Pickpockets are the invisible hands that strike when you’re most distracted. But how do these street thieves operate? What are their most common strategies?
In this series, we’ll uncover some of the most widespread routines employed by pickpockets, as well as less-known tactics that might take even the most cautious traveler by surprise. This is the first article.
If you’re curious about a broader look into the topic, you can find it here – Pickpockets Unveiled: The Street’s Stealthy Thieves.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our list.
1: All You Can Pick
Seasoned pickpockets thrive in very crowded spaces, moving nonstop through these busy areas.
Their favourite hunting grounds are bustling locations with very high foot traffic, such as public transport hubs, markets, cultural or touristic landmarks, and popular nightlife spots. You might even find them mingling at concerts or crowded bars if the venue is packed enough.
Every shove, bump, or hand movement, seemingly made to navigate through the crowd, often hides their true intent: searching pockets, backpacks, and bags of unsuspecting passersby. These thieves, whether working solo or as part of a team, exploit the chaos and commotion of dense crowds to conceal their actions.
Tip:
If you can’t avoid or don’t mind being in an overcrowded area, take precautions to secure your valuables. Use bags and clothes with hidden or hard-to-access compartments and keep essential items—like your wallet or phone—under tactile control. For instance, rest your hand over them or press them against your body. Even the slightest change in pressure might signal an attempt to steal something. Be alert and check immediately.
2: The Bumper
Unlike “All You Can Pick” pickpockets, bumpers target moderately crowded but still active areas where they can operate with more precision.
While a bustling crowd provides a useful distraction and plenty of potential victims, bumpers require enough space to act quickly and walk away unnoticed after a successful attempt.
Their approach relies heavily on physical contact to distract and disarm their targets. Common tricks include the “accidental shoulder bump” or spilling a drink on the potential victim, followed by an overly apologetic attempt to help—always involving touching them somehow.
Sometimes the “shoulder bump” itself is the moment when the theft occurs.
Tip:
If someone bumps into you, check your pockets.
Avoid trusting strangers who approaches you and initiate physical contact, especially if they seem overly insistent on touching you.
Always keep both hands of your “interlocutor” in sight, minimize physical interaction with strangers, and stay vigilant for any accomplices nearby.
3: Snatchers
Snatchers, while not the most nimble fingers, are equally infamous for their opportunistic and sometimes aggressive tactics.
They usually aim for a quick grab-and-flee, targeting items such as smartphones, backpacks, or valuables left unattended or on yourself while walking. Their getaway is often on foot or, more commonly, by motorbike.
The level of aggression and danger posed by snatchers can vary widely depending on the country, the location and the context.
Broadly speaking, their actions can be classified into three levels:
- Low aggression: They snatch unattended or carelessly displayed items nearby and flee immediately. These are often spur-of-the-moment crimes, like taking an unattended phone from a bar table, rather than the work of seasoned thieves.
- Moderate aggression: These snatchers attempt to grab valuables directly from your person—whether from your hands, your shoulder, or around your neck. Some physical struggle may occur, and victims can be pushed, dragged, or even knocked down (as in motorbike snatches). Any harm caused is usually incidental rather than intentional.
- High aggression: When the theft attempt fails, these individuals may escalate to outright robbery, sometimes armed. Such encounters are more likely in isolated or unsafe areas or regions under the control of local criminal organizations.
Tip:
As mentioned, the presence and aggression level of snatchers largely depend on your location. Regardless of where you are, always keep an eye on your belongings and hold them well, especially when handling items like your smartphone or wallet in public. A moment of distraction is all it takes for someone to run off with your possessions.
4: Targeted Decoys
Pickpockets often rely on accomplices as “decoys” to distract potential victims. These people will try to initiate seemingly innocent one-on-one conversations or even hated arguments, drawing your attention away while their partners are at work, emptying your pockets or bags.
Common Scenarios:
- An insistent Friendly Face approaches to chat.
- A Random Encounter catches you off guard and start arguing.
- Pushy street vendors or beggars invade your personal space, demanding your attention.
Tip:
The key is not to allow any random encounter, no matter how persistent, to distract you from being aware of your surroundings. In general, remain cautious of people who seem overly eager to engage with you.
5: Sirens
You’re strolling alone down the street or having a drink at a bar in a foreign city when two attractive women approach you. They show immediate interest and invite you to join them for a drink or head to a more private location.
They might genuinely be interested in you, or they could be part of a Bill Trap Scam.
Another possibility is that they could be sirens.
This tactic involves pairs or groups of attractive women specifically targeting single men. While one flirts or distracts with friendly or flirtatious gestures, the other steals valuables. Ence the mythological reference.
The theft may occur shortly after your first meeting, during the journey to a “more private spot,” or even at the destination itself.
Tip:
There’s no guaranteed way to avoid this but to always exercise caution in situations that feel “too good to be true”
Extras and Thoughts
Once again, we emphasize that, potentially, every Random Encounter could be a distraction tactic leading to a pickpocketing attempt.
On the other hand, sometimes the theft is purely opportunistic, like opening an unattended backpack on a crowded bus and grabbing the first thing you find, for example.
That’s why, throughout this series (keep reading – Pickpocketing Related Content- below if interested), we will always remind you that, aside from prevention, the key factor in protecting yourself from pickpocketing is your constant awareness of your surroundings, especially when you’re in situations with potential risk.
Pickpocketing Related Content
As mentioned, this article is part of a series exploring the world of pickpockets. Dive deeper into their strategies, tactics, and the many ways they operate by exploring our related posts under the Pickpockets tag or from the list below (coming soon).
Content Disclaimer and Call for Reports
- All images are licensed under CC0, CC BY, or CC BY-SA and belong to their respective authors.
- The images and photos, unless otherwise specified in the captions, are for illustration purposes only. They do not depict an ongoing scam but represent normal actions, situations, and interactions that could potentially be part of a scam routine.
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