Outdoor Safety Tips for Women:
PICKPOCKETS

For complete Outdoor Safety, pickpockets, though usually nonviolent, will rob you without you realizing it - until it's far too late.

Pickpocket crews prefer airports, train and subway stations, shopping malls, or any crowded area. They target women with loose purses, lost or shy people, and parents distracted by their kids. They hunt at stores and ATMs, watch where the wallets go, follow the victim, then strike. The first one pretends to drop something to distract the victim while a partner steals the wallet then hands it to a third member who walks away unnoticed. If the first pickpocket is challenged by a suspicious victim, he won't have the loot on him. It all happens in a few seconds.

Crowded public transit areas often have “Beware of Pickpockets" signs. You'll instinctively check for your wallet – thereby showing nearby pickpockets exactly where to go.

Pickpockets may become friendly with their prey while a partner “lifts” the loot with lightning-fast hands. Pockets with zippers or buttons make ‘lifting’ more difficult, but a razor, held between their middle and index fingers, slits open the bottom of the pocket and the wallet falls into their hands. Keep a hand on your wallet when someone presses into you.

Pickpockets will steal from someone in a wheelchair. Women pickpockets will bare their breasts and drop their pants to distract their victims if they’re accused. They are indeed highly-practiced artists at their livelihood. Their finesse of stealth and precise choreography are a perverse artistry. Keep your money and ID inside your pants, in a pouch hanging from your belt.

Pickpockets favor pedestrian bottlenecks (street intersections, turnstiles, elevators, escalators, or any doorway such as in a building, airport, bus, or train), or any crowded situation where people aren’t surprised to be touched or jostled. Thieves might use anything – a newspaper, jacket, map, or a baby – to hide their thieving hands. Other distractions include a person falling down, dropping something, or appearing to be ill. In the blink of an eye your wallet is gone.

Long ago, thievery was punishable by death. Ironically, public hangings were prime hunting grounds for pickpockets.

Anyone, from a child, a grandmother, or a beautiful woman, to a distinguished gentleman or an "invalid" in a wheelchair, touching you in any way, is a telltale sign of a pickpocket. They also distract you with anything from conversation to a nearby commotion while a partner picks your pocket. Also beware of small groups of vagrant children – they can swarm and fleece you in seconds.

Sometimes a pickpocket uses a suit bag, briefcase, or newspaper to hide their hands.

Have photocopies of the contents of your wallet and keep them in a secure place so you can more easily cancel your cards and get new ones.

Your best outdoor safety protection from these masterful sneak thieves is to keep a tight grip on your wallet (in your pocket) while you're most vulnerable and to always maintain strong physical contact with your bags. Keep your valuables in hard-to-reach spots or get stash clothing (such as money belts).

Pickpockets avoid alert prey, but may become violent if you catch them in the act. Better to follow the advice above.

Personal Safety Devices

Deter a violent predator by holding Pepper Spray & a Personal Security Alarm (a.k.a. noisemaker or screamer) in plain sight.

Outdoor Safety Tips for Women: ALL types of street crime and stranger danger - as well as dog attack defense

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