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Talk:Pickpockets

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Weird headings[edit]

The headings in this article read a little weirdly. Usually we use infinitives for something the traveller will do, eg "Do", "Learn", "Stay", "Understand". In this article we use them for something the pickpocket will do, eg "Carry a razor", "Hit the easy targets". This reads really strangely, I managed to read "Carry a razor" as an instruction for me, the traveller.

The article might be better written more from the traveller's point of view. For example, rather than "Hit the easy targets", have a "Avoid being an easy target". Instead of "Work in teams" have "Watch out for groups of thieves" or something like that. Hypatia 23:00, 30 Oct 2005 (EST)

Overlinking[edit]

Someone's added a ton of links to this travel topic from other places. I have mixed feelings about that. I don't think we need to have Wikipedia-style linking on every third word in a paragraph. I find it distracting and inappropriate for printed guides. This is a place where the wiki-aspect of Wikitravel is kind of at odds with the printable aspect. I guess I'm just expressing some vague uneasiness with a move that's counter to undocumented "house style". Ideas? Opinions? Does this need to change? --Evan 14:20, 2 Jan 2006 (EST)

Pickpocketing is a crime in pretty much every country in the world, only the Police (Interpol) often call it Robbery or (petty) Theft depending on the law and whether the pocket is on the person or not. I do not think any country has a specific law just about pickpocketing - to Police it is just a theft/robbery Modus Operandi (MO). Since it can happen anywhere in the world, a link from every article is a valid link. I think that people should need to produce some evidence, such as the local crime statistics for an area, that show that the criminal act of pickpocketing is a problem that is statistically significant enough to require extra precautions than one would take in the typical country. Trouble is, since international crime statistics are not readily comparable, because there are few standards, laws differ, and statistics at this level of detail are not always collected, any suggestions that pickpocketing, or any other crime MO, is prevalent at a destination is only anecdotal. Also, should the advice about bag snatching, money belts and defensive tayloring be in here, as it is a bit off topic. Perhaps the pickpocket technique could even be put under common scams - maybe the whole article should. Besides, this article isn't really about pickpocketing, it is about preventing being pickpocketed, avoiding bag snatching and overall Personal security. I really do think this is only part of a larger article about traveller safety. Consequently, I think pickpockets should not be linked as it is too fine grained and maybe it is not an article. -- Huttite 14:58, 2 Jan 2006 (EST)

I wrote most of this article. I live in and write about a heavily pickpocket-infested area. It seemed silly to go into defense measures in the Zhuhai article. To me, everything here seems on topic. Then I added some of those links, all at places that already had pickpocket warnings. I agree this might be better as part of a larger article. Pashley 05:30, 25 May 2006 (EDT)

Valuables in Hotel Room[edit]

I am not so sure about leaving cash and credit cards in hotel rooms. It is easy to carry safely and I have been to hotels where I would not have left cash in the room. --elgaard 22:16, 24 Jan 2006 (EST)

Avoiding pickpockets[edit]

What has worked for me pretty well is keeping my valuables in my front left trouser pocket, and keeping my left hand in that pocket. I am right handed, so most manipulations are easy and natural without using my left hand. This also means that your wallet is less visible, as your hand is obscuring the wallet bulge. A possible drawback is if someone uses a razor on your pocket your hand is in the way. Should this tip be added to the avoiding pickpockets section?

This tip is really good. I use it in any city really. Because your never likely to point with your left hand or pick something up with it, it works. Another 'hiding place' that I've heard from friends is the inside of a bra. While I don't know how comfortable a place that is, being a guy, they swear it's vital for a one-way taxi fare to an embassy. TrapY 16:05, 7 September 2007 (EDT)

Don't you find it awkward to walk around with a hand in your pocket!? What I do in dodgy locales is simply leave the wallet in a safe place, then fold up cash around a card (room key, public transport card etc) and put that in my pocket. Completely invisible. Jpatokal 23:39, 7 September 2007 (EDT)

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