How to Avoid Pickpockets
in [Europe]
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From: Mike Lane on 24 Jul 2010 18:15 James Silverton wrote on Jul 24, 2010: > jfeng(a)my-deja.com wrote on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:28:44 -0700 (PDT): > >> On Jul 23, 11:41 pm, billzz <bil...(a)wildblue.net> wrote: >>> Wear a Burberry trench coat that has so many pockets that no >>> one would have any chance of finding anything. >> That may be a little more difficult in the summer. When I >> travel during the winter, I wear a ski jacket with a liner; >> valuables go into a pocket behind three levels of zippers. My >> pants pockets have been fitted with velcro closures. > >>> The real answer is to keep distance. >> That is not always practical. I also carry a "fake" wallet in >> the "normal" place, filled with monopoly money and fake credit >> cards. It serves, in part, as a reminder to me to secure my >> real wallet. It also has a tiny ziplock bag filled with >> powdered colchicine (I am hoping the pickpocket with think it >> is "good" stuff). > >> My backpack is lined with metal screen mesh to protect aganst >> being cut open with a razor. In addition, the screen is wired >> to a high- voltage source (think taser) to give the pickpocket >> a pleasant surprise. > >> My shoulder/beach bag has a foam ball spiked with needles and >> razor baldes. > > An amusing fantasy but why don't you just pack some heat? > > Yes, I have a strange image of him preparing to go out - checking his fake credit cards, charging the batteries for his high voltage Taser, and replacing the needles and razor blades that have fallen out of his foam ball since his last dangerous mission in this dangerous world we live in. -- Mike Lane UK North Yorkshire mike_lane at mac dot com
From: JohnT on 24 Jul 2010 18:36 "Hatunen" <hatunen(a)cox.net> wrote in message news:j8om461irjo08dipgsvm9gdulva5oebmdb(a)4ax.com... > On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:28:16 +0000 (UTC), Erilar > <drache(a)chibardun.netinvalid> wrote: > >>nfw <nfw(a)spamnot.org> wrote: >>P. >>> >>> LOL not possible >> >>Then why have I been asked for directions by Germans in Germany? > > I get asked for directions or somesuch from time to time when in > Europe. But I generally wear a wool sport coat, not least because > it has generous inside and out pocket space, and I do't carry > much in the way of tourist paraphernalia. I was asked for directions (in French) once in the Hautes-Pyren�es and, when I replied in French it wasn't understood. We then tried German (neither of us spoke German) then Spanish (limited communication) and, in desperation, I asked if the enquirer spoke any English. "Yes. mate" was the reply. "I am Australian". So I felt justified in asking if she spoke English. -- JohnT
From: Ari Silverstein, C.T.A. on 24 Jul 2010 19:16 On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:28:44 -0700 (PDT), jfeng(a)my-deja.com wrote: > I also carry a "fake" wallet in the > "normal" place, filled with monopoly money and fake credit cards. It > serves, in part, as a reminder to me to secure my real wallet. It > also has a tiny ziplock bag filled with powdered colchicine (I am > hoping the pickpocket with think it is "good" stuff). > > My backpack is lined with metal screen mesh to protect aganst being > cut open with a razor. In addition, the screen is wired to a high- > voltage source (think taser) to give the pickpocket a pleasant > surprise. > > My shoulder/beach bag has a foam ball spiked with needles and razor > baldes. *laffter immense* > Please offer any other suggestions on fun ways to welcome the > pickpockets. I'd be more concerned with having your bluetooth cellphone blue-jacked by a pay-by-minute premium service. -- Ari Silverstein, C.T.A; C.T.A.S, FREE Cruise Travel Advisory Services Sign up for special email deals @ www.CruiseQuick.com - Sells more cruises than 99% of the agencies in America. (not affiliated)
From: Erilar on 24 Jul 2010 19:24 Hatunen <hatunen(a)cox.net> wrote: > On Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:46:26 +0100, "Ian F." ..jj > > It's not the accoutrements that mark an American. It's the > behavior. And the speech. Ah, but I don't speak "American" in Germany, and not with an American accent, either 8-) -- Erilar, biblioholic medievalist
From: jfeng on 24 Jul 2010 20:11
On Jul 24, 2:24 pm, "James Silverton" <not.jim.silver...(a)verizon.net> wrote: > An amusing fantasy but why don't you just pack some heat? That's a good idea! I used to worry about getting them toys past airport security, but (not surprisingly), the TSA has not confiscated any of it. Recently, while travelling with some friends on the Athens subway, one of them lost a wallet. I admit that I was disappointed that they did not get my fake wallet, instead. |