Stay safe! Get an Anti-Theft Bag to secure your belongings! Here are the ones shown in this video: 1. Travelon Travel Bag, Black: amzn.to/3XfAxH8 2. Travelon Women's Anti-Theft Tailored Convertible Crossbody Bag, Peacock: amzn.to/4bVAyED 3. Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Small East/West Crossbody, Purple: amzn.to/3RkyWw1 * As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (no additional charge to you)
Rodent sticky paper in cheap backpack pouch. Those are hard to get off your hand. U have to leave the zipper open halfway, then glue it onto a book inside that can’t bend while walking. Once they stick their hand inside, the sticky paper sticks to their hand.
All valuables , Passport , cards , cash , all in a money pouch under your clothing . NEVER leave your bag on the back of your chair , and no smart phone on the table . Sleep well .
Very well done. Very informative, with good recommendations. I recently encountered an attempted scam that I've never heard about elsewhere. It happened in a city park in Las Vegas, in the US. When I returned to my car, I got in, locked the doors immediately, and put my purse on the floor in front of the passenger seat. A young man on a bicycle pulled up next to the driver's side and signaled that he wanted to say something. I probably should have waved him off and left right then, but I rolled the window down a few inches. He said that he had a flat tire on his bike. He said that he had a portable inflator that plugs into a car's outlet, and asked if he could plug it into mine for a moment to inflate his tire. Problems: (1) I have ridden bicycles for 70 years. I have never met any bicyclist who carries around a bulky, heavy, plug in tire inflator. Bicyclists carry lightweight hand pumps. (2) There was a gas station with an air pump 100 feet away on the nearest corner. (3) His tires weren't flat. Conclusion: he simply wanted me to open up my car for him so he could reach in, grab my purse, and race away on his bike. So, I just said, "Sorry, I have problems with my electrical system, but there's a police officer down at the other end of the park. Wait here and I'll send him back here to help you." The man immediately sped away on his fully inflated tires.
My trick is any time someone approaches me I say “no I don’t want it” in an accent, really loud to draw attention. If they are a normal person they think I’m a freak and leave, if they are a criminal they last thing they want is attention.
We used a metro escape to scare the pickpockets in 2019, entering a train just before the doors closed. The pickpockets, who ran after us for some time, kept banging on the door, but the train left the station and one of the pickpockets almost fell into the track! Absolute W! Then we were not targeted again due to a possible blacklist from many pickpockets due to our actions!
Great video!! I’ve used a Travelon small backpack and a purse for years. They’ve gone throughout France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Costa Rica and the Caribbean on multiple trips and have held up incredibly well. Granted we have never been targeted but better safe than sorry!!!
Ah good to know the Travelon bags are holding up well! Yea you never know if they had an eye on you.. They are so sneaky lol! But ofcourse having anti-theft bags is already a reason for them not to try anything. Thanks for sharing 💜💜💜
We are going with the whole family and some friends to Italy in July. I told ALL the women to carry Travelon bags. Stainless steel mesh, wire strap, RDIF for credit cards, and locks on ALL the pockets. My husband is going to carry one as well. My ordinary bag was slashed in Rome and someone tried to pick my husbands pockets several years ago. I also told all of them NEVER lay your phone on a table. Always secure it in your bag. They very quickly snatch them too! Love from Florida..BTW..you have beautiful hands!
Very good advice. Better safe than sorry! It's just so crazy to be a target when trying to enjoy a nice vacation. Insane! But yea taking the right precautions is very important. Thanks for watching (and thanks for the nice compliment lol)☀
As a man, I always wear a travel vest with all pockets on the inside zipped up. I never keep anything in my pants pocket. Never had a problem. Its hard to convince ladies to wear one because they are too attached to their pocketbooks and shoulder bags.
This is because ladies clothing typically does not contain pockets, or they are just decorative. Also, in the summer, ladies can't really wear a jacket or vest. I hate wearing a purse or backpack but if I need one, I have a crossbody bag that I can use. I just got a scottevest windbreaker, so am excited to use that. I have a tether for my phone which goes crossbody. I plan to wear a super light weight boyfriend shirt over any straps. I also sew in deeper front pockets on my pants and shorts and close with a few safety pins. I'll put a small credit card pouch tethered to my belt loop and into my front pocket.
No backpacks! Keep our bag locked and in front of you at all times. I told all the moms to be careful. They are always soft targets trying to keep up with the kids.
Yes, I was robbed of everything in Milan at a stop light to cross the street. I did not know it until I reached the restaurant and put my purse on the table and it was empty, all zippers open and empty, (passport, glasses, money, credit cards). Then....I remembered how I was surrounded at the cross walk. Then we had to spend the next two days getting a new passport AFTER filing a police report (important).
Any pickpocket proof bags with locks on the straps are great. When dining, you can lock the strap around your chair back or even a table leg. In the heat of summer it's not practical to hide all your valuables under your clothes. I do have a document pouch that is supposed to be worn around your neck. I loop it around a bra strap so it's not visible around my neck. If traveling with others, when waiting in line, stand back to back and scan the crowd. You will see the pickpockets and they will see you and look for another mark. I've traveled all over the world and never been pickpocketed, but I've seen some in action. Don't be scared, just be alert.
Put a small lock on the inside zipper closure of your bag on the inside. Put ur items in the inside zipper compartment and lock it. If there isn’t one. Make one yourself while traveling. Sew in a zipper locked compartment sew in the inside of your bag. Put a combination lock on it.
I was pick pocketed on my first trip abroad in Cannes, south of France back in the 1980s, lesson learnt!Nothings changed, it’s the same everywhere, not just Europe!
Ah wow. Not a nice experience at all! True pickpockets are everywhere but I do feel that since borders are open here in the EU it's so easy for these pickpocket gangs to their thing in the big cities like Barcelona, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome etc. They come to pickpocket for a few days and then move on to another city.
I’ve been soooo lucky. Hitchhiked solo from Italy across to Greece in the sixties and up through the former Yugoslavia and eventually down through Italy. No cellphones or internet back then. Had many more hair-raising adventures around the planet before stealing suitcases from trains in UK & Europe was a thing - or organized gangs of pickpockets. Being a woman traveller is not for the faint hearted, one really must have situational awareness and a strong sense of “vibes”.
I've been very lucky so far in my travels. I have not yet been pick pocketed. I don't carry anything of value while out and I also got locks for my zippers on my crossbody bag.
ah that's great. Hopefully you'll never have to experience it! Yea if you have a bag with double zipper then a lock is also a practical solution. Thanks for sharing 💜
I carry a Travelon crossbody, but it *Only* has one CC and a small amount of cash. My passport, extra CC and cash are under my clothes in a soft, comfortable lingerie fabric bag ( Amazon) , more comfortable than a regular money belt. I have my phone on a lanyard, and if I'm using a backpack it only has a rain jacket, water bottle, snacks etc. I've witnessed suitcase theft on trains, so definitely keep them close to you.
Just want to mention that many travelons are slash resistant or their handle/straps are. The big clip on the strap let’s you put it though the back,arm, or leg of a chair so if someone goes to snatch it they’ll be dragging the whole chair with them, alerting all around.
Our encounter happened in Paris 2015, those 3 gypsies were 12,13,14 something. Thankfully a young Frenchman warned us in loud voice to be alert. That's inside the subway train
People's bags or items inside are always snatched while sitting at side walk. They swear that nobody has ever got near them. But they forget that many young kids are trained by the syndicates for this type of environment. It's just difficult for you to notice a small kid crawling behind your chair even if you have your friend sitting in your opposite. Sometimes the conspired waiter or waitress can provide 15 seconds opportunity for the kid behind the chair to hit. 15 seconds to them is more than sufficient.
Love this girl! “If you’re not getting good vibes from someone, just step away, not everything must be scientifically proven”. Yes! Words of wisdom for the world traveller. 🌍🌏❤🪷
In Germany there are many artists on public streets, they will perform while your waiting in your car for green light, they will come to you and grab your stuff from your back seats...
Where particularly in Germany? Because I live in capital city but I don't hear about it. There's a lot of them in public transpo, I experienced it saw their moves specially Sunday morning. When most of the victims are the young people who are drunked and sleeping in trains.
Thanks mom and dad for childhood trauma. I have hyper awareness as an adult and this won’t happen to me. I’m very vigilante and very observational to everything
I've seen a lot of people with these kind of lanyards. I think keeping valuables out of sight is the best option but these lanyards also look like a great way to keep your phone close to you: amzn.to/4cJHQf5 & amzn.to/4cFDZQ3 (affiliate links)
Put a small lock on the zipper closure of your bag on the inside. Put ur items in the inside zipper compartment and lock it. If there isn’t one. Make one yourself while traveling. Sew in a zipper locked compartment sew in the inside of your bag.
Good tips. I have been thinking of wearing a small travel sling bag to carry my phone, wallet and passport against my chest. But would something like this draw attention to me, identifying me as a tourist?
Sounds good to me. Many men have everyday crossbody/sling bags nowadays, so I personally don't think it makes you look like a tourist per se. I just would go for something with locking compartments for a more care-free feel while sightseeing. Something like this: amzn.to/4bp7DYo (* affiliate link)
I don’t carry a wallet or purse. I travel spring, fall and wear a light black raincoat that has four deep 10” pockets, 2 inside. I make an RFID wallet the size of my debit, I’d, 2 credit cards. Put cash in one and that tiny wallet on inside I wear a small crossbody underneath my raincoat with some cash that I can reach at the counter pretty quickly.. I also wear a money belt under everything and only go in it in a bathroom stall. Funny I lived in London 2 years in 77-78 and did wear a purse but always held it close in crowds. My husband, 6’2” USA marine caught a pickpocket in his pocket and twisted that jerks hand so bad in the tube station, Marble Arch. Pickpocket got hurt, he deserved it (happened as soon as train pulled up and doors opened). Didn’t have phones back then.
I travel with a Travelon money belt and Travelon cross body bag and they are great. They have clasps so the zippers cannot be opened easily. I will not travel without them.
amount of videos i see of them its like they're going for celeb status, people could treat them as such, aware and not so vulnerable you could perhaps flatter them and enjoy the encounter, take a selfie with them
In terms of suitcases on a train traveling between countries/cities in Europe, do you recommend locking down your suitcases to the suitcase rack with a bike lock?
Great idea. That's exactly what would've prevented my suitcase being stolen that time lol. I had no idea that time that there was such a thing as 'luggage thieves'. Locking down suitcases to the rack with a bike lock is such a great idea. Especially on the international trains.
Rule #1 do not let strange people walk up to you. They tried that to my husband and me at the Eiffel Tower asking if we speak English. As they approached asking, I put my hand out and didn’t have to say a word. The look on my face told it all. A gang of girls targeted my husband on the Paris metro and I saw them. They figured out I had peaked their plan when one sat next to me and I gave her a look she signaled to one of her girls that I ID’d them and they got up and got off the train.
Keep a list of your credit card numbers (reverse them for security) in a separate area (luggage), and the number of the card company to call immediately to cancel them. If your passport is stolen, you will need to file a report with the police to show the authorities before they will give you a new passport to leave the country and return home. It is no fun, but it is worse if you don't have the numbers to report the theft.
@@SandySola It took an exhausting 2 days for a new passport. Had to find the American Embassy which was under extreme military protection, then (not knowing) had to search for a place to take a qualified photo, fill out a dozen forms (without my prescription glasses that were stolen) and then return to the Embassy at a 'scheduled time' for the new 'temporary' passport that is good ONLY for leaving the country on a return flight to the original destination. Upon arriving in the states, I had to apply for a new passport. At the Embassy, you have to stand in one spot while the soldiers with machine guns question you. Exhausting, but memorable!
Any person wearing a long scarf dangling in front of them is a pick pocket bc no one in Europe wears their scarves like that. They use the scarves to hide their hands and as cover.
I ( German) was very prudent traveling. Decades nothing happened. Last year my wallet etc. were stolen at the early!! morning in Montpellier. It was empty !!!everywhere and I felt very safe!! enjoying the windows. Somebody must have been there. He stole stuff from my backpack. It had several pendants, that normally make sounds. Nothing dingled. In the end I had no documents and wallet anymore. I went to the Police and my husband called the cardcompanies. Also our son helped from home. We were so fast, he could not get any more money of it.
Great video and information, Sandy. Those Travelon bags were short on you, and it seemed you maxed them out in the strap length. Were they maxed out, and if I may ask, how tall are you? Thank you 🙏
Something never mentioned for blending in with the locals, always walk on the sidewalk or near the buildings. I've noticed that for whatever crazy reason, many tourists in old cities walk slowly in the middle of the street in touristy places, asking for trouble. Locals do NOT do this.
I never take my phone out in public.....people are to careless with phones at home and abroad. Nothing is that important. Nor is any person. Backpacks have always been a bad idea in my opinion.
I got pickpocketted when shopping in a store in Kalverstraat.. the two girls took my DKNY coins bag with 12 euro in it but luckily not my ugly black wallet..
Why the government didn't do anything about these issues. It's really a shame that there are many tourists and these people will do that. For the safety, all the personal belongings should be in front of your body. It is very obvious those pickpocket ladies or people.
can the #1 tip possibly be "do not carry $hit"? why would anyone need a stupid backpack? just a cheap smartphone is all you need..no cash or credit cards needed
What I figured from watching videos and reading, the pickpockets are often underage girls or pregnant women. Add to it that this is considered a misdemeanor in some countries. So even if they are arrested today, they'll be out later. Plus, you need to catch them in the act. They operate in teams. They can steal something on a subway train and quickly jump, the victim will not even notice. Or they can steal and give the loot to someone else. If you catch the person, it has nothing. They are very skilled, real professionals.
@@eddie7171 Italy is worse as I've mentioned above. E.g. I've read in their online news sites how they arrested a 31 year old gypsy from Croatia with 20-year history of pickpocketing. I guess these families believe in starting training early. She's had a few arrests and even sentences, but she had sentences "postponed" while she was either pregnant or had a kid under 1. 10 kids in total, she must've started early on that too. She also taught her own kids and kids of others in her community to steal. They called her at the police station "mamma borseggiatrice" - mommy pickpocket. By now, her accumulated sentence is 30 years in prison except - try to guess - her latest baby is 2 months old. They had to free her. Now, if this wasn't enough, the brilliant minds in the previous government came up with a law reform to reduce the number of court cases. Now, only the victim of some crimes can make the report, not the police nor the witnesses. This applies even if they are caught in action by police and there is plenty of evidence. The victim has to testify in front of the judge which makes tourists' reports useless. Not just tourists, also visiting VIPs. One example is the culture minister from Brazil on an official visit pickpocketed in Venice. Her report is useless, even if they catch the perpetrators, she isn't going to come from Brazil just to tell her story in front of the judge.
Ppl need to grab their bags to watch how they don’t like it. They probably have 5 different cell phones in their bag, and several wallets with others I.D.
I was so careful with my purse but I was in the Louvre and someone with the map asked me a question and he even took the watch off my wrist and I didn’t notice it until later
WoW that’s crazy! How did you not feel anything while taking off the watch? That scares me. 😢its nowhere safe anymore. They are so daring nowadays because world became lawless.
Yes, someone tried unsuccesssfully to pull at my watch, stealing a cheap plastic swatch (??). Anyway I pulled back, it was too tight. (Switzerland) another one tried to steal my wheelie bag, but I had an elastic bicycle line tied around it and my arm. He only managed to extend it about 50 cm, but his trial was also unsuccessfull, Besides, it looked ridiculous. (Train station Geneva). You can't live in a dreamy state to avoid pickpockets, but it's fun if you do catch them.
@@angelavonhalle5144 hi, good thing you had a tether! What kind of tether was attached to your suitcase? I googled "elastic bicycle line" and a bunch of bungee cords adn elastic bicycling rope came up
All the people in the comments trying to single out one certain country.. I strongly disagree 😉✌️Surely not only in Europe but we are really crap here in major cities ..First off all and most important everyone needs to STOP wearing purses on their back.. I was in one European country and saw a woman stop in front of the victim while another woman came from behind, she grabbed the victims purse sandwiching her while passing the purse on to a third person.. you just have to be careful not to be targeted.. in another European country I've seen a guy who was wearing a Criss-Cross bag in front of him being robbed of everything because someone took a razor and cut the bottom of his bag and took everything 🙈 take care all 💜💙🌈🌺❣️
Ja ik denk dat mensen sneller afgeleid zijn door een nieuwe omgeving wanneer ze op vakantie zijn (en misschien minder goed op hun tas letten bijvoorbeeld).
I didn't hear her say she is, although she might be. You can't judge a book by its cover. If she identifies as Dutch then she is Dutch and that would make her European. If she has a Dutch passport then she definitely is European, whatever your eyes might lead you to think.
@lorrainejohnston1460 you don't know anything about her passport and she hasn't a Dutch accent in English. And reading you, you stand for "feelings" and ideology. I stand for facts and reality
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Stay safe! Get an Anti-Theft Bag to secure your belongings! Here are the ones shown in this video:
1. Travelon Travel Bag, Black: amzn.to/3XfAxH8
2. Travelon Women's Anti-Theft Tailored Convertible Crossbody Bag, Peacock: amzn.to/4bVAyED
3. Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Small East/West Crossbody, Purple: amzn.to/3RkyWw1
* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (no additional charge to you)
A partial opened backpack full of set mousetraps and rubber snakes would be interesting to watch. A video of that would be priceless.
😄😄😄 absolutely. That would be do entertaining lol
@@Olde-Raleigh-Shoppe-NC now that would be good mouse traps.
Rodent sticky paper in cheap backpack pouch. Those are hard to get off your hand. U have to leave the zipper open halfway, then glue it onto a book inside that can’t bend while walking. Once they stick their hand inside, the sticky paper sticks to their hand.
All valuables , Passport , cards , cash , all in a money pouch under your clothing . NEVER leave your bag on the back of your chair , and no smart phone on the table . Sleep well .
We used the money pouch already some forty years ago. Works well!
U đžep ruksada stavite stari prazan novčanik ili stavite u njega slomljeno staklo pa neka uživaju. 😂
@@caprifolia1 Yep Spot on !
Very well done. Very informative, with good recommendations.
I recently encountered an attempted scam that I've never heard about elsewhere. It happened in a city park in Las Vegas, in the US. When I returned to my car, I got in, locked the doors immediately, and put my purse on the floor in front of the passenger seat. A young man on a bicycle pulled up next to the driver's side and signaled that he wanted to say something. I probably should have waved him off and left right then, but I rolled the window down a few inches. He said that he had a flat tire on his bike. He said that he had a portable inflator that plugs into a car's outlet, and asked if he could plug it into mine for a moment to inflate his tire. Problems: (1) I have ridden bicycles for 70 years. I have never met any bicyclist who carries around a bulky, heavy, plug in tire inflator. Bicyclists carry lightweight hand pumps. (2) There was a gas station with an air pump 100 feet away on the nearest corner. (3) His tires weren't flat. Conclusion: he simply wanted me to open up my car for him so he could reach in, grab my purse, and race away on his bike. So, I just said, "Sorry, I have problems with my electrical system, but there's a police officer down at the other end of the park. Wait here and I'll send him back here to help you." The man immediately sped away on his fully inflated tires.
I love they way she explains very carefully like you have be carefull for everything.
Very genuine and excellent value for us.
Thanks remembering us.
What if u bump them then put an xplosives in their bag?
My trick is any time someone approaches me I say “no I don’t want it” in an accent, really loud to draw attention. If they are a normal person they think I’m a freak and leave, if they are a criminal they last thing they want is attention.
We used a metro escape to scare the pickpockets in 2019, entering a train just before the doors closed. The pickpockets, who ran after us for some time, kept banging on the door, but the train left the station and one of the pickpockets almost fell into the track! Absolute W!
Then we were not targeted again due to a possible blacklist from many pickpockets due to our actions!
Great video!! I’ve used a Travelon small backpack and a purse for years. They’ve gone throughout France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Costa Rica and the Caribbean on multiple trips and have held up incredibly well. Granted we have never been targeted but better safe than sorry!!!
Ah good to know the Travelon bags are holding up well! Yea you never know if they had an eye on you.. They are so sneaky lol! But ofcourse having anti-theft bags is already a reason for them not to try anything. Thanks for sharing 💜💜💜
This was a very good video, with great examples! Thank you so much!
We are going with the whole family and some friends to Italy in July. I told ALL the women to carry Travelon bags. Stainless steel mesh, wire strap, RDIF for credit cards, and locks on ALL the pockets. My husband is going to carry one as well. My ordinary bag was slashed in Rome and someone tried to pick my husbands pockets several years ago. I also told all of them NEVER lay your phone on a table. Always secure it in your bag. They very quickly snatch them too! Love from Florida..BTW..you have beautiful hands!
Very good advice. Better safe than sorry! It's just so crazy to be a target when trying to enjoy a nice vacation. Insane! But yea taking the right precautions is very important. Thanks for watching (and thanks for the nice compliment lol)☀
As a man, I always wear a travel vest with all pockets on the inside zipped up. I never keep anything in my pants pocket. Never had a problem. Its hard to convince ladies to wear one because they are too attached to their pocketbooks and shoulder bags.
Yeah ok, try to wear an extra vest when you have hot flashes. You’re a man, you don’t effn get it.
This is because ladies clothing typically does not contain pockets, or they are just decorative. Also, in the summer, ladies can't really wear a jacket or vest. I hate wearing a purse or backpack but if I need one, I have a crossbody bag that I can use. I just got a scottevest windbreaker, so am excited to use that. I have a tether for my phone which goes crossbody. I plan to wear a super light weight boyfriend shirt over any straps. I also sew in deeper front pockets on my pants and shorts and close with a few safety pins. I'll put a small credit card pouch tethered to my belt loop and into my front pocket.
Excellent. Really encouraging. Thank you, Sandy.
No backpacks! Keep our bag locked and in front of you at all times. I told all the moms to be careful. They are always soft targets trying to keep up with the kids.
Good point!
Thanks for all your tips on staying safe.....
Yes, I was robbed of everything in Milan at a stop light to cross the street. I did not know it until I reached the restaurant and put my purse on the table and it was empty, all zippers open and empty, (passport, glasses, money, credit cards). Then....I remembered how I was surrounded at the cross walk. Then we had to spend the next two days getting a new passport AFTER filing a police report (important).
Omg that sounds like a pure nightmare! So sorry you had to go through that. Just terrible!
Under your backpack zipper, on the inside, sew in a Velcro strip above your items. That’s noisy and difficult to open with one hand.
Any pickpocket proof bags with locks on the straps are great. When dining, you can lock the strap around your chair back or even a table leg. In the heat of summer it's not practical to hide all your valuables under your clothes. I do have a document pouch that is supposed to be worn around your neck. I loop it around a bra strap so it's not visible around my neck. If traveling with others, when waiting in line, stand back to back and scan the crowd. You will see the pickpockets and they will see you and look for another mark. I've traveled all over the world and never been pickpocketed, but I've seen some in action. Don't be scared, just be alert.
Put a small lock on the inside zipper closure of your bag on the inside. Put ur items in the inside zipper compartment and lock it. If there isn’t one. Make one yourself while traveling. Sew in a zipper locked compartment sew in the inside of your bag. Put a combination lock on it.
Thank you for showing and explaining the features of your new Travelon bags! I like them!
I was pick pocketed on my first trip abroad in Cannes, south of France back in the 1980s, lesson learnt!Nothings changed, it’s the same everywhere, not just Europe!
Ah wow. Not a nice experience at all! True pickpockets are everywhere but I do feel that since borders are open here in the EU it's so easy for these pickpocket gangs to their thing in the big cities like Barcelona, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome etc. They come to pickpocket for a few days and then move on to another city.
Cannes is in Europe
I’ve been soooo lucky. Hitchhiked solo from Italy across to Greece in the sixties and up through the former Yugoslavia and eventually down through Italy. No cellphones or internet back then. Had many more hair-raising adventures around the planet before stealing suitcases from trains in UK & Europe was a thing - or organized gangs of pickpockets. Being a woman traveller is not for the faint hearted, one really must have situational awareness and a strong sense of “vibes”.
I've been very lucky so far in my travels. I have not yet been pick pocketed. I don't carry anything of value while out and I also got locks for my zippers on my crossbody bag.
ah that's great. Hopefully you'll never have to experience it! Yea if you have a bag with double zipper then a lock is also a practical solution. Thanks for sharing 💜
I carry a Travelon crossbody, but it *Only* has one CC and a small amount of cash. My passport, extra CC and cash are under my clothes in a soft, comfortable lingerie fabric bag ( Amazon) , more comfortable than a regular money belt. I have my phone on a lanyard, and if I'm using a backpack it only has a rain jacket, water bottle, snacks etc. I've witnessed suitcase theft on trains, so definitely keep them close to you.
Just want to mention that many travelons are slash resistant or their handle/straps are. The big clip on the strap let’s you put it though the back,arm, or leg of a chair so if someone goes to snatch it they’ll be dragging the whole chair with them, alerting all around.
Our encounter happened in Paris 2015, those 3 gypsies were 12,13,14 something. Thankfully a young Frenchman warned us in loud voice to be alert. That's inside the subway train
We were warned by our travel agent in 1993 when we went to Italy about gypsies.
@terriwasfromm5085 was already rampant😢😢😢
Same for us but we knew
This just popped up in my feed, just a day before I head to Belgium n Netherlands. It gave me a good reminder to be cautious 👍
Have fun! 😀 we finally have some nice weather this week. Good timing 🤍
People's bags or items inside are always snatched while sitting at side walk. They swear that nobody has ever got near them. But they forget that many young kids are trained by the syndicates for this type of environment. It's just difficult for you to notice a small kid crawling behind your chair even if you have your friend sitting in your opposite.
Sometimes the conspired waiter or waitress can provide 15 seconds opportunity for the kid behind the chair to hit. 15 seconds to them is more than sufficient.
Thank you for this helpful advice.
Thanks for watching! Happy it is helpful 💜
Love this girl! “If you’re not getting good vibes from someone, just step away, not everything must be scientifically proven”. Yes! Words of wisdom for the world traveller. 🌍🌏❤🪷
lol yes. I learned the hard way ignoring this before 😅 Thanks for watching 💜
Nice video!!! Thanks. Sherpani is a great brand that had many different types of traveling bags that are safe and pretty.
In Germany there are many artists on public streets, they will perform while your waiting in your car for green light, they will come to you and grab your stuff from your back seats...
oh wow. I drive to Germany quite often so I'll definitely look up some more info about how they do that. Thanks for letting us know!
Keep your doors always locked.
I keep my doors locked at all times even in America.
My car automatically locks so no worries about that.
Where particularly in Germany? Because I live in capital city but I don't hear about it. There's a lot of them in public transpo, I experienced it saw their moves specially Sunday morning. When most of the victims are the young people who are drunked and sleeping in trains.
Fantastic insight
Thanks for watching 💜
Thanks mom and dad for childhood trauma. I have hyper awareness as an adult and this won’t happen to me. I’m very vigilante and very observational to everything
Well done, thank you!
Thank you for watching 💜
Excellent video.
Wear your handbag across your body. If possible, wear a jacket or vest on top so that the purse stap is not visible.
Great tip!
Excellent video!!!!!
Thank you very much!
Great info! Thank you.
Very informative,thank you❤❤❤❤
Excellent advice.
Thanks for watching 💖
I plan to use my phone to take photos and check time. Any suggestions how to keep theft free?
I've seen a lot of people with these kind of lanyards. I think keeping valuables out of sight is the best option but these lanyards also look like a great way to keep your phone close to you: amzn.to/4cJHQf5 & amzn.to/4cFDZQ3 (affiliate links)
Wear a cheap watch and see the city with your eyes, not through a cell phone screen.
Put a small lock on the zipper closure of your bag on the inside. Put ur items in the inside zipper compartment and lock it. If there isn’t one. Make one yourself while traveling. Sew in a zipper locked compartment sew in the inside of your bag.
Good tips. I have been thinking of wearing a small travel sling bag to carry my phone, wallet and passport against my chest. But would something like this draw attention to me, identifying me as a tourist?
Sounds good to me. Many men have everyday crossbody/sling bags nowadays, so I personally don't think it makes you look like a tourist per se. I just would go for something with locking compartments for a more care-free feel while sightseeing. Something like this: amzn.to/4bp7DYo (* affiliate link)
I don’t carry a wallet or purse. I travel spring, fall and wear a light black raincoat that has four deep 10” pockets, 2 inside. I make an RFID wallet the size of my debit, I’d, 2 credit cards. Put cash in one and that tiny wallet on inside I wear a small crossbody underneath my raincoat with some cash that I can reach at the counter pretty quickly.. I also wear a money belt under everything and only go in it in a bathroom stall. Funny I lived in London 2 years in 77-78 and did wear a purse but always held it close in crowds. My husband, 6’2” USA marine caught a pickpocket in his pocket and twisted that jerks hand so bad in the tube station, Marble Arch. Pickpocket got hurt, he deserved it (happened as soon as train pulled up and doors opened). Didn’t have phones back then.
I travel with a Travelon money belt and Travelon cross body bag and they are great. They have clasps so the zippers cannot be opened easily. I will not travel without them.
amount of videos i see of them its like they're going for celeb status, people could treat them as such, aware and not so vulnerable you could perhaps flatter them and enjoy the encounter, take a selfie with them
Thank you. Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video!
Thanks Tamra 💜 Hope it is helpful
In terms of suitcases on a train traveling between countries/cities in Europe, do you recommend locking down your suitcases to the suitcase rack with a bike lock?
Great idea. That's exactly what would've prevented my suitcase being stolen that time lol. I had no idea that time that there was such a thing as 'luggage thieves'. Locking down suitcases to the rack with a bike lock is such a great idea. Especially on the international trains.
Hi, Germany here. yes I do it all the time there are too many stops and you never know 👀
Walk around with a shoulder bag with many razor blades leave it hanging open and then enjoy the show and also as a bonus its in colour .....red
Ou cacos de vidros hahahahah
Also hat pins in pockets
Now that's a good idea hat pins..
use a combination padlock on your Bag
Wonderful video. Thanks for the bag comparisons.
Thanks for watching! 😃💖
Rule #1 do not let strange people walk up to you. They tried that to my husband and me at the Eiffel Tower asking if we speak English. As they approached asking, I put my hand out and didn’t have to say a word. The look on my face told it all.
A gang of girls targeted my husband on the Paris metro and I saw them. They figured out I had peaked their plan when one sat next to me and I gave her a look she signaled to one of her girls that I ID’d them and they got up and got off the train.
Also on metro in Paris. A group of young girls suddenly surrounded him and I yelled at them. They assumed a look of being insulted. Didn’t care
Keep a list of your credit card numbers (reverse them for security) in a separate area (luggage), and the number of the card company to call immediately to cancel them. If your passport is stolen, you will need to file a report with the police to show the authorities before they will give you a new passport to leave the country and return home. It is no fun, but it is worse if you don't have the numbers to report the theft.
That’s a good tip. Thank you! How long did it take to get a new passport by the way? Or did you get some sort of emergency document?
@@SandySola It took an exhausting 2 days for a new passport. Had to find the American Embassy which was under extreme military protection, then (not knowing) had to search for a place to take a qualified photo, fill out a dozen forms (without my prescription glasses that were stolen) and then return to the Embassy at a 'scheduled time' for the new 'temporary' passport that is good ONLY for leaving the country on a return flight to the original destination. Upon arriving in the states, I had to apply for a new passport. At the Embassy, you have to stand in one spot while the soldiers with machine guns question you. Exhausting, but memorable!
I'm so scared of pickpocketing in Europe or other countries in the future. 😨😰😱😨
Any person wearing a long scarf dangling in front of them is a pick pocket bc no one in Europe wears their scarves like that. They use the scarves to hide their hands and as cover.
I ( German) was very prudent traveling. Decades nothing happened. Last year my wallet etc. were stolen at the early!! morning in Montpellier. It was empty !!!everywhere and I felt very safe!! enjoying the windows. Somebody must have been there. He stole stuff from my backpack. It had several pendants, that normally make sounds. Nothing dingled. In the end I had no documents and wallet anymore. I went to the Police and my husband called the cardcompanies. Also our son helped from home. We were so fast, he could not get any more money of it.
Do not put your wallet into backpack. You’re easy target.
Great video and information, Sandy. Those Travelon bags were short on you, and it seemed you maxed them out in the strap length. Were they maxed out, and if I may ask, how tall are you? Thank you 🙏
Something never mentioned for blending in with the locals, always walk on the sidewalk or near the buildings. I've noticed that for whatever crazy reason, many tourists in old cities walk slowly in the middle of the street in touristy places, asking for trouble. Locals do NOT do this.
Good point!
Thank you!!
Hope it was helpful 💜
I never take my phone out in public.....people are to careless with phones at home and abroad. Nothing is that important. Nor is any person. Backpacks have always been a bad idea in my opinion.
I got pickpocketted when shopping in a store in Kalverstraat.. the two girls took my DKNY coins bag with 12 euro in it but luckily not my ugly black wallet..
Oh wow. Still a terrible experience
Why the government didn't do anything about these issues. It's really a shame that there are many tourists and these people will do that. For the safety, all the personal belongings should be in front of your body. It is very obvious those pickpocket ladies or people.
Buy a good bag.. NEVER put everything in that one bag!! Split your cash and cards.. A backpack is NOT to be worn on your back.
Agree!
No se puede dinero,pasaporte o el movil en bolsos o mochilas mejor un pequeño bolso colgado del cuello y que quede por debajo de la camisa o camiseta
Eso es buena idea y no lleven joyas cadenas de oro anillos ni reloj todo déjenlo en casa
They look different, very easy to see this women.
True. I saw the gangs of them with hair dyed blond; still looked like gypsies to me.
Big noses
can the #1 tip possibly be "do not carry $hit"? why would anyone need a stupid backpack? just a cheap smartphone is all you need..no cash or credit cards needed
No police in these countries ?
What I figured from watching videos and reading, the pickpockets are often underage girls or pregnant women. Add to it that this is considered a misdemeanor in some countries. So even if they are arrested today, they'll be out later. Plus, you need to catch them in the act. They operate in teams. They can steal something on a subway train and quickly jump, the victim will not even notice. Or they can steal and give the loot to someone else. If you catch the person, it has nothing. They are very skilled, real professionals.
People have much more to worry about than petty theft.
In Madrid and Barcelona, like NYC and most of California, the laws are very very lax making pickpocketing a very profitable profession.
@@eddie7171 Italy is worse as I've mentioned above. E.g. I've read in their online news sites how they arrested a 31 year old gypsy from Croatia with 20-year history of pickpocketing. I guess these families believe in starting training early. She's had a few arrests and even sentences, but she had sentences "postponed" while she was either pregnant or had a kid under 1. 10 kids in total, she must've started early on that too. She also taught her own kids and kids of others in her community to steal. They called her at the police station "mamma borseggiatrice" - mommy pickpocket. By now, her accumulated sentence is 30 years in prison except - try to guess - her latest baby is 2 months old. They had to free her. Now, if this wasn't enough, the brilliant minds in the previous government came up with a law reform to reduce the number of court cases. Now, only the victim of some crimes can make the report, not the police nor the witnesses. This applies even if they are caught in action by police and there is plenty of evidence. The victim has to testify in front of the judge which makes tourists' reports useless. Not just tourists, also visiting VIPs. One example is the culture minister from Brazil on an official visit pickpocketed in Venice. Her report is useless, even if they catch the perpetrators, she isn't going to come from Brazil just to tell her story in front of the judge.
Ppl need to grab their bags to watch how they don’t like it. They probably have 5 different cell phones in their bag, and several wallets with others I.D.
I thought of that easy to grab n run
Take videos and photograph them. Tell the ppl they are being targeted. Always tell them.
I will carry a spray bottle with water and spray them.
That's humane 😂
Unfortunately they are skillful and will rob you before you know what has happened.
@@paulreddy3851 use urine water.
I was so careful with my purse but I was in the Louvre and someone with the map asked me a question and he even took the watch off my wrist and I didn’t notice it until later
WoW that’s crazy! How did you not feel anything while taking off the watch? That scares me. 😢its nowhere safe anymore. They are so daring nowadays because world became lawless.
OMG!
Was it just the watch or your purse as well?
Yes, someone tried unsuccesssfully to pull at my watch, stealing a cheap plastic swatch (??). Anyway I pulled back, it was too tight. (Switzerland) another one tried to steal my wheelie bag, but I had an elastic bicycle line tied around it and my arm. He only managed to extend it about 50 cm, but his trial was also unsuccessfull, Besides, it looked ridiculous. (Train station Geneva). You can't live in a dreamy state to avoid pickpockets, but it's fun if you do catch them.
@@angelavonhalle5144 hi, good thing you had a tether! What kind of tether was attached to your suitcase? I googled "elastic bicycle line" and a bunch of bungee cords adn elastic bicycling rope came up
THE BEST WAY TO ESCAPE THAT SITUATION WAS....GO TO BALI!
Meh, not impressed with the security in the Travelon bags. They seem really easy to bypass. Stick with Pacsafe.
you can use a chin on your wallet so they cant steal it and hook it on yours pants or jeans
☁️☁️Jesus ☁️☁️☝️said you can good video pictuer very youtube people EARTH 🌎 👍👍👍👍👍
❤
All the people in the comments trying to single out one certain country.. I strongly disagree 😉✌️Surely not only in Europe but we are really crap here in major cities ..First off all and most important everyone needs to STOP wearing purses on their back.. I was in one European country and saw a woman stop in front of the victim while another woman came from behind, she grabbed the victims purse sandwiching her while passing the purse on to a third person.. you just have to be careful not to be targeted.. in another European country I've seen a guy who was wearing a Criss-Cross bag in front of him being robbed of everything because someone took a razor and cut the bottom of his bag and took everything 🙈 take care all 💜💙🌈🌺❣️
Why don't you name the countries?
@@suzannepurple because I don't have to that's why 😉😉 are you looking for a tour book??
@@CK.girl55 it's not about have to or not have to. There is nothing to hide . The whole point is giving people awareness. It's not family secret!!!
Use anti Theft Items use a padlock I use Packsafe
great tip!
Overal word het gestolen. gewoon oppassen en geen dure / fake tassen dragen. Ik begrijp ook niet waarom je tas zo "losjes" draag?
Ja ik denk dat mensen sneller afgeleid zijn door een nieuwe omgeving wanneer ze op vakantie zijn (en misschien minder goed op hun tas letten bijvoorbeeld).
Best tip: don’t go
Shame on Europe. They dont know how to handle this issue'
Bird poop 💩 haha
Always a crazy new thing they come up with lol
She isn't Dutch nor European.
I didn't hear her say she is, although she might be. You can't judge a book by its cover. If she identifies as Dutch then she is Dutch and that would make her European. If she has a Dutch passport then she definitely is European, whatever your eyes might lead you to think.
@lorrainejohnston1460 you don't know anything about her passport and she hasn't a Dutch accent in English. And reading you, you stand for "feelings" and ideology. I stand for facts and reality
Put zipper locks on your zips. Can be fiddly but worth it. Watch out on the Rome underground and trains. I have been targeted 3 times there.
All Roma travler from Roemenië Bulgaria