I got pickpocketed last night...

[midnightcafe]

So I am studying in Prague (Czech Republic) for a semester and last night I was walking through Old Town Square to catch the tram home. I was approached by some hooker who hassled me, started grabbing my frontside and my wallet pocket. I covered my wallet so she wouldn't take it, but she still had her hand on it. After I told her no, seeya later and all that, she walked away. At the tram stop I pulled out my wallet to find that ALL my cash was gone. 1600 Czech crowns (about $90 USD).

First, I didn't even know it was possible to pull that off-take money out of a wallet while it's still in someone's pants. I was ****ed I lost that much money because I had just went to the ATM. I backtracked the streets to find her and of course she was gone. I felt so violated, that I would let someone do that to me. I let her rob me and I didn't do anything. I should have yelled at her before she got too close.

Pickpocketing is the most common crime in the Prague streets so it's understandable that they're are skilled thieves roaming the streets. I guess I learned a valuable lesson the hard way.

 

[xulf13]

That's funny yet not. In Peru, they will rob your socks without removing your shoes. Or so the expression goes. My mother was on a city bus and held her purse close to her during her commute, when she got off her wallet, "inside" her purse was still there. But she had no money in the wallet. Turns out the thief, slit a line with a razor on the side of the purse that stuck out from under my mothers arms and pulled the wallet out, pulled the money from the wallet and put the wallet back in the purse. She told me that if she had waited another 5 minutes, perhaps the thief would have even stitched the purse back up where it had been cut.

 

[cafe rat]

If you go through that part of town often, you should carry a dummy wallet with razor blades inside. That'll teach 'em.

 

[Rocan]

If you go through that part of town often, you should carry a dummy wallet with razor blades inside. That'll teach 'em.

not a bad idea....

 

[midnightcafe]

not a bad idea....

My dad pitched that idea, I just really don't want to waste any more money while I'm over here. I lost 1600 Czech crowns from getting pickpocketed, 450 when the bag broke and my favorite Czech liquor smashed on the metro stairs, 990 on a shitty switchblade that broke...

I told my Czech friend my story and he warned me about 'gypsy babies'-little gypsy children who wander the metro and streets, pickpocketing anyone. They're just kids-maybe 3 feet tall, that reach up to grab your wallet. I never thought that was such a risk. Especially because I've been wondering why there are small children with Hello Kitty or Spiderman backpacks wandering the metro stations alone!

 

[Rocan]

note to self: dont go to czech republic

 

[midnightcafe]

haha, here are more places you should avoid then:
http://uk.travel.yahoo.com/p-promo-2946038
some helpful tips to avoid getting pickpocketed, too.

 

[rebellion ind]

I would advise a money belt, carrying money in several places, and carrying you wallet in your front pocket. I don't advise the razor blade method, you don't want infected hooker blood on you or to piss of the pimp.

 

[Rocan]

haha. living in nyc and taking the train daily has brought me face to face with two pick-pocketers so far.

first one got a comment from me saying "dont even bother, im broke"

second one got 3 broken fingers and my forhead in his face as he tried to lift my PSP from my bag.

bastards.

 

[Oak]

I was picked by a carnie in HS. I felt something getting out of a ride and grabbed the guy, but be had already passed it to a guy walking the other way on a platform ringing the ride. I ran over and grabbed the other guy and had to...um..."subdue" him, but he didn't have the wallet. My date looked into one of the cars on the ride and there was my wallet. I punched the guy in the face and drug him over to the Sheriff's booth. Then I went and lost $100 trying to win a stuffed animal. Oh the irony.

 

[Ethanol]

Got pick-pocketed once in Greece. Knew it was happening and tried to fight the guys off (on the bus) to no avail. They were pros. Also got "pick-pocketed" for a large wad of snot-rags in Prague (by the large glockenspiel, sound familiar?). Dude was pissed. I had a cold and a wad of used napkins in my pocket. Not my problem you stole it dude!

 

[bradj]

keep your rubles in your front pocket and your wallet in your back.it has always worked for me, and read the room dont put your self in a spot where this could happen and no offence but why are you in school in the soviet block? is the no collages left in the free world?

 

[irishguy]

My dad pitched that idea, I just really don't want to waste any more money while I'm over here. I lost 1600 Czech crowns from getting pickpocketed, 450 when the bag broke and my favorite Czech liquor smashed on the metro stairs, 990 on a shitty switchblade that broke...

I told my Czech friend my story and he warned me about 'gypsy babies'-little gypsy children who wander the metro and streets, pickpocketing anyone. They're just kids-maybe 3 feet tall, that reach up to grab your wallet. I never thought that was such a risk. Especially because I've been wondering why there are small children with Hello Kitty or Spiderman backpacks wandering the metro stations alone!

You're studying in Prague and I'm stuck in an 8' x 8' cubicle, in front of a computer, in Alabama, 8 hours a day. I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for you. ;D

 

[Ethanol]

why are you in school in the soviet block? is the no collages left in the free world?

One of the coolest cities in the world and, outside of Budapest, the most beautiful women.

 

[midnightcafe]

Yep. This place is beautiful. Some buildings and structures are ugly and obviously Soviet, but the historical district is amazing. Women are a treat, and almost no fat people (besides tourists) because everyone walks everywhere and takes mass transit.

Enjoy the obesity population, America!

 

[teazer]

We were in teh Paris Metro last year waiting for a train and of course I was doing everything wrong. I usually try really hard to blend in and not be noticed, but that day I was dressed like a tourist and talking too loud in English. I'm aware of my surroundings and there were no threats - just a group of school girls.

We got on teh train and teh girls were way too close to me so I knew something wasn't right. I had a waist bag/bum bag/fanny pack in front and the phone which was on top suddenldy started making noises. That's when the girls jumped off jsut before teh train left teh station. In a few seconds one had managed to open the bag and was trying to get to my wallet. If she took that I'd have been in deep s**t.

The way the thing usually plays out is one person distracts you, the second bumps into you or just lfts teh wallet and then keeps walking and passes it to a third or 4th person. By teh time you know something happened, it's over.

I experienced the front grope routine in Birmingham (UK) a few years ago and that was obviously a hustle so I backed out fast and got out of it, but it's easy to see how that would work. You stagger out of teh pub or nightclub not completely sharp and bam - cash gone.

 

[bradj]

did not intend to come of the wrong way im sure it is nice Im a untrusting child of the cold war im working on it my only advice is just dress in proper fitting pants and keep your cash seperate from your wallet and try to keep a friend with you the fact that you was alone and a student most likely stood out to the pickpocket

 

[boingk]

SUcks on getting 'pocketed man. Beats the hell out of my story - was walking home from the pub after uni with a mate and a few guys were walking the same way. Talked and so on, and they ended up mugging us. A few were talking to my mate and one to me, then he ehadbutts me outta the blue and asks for my money. I threw him a fiver and pissed off. Two more caught up to me, ended up getting away. Friend arrived a minute or two after, big hit to the eye.

Those idiots later got caught, pled guilty and got sentanced. All for $5.

Cheers - boingk

 

[midnightcafe]

it almost happened again last week
I went to Brussels with four friends and stayed at a hostel close to the historical district. The problem with Brussels is that the ghetto is next to the historical center, right where our hostel was. So one afternoon we walked home, our bags loaded with groceries, wine and chocolate, straight through the ghetto. Some scumbag saw us and walked up next to me acting all friendly. He put his hand on my shoulder asking if I was Dutch, I told him no and kept walking. He put on this act where he asked me if he knew this dance-put his leg in front of mine, pulling me off balance and putting his hand in my front wallet pocket. It happened so quick, I pushed him away, screaming DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME! I knocked the guy across the sidewalk into a parked car, and he tried bullshitting the situation that he was the victim. I told him I KNEW he tried to pickpocket me and stood my ground. Before the situation I was walking ahead of my friends, after I pushed him they all stood next to me. When he started waving him arm, saying that I cut him, my friends blocked him, to which he stepped back and 'went for his knife.' I say this in quotations because I later realized he was bluffing just to get away from us, but nonetheless we were foreigners and didn't want trouble so we stepped back. He walked away telling us 'we fear him' even though we tried following him and he freaked out. We walked home on the other side of the street knowing that he'd be getting his friends.

That time I had my wallet in my front pocket, and he was a complete scumbag piece of shit for trying it so blatantly. Lesson learned, don't go sightseeing fatigued from an overloaded backpack and a full day's travel. But it felt good to put a motherfucker in his place.

 

[Rocan]

what an asshole. if he was "reaching for a knife" i would stomp his hands down, if you get lucky hell stab himself in the hand.