Do not wear expensive jewellery, even expensive-looking costume jewellery or an expensive-looking watch, as that is just an invitation to be robbed. Wear a money belt under you shirt or blouse to help foil pickpockets or muggers. It is a good idea to put your things in a Ziploc bag and then put the bag in your money belt. The reason for this is that the money belt and the items in it will get soaked from your perspiration, especially in hot climates.



Do not open up your money belt in public to take out cash, travellers' checks, or credit cards.

Before you leave on vacation, it might be worth it to sew a few pockets on the inside of your slacks, skirts, or underclothing where you can carry some spare cash when you are out and about for the day. If you are carrying cash, traveller's checks, or credit cards on your person, you should divide them up and put them in different pockets. That way if a pickpocket is successful, he or she won't get everything.

It also makes sense to use a safety pin to make each pocket opening smaller so that a pickpocket will have difficulty pulling anything out of your pockets without you being aware of it. If a number of children gather around you in the street and cause a commotion, you are likely being targeted by pickpockets who are using the children to distract you. If a couple of locals start a yelling and shoving match near you, they could be a distraction for pickpockets.

Another method of distraction is to have someone collapse and fall down in front of you. When you bend over to help them, the pickpocket goes into action. A variation involves two thieves working together, one gently dropping some ice cream, ketchup, or mustard on one of your shoulders and then distracting you by pointing to the mess and helping to wipe it off. The other pickpocket will then go into action.

Pickpockets prefer to target men with their wallets invitingly exposed in their back pockets and obese people, because they are less likely to feel their pockets being picked. You must be especially vigilant in airports, bus, and train stations, and watch your luggage, camera, and laptop like a hawk as they can disappear in an instant. Keep in mind that pickpockets love tourists, especially when they are in crowds.

Be vigilant when you are wearing a backpack. Thieves may slash the bottom of it, spilling all the contents onto the street where they and their accomplices grab your possessions and run away in different directions. Usually muggings occur at night and not in a busy, bustling part of the city. If you are accosted by an armed robber, do not argue or resist. Give them what they want and be thankful that you don't get hurt. Whatever they take from you can be replaced and is not worth risking your life over.