Tips for dodging pickpockets

Theft can happen just about anywhere, but any place that draws a crowd is rife with opportunities for criminals. In fact, some of the pick-pocketing hotspots aren't developing countries or impoverished areas. For example, travel review website TripAdvisor.com's list of Top Places for Pickpockets includes tourist must-sees like:

Barcelona and Madrid, Spain

Rome and Florence, Italy

Paris, France

Prague, Czech Republic

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Athens, Greece

Hanoi, Vietnam

This list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Most government travel advice includes a warning about petty theft in major cities, tourist areas and on public transportation -- even in countries that have a relatively low crime rate. Travellers make easy marks because not only are they perceived to be well-off (they can afford to travel, after all), they're also distracted, unfamiliar with their surroundings and often let their guard down when they're on vacation. In a crowd, it's very easy to distract someone or lift a wallet without anyone noticing.

Pickpocketing can be hard to prevent because the ploys are often well-prepared and rehearsed. Thieves can be of any age or from any background, including children and the elderly, and they often work in pairs or groups. Your best defence is knowing a few tricks to outsmart them.

Tips to dodge the criminals

Empty out. Before you go, clean out your wallet and purse of any unnecessary items you won't need -- especially ones that would be hard to replace. Find out what documents you're required to carry and leave unnecessary items at home or in the hotel's safe. Carrying one debit card, one credit card and one form of I.D. is usually enough, according to the U.S. Embassy.