hotel burglary, and airplane, train, automobile, and boat travel crimes.
