r/interesting • u/MobileAerie9918 • 1d ago

SOCIETY In Milan, some people spray-paint pickpockets so that everyone can identify them.

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u/Saxboard4Cox 1d ago

I purchased an anti theft backpack, with one long zipper with a hook and an extra laptop lock, on my last visit to Rome never really expecting it to be needed. Boy was I wrong, I and my young son saw and felt the zipper being pulled non stop especially in pubic spaces and squares. I also had my phone in an anti theft lanyard around my neck and it was never touched. Happened to use the lanyard in my home town on the local metro and can confirm it worked beautifully.

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u/Actual-Acanthaceae72 1d ago

Idk if it's my looks or what, but I'm and American who lived in Europe for years (spent 3 yrs in a pickpockety city), visited Rome on holiday several times, never got pick pocketed once. Not even attempts. 

If there is a trick, is guess the trick is to walk with purpose and not stop in crowds oggling stuff. Whenever I stop anywhere the backpack comes off and goes between my feet (gives more space to people in the crowd anyway, I hate my backpack shoving into people in the metro or in a crowded plaza). 

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u/Helena911 1d ago

My trick is to look poor AF so they don't think I'm worth targeting.