Pickpocket Prevention For Older Travelers: 8 Tips For A Safer Trip

Travelers, captivated by a new destination, often get distracted, making them an easy target for pickpockets. Any traveler who has been on a long-haul flight or hasn’t been getting enough sleep may also feel fatigued. Older travelers, too, may move more slowly or have mobility issues.

Vulnerable tourists and savvy pickpockets are a recipe for trouble. But there are some simple tips to avoid this problem.

The Pickpocket in Venice

A viral post told the story of an energetic North Carolina mother of eight who was pickpocketed in Venice. The incident happened on a crowded street where she was surrounded by a group of girls. They stealthily stole her wallet, cash, credit cards, and passport from her backpack. 

Pickpocketing and other theft occurs not only in Venice but in crowded tourist areas around the world. 

However, the victim’s response to this incident, rather than the crime itself, drew international media attention. She pursued the girls using her AirPods’ Find Me function, pulling one by the hair.

Another girl then assaulted the woman, striking her head with a shoulder bag that now contained the woman’s stolen metal water bottle. Eventually, local police arrived to make arrests. You can read all the details about the Venice incident here.

Most older travelers wouldn’t display the same bravado.

Our Personal Pickpocket Sagas

We were targeted by a pickpocket in Bologna, one of several incidents we’ve experienced as older tourists.

We had just passed the elegant window displays at the Galleria Cavour, one of the most upscale shopping centers in Bologna. Located behind the porticoes on Via Farini in a high-rent district, the mall houses luxury brands like Armani, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta. A very nice neighborhood.

After turning the corner on Via Giovanni Massei, I stopped to gawk at a white Maserati displayed in one of the windows. As usual, my trusty photographer, my husband Jerry, was a few steps behind, soaking in the scenery as he captured a photo of one of the porticoes.

I continued walking towards the end of the block but turned immediately when my husband screamed, “Ladro! Ladro!”

The Story of the Fat Wallet

The last time Jerry used the Italian term for “thief” was in Rome. Many years ago, we were descending the stairs from a train to the platform. My then-young son was in tow and Jerry was juggling two large suitcases. 

An unkempt passenger approached my husband from behind and reached down into his pocket, attempting to steal his wallet. Thankfully, this brazen attempt was thwarted by my husband’s “fat wallet” that wouldn’t budge out of his pants.

In Bologna, I worried we wouldn’t be so lucky. I turned around and saw the perpetrator casually walking from us. Now Jerry was pursuing him, yelling, “Ladro, Ladro, you tried to steal my wallet.” 

You can’t tell a book by its cover and the thief didn’t look like one. From his attire, we could have sworn he was a university professor.  Passersby pretended not to notice what happened. (We aren’t  sure we would get involved had we witnessed something similar in New York.)

And so stealthy was the thief’s approach that my husband didn’t hear him until he felt his hand. Fortunately, the attempt was once again foiled by the “fat wallet.”

Not skipping a beat (although my heart was racing), Jerry snapped a couple of pictures of the pickpocket.

The Good Samaritan

A middle-aged Good Samaritan ran up to us to see if we were okay. The man was an artist carrying a partially finished painting. He apologized for his city, reminding us that, like most large cities, thieves are waiting in the wings for opportunities like this.

He urged us to be more careful—advice well taken—and offered us a restaurant recommendation as a way to show his caring. “Excellent food and very cheap,” he said.

Lessons Learned: When you are balancing a camera in both hands, you are an easy target—especially if you have floppy pants pockets revealing your wallet.

Filing The Police Report

With such a clear mug shot on our camera, we decided to file a report with the Questura di Bologna, the local police precinct. Hopefully, this would benefit other tourists.

A huge sign at the entrance to the station read, “Attendere in sala d’attesa” (wait in the waiting room). “Wait” was surely the operative word. 

For almost two hours, we waited in a holding room with locals who were reporting lost passports or papers, or trying to settle minor traffic offenses. It was an interesting group, including a man who had worked at the Carpigiani Gelato Museum, where the first automatic machine for making gelato was created. Much like an emergency room, people were triaged and cases were processed one at a time.

We finally got to file the report of attempted robbery (providing the Polizia with photocopies of our pictures of the thief). We wondered whether they, who seemed to take the matter as seriously as we did, might put up a Wanted Poster around town or show the perp’s picture on the evening news and capture the crook. 

We never heard anything, and looking back, our best guess is that petty crimes like this one are so prevalent that there was no follow-up. 

8 Pickpocket Prevention Tips for Older Travelers

Here are some tips to avoid being a pickpocket victim:

1- Be aware that tourists are easy targets

Pickpockets are shrewd enough to realize that tourists are likely to be carrying passports, credit cards and cash. Moreover, they are also often distracted by their new surroundings.

And pickpockets are skilled in recognizing tourists. They can often tell by their attire or their behavior (following a group leader with a lollipop sign).

2- Remember, older people are especially vulnerable

Pickpockets know our reaction time is slower, and we probably can’t outrun them. Therefore, anyone over 50 or with gray hair may be viewed as a “soft target” for pickpockets.

3- Accept that pickpockets are everywhere

Pickpocketing is universal in terms of location. It can happen anywhere around the globe.

While most anecdotal reports place pickpocket incidents in crowded squares or on public transportation, pickpockets are aware of the terrain and can lurk anywhere. We were caught off guard because we felt comfortable in the upscale neighborhood.

4- Caution: Tourists are especially vulnerable when taking photographs

Your hand (or hands) is extended away from your body, holding your smartphone or camera, and you are focused on the subject in front of you, not on what may be behind you.

5- Don’t carry a fat wallet

Jerry considers himself lucky, but it’s more prudent to prune and declutter your wallet before a trip and only carry essentials. If your hotel room has a safe, store any excess currency or valuable items. Even beyond that, don’t carry any unnecessary “stuff” with you. 

One reader suggested putting a rubber band around your wallet, to make it more difficult to lift.

6- Keep your belongings in front of you

If you can, keep your valuables in front of your body rather than behind. This applies to purses and pockets (horizontal pockets are generally safer than vertical ones). I take an MZ Wallace crossbody bag that’s small and lightweight, and keep my hand on the zipper top of the bag.

7- Don’t let your guard down

Remain alert. As interesting and engaging as it is to experience all the sights and sounds of a new place, try to be vigilant of your person and belongings. If you are traveling with a companion, look out for that person as well.

8- Recognize that you can only try your best

When I had my wallet stolen at a TJ Maxx near home, the local police department reminded me that these crooks are professionals. They often work in teams and are well-practiced. Do what you can to prevent being a victim, but if you do fall prey, try not to let it spoil your trip.

The art (and craft) of pickpocketing is universal. It can happen anywhere, anytime. 

Coda: Our Pickpocketing Lessons

Jerry’s lesson:

Whether you have a fat wallet or not, Jerry’s working toward pants with horizontal pockets that are more pick-proof, and wearing a vest or jacket over them adds another layer of protection.

My lesson:

I’ll keep a closer eye on my photographer and stop looking at Maseratis.

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YouTube video of the incident in Venice

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Also on More Time To Travel:  On losing a laptop

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