Re: [93attendees] Pickpocket frequency was: RE: what currency is widely used in Czech?

[Toerless Eckert <[e-mail]>]

All these recommendations sound a little bit like how to deal with
bears in a national park. Just missing:

- Don't annoy the pickpockets
- Make sure you've got one in the team who is slower/less careful than you

If tourists would talk about pickpocketing to any sales person they
meet (shop keeper, waiter, museum, etc. pp) and on social media "i think
i saw a pickpocket ... twitter, etc..", AND spend less money in a quarter,
priorities of the police would quickly shift.

Alas, for the USD centric part of the IETF crowd exchange rater have
a 25 % higher buying power now than long term averages because of
greece. And CZK is even down somewhat vs. EUR.


On Sat, Jul 11, 2015 at 12:54:32PM +0200, Ladislav Lhotka wrote:
> 
> > On 10 Jul 2015, at 21:43, Fernando Gont <[e-mail]> wrote:
> > 
> > On 07/10/2015 02:52 PM, Pat (Patricia) Thaler wrote:
> >>> 
> >> Well, I've spent time in 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 on that list (Prague is 2)
> >> and never had any trouble. On the other hand, my husband's pocket was
> >> picked in Beijing which isn't on the top 10 list. ( He noticed it
> >> immediately and nearby strangers helped chase down the thief so he
> >> recovered his wallet.)
> >> 
> >> An ordered list of cities doesn't tell you what the overall risk per
> >> city is. This particular one doesn't even say what statistic it is
> >> ranked on, e.g. total number, % per population; a different
> >> pickpocket statistic might produce a totally different ordering. And
> >> it doesn't tell you what the variation was - is it  200% or 5% more
> >> likely that you run into a  picked pocket at number 2 on the list
> >> than number 40?
> > 
> > Even if that information was available... what would be the use of it?
> > 
> > Don't want to be pick-pocketed? -- Usually the best way to avoid that is
> > "security through obscurity" and "don't do the obvious stuff that will
> > get you pick-pocketed".
> > 
> > 
> > Some rules of thumb:
> > 
> > * Don't use wallets in your trousers. If needed, use one of those
> > "envelopes" that end up below your clothes.
> > 
> > * Compartmentalize: Don't put all your valuables in the same place. Say,
> > put cash in one place, and split your credit-cards in different places.
> > 
> > * Thieves can open the zipper of your backpack but also shortcut by
> > cutting it: whatever is next to a zipper, even inside the backpack is an
> > easier target that something in the middle of it, surrounded by
> > unrelated/random stuff.
> > 
> > * Whenever you arrive to a city, ask a local about places where you
> > shouldn't go (not in terms of pick-pocketing but in terms of, say, being
> > robbed at gun point).
> 
> The only such place I am aware of are the surroundings of the main train station (Hlavni nadrazi) at night. It???s also known as Prague's Sherwood. The interior of the station is quite safe though.
> 
> There is one relatively short route where all the ???tourist industry??? concentrates to an extreme: Charles Bridge - Karlova street - Male namesti - Staromestske namesti (Old Town Square) up to the astronomical clock. My suggestion is to walk on Charles Bridge early in the morning and otherwise avoid this route like plague.
> 
> Lada  
> 
> > 
> > * If you wear a backpack, either do not put any valuables inside, or if
> > you do, wear the backpack on the front, rather on the back (frontpack? :-) )
> > 
> > * Always wear the backpack on the front in very crowded places, such as
> > public transport.
> > 
> > * Avoid flashy stuff (golden rings, necklaces, etc.). Thives like them,
> > and will easily make you a target.
> > 
> > * Do not leave your belongings unattended: (unattended= you're not
> > grabbing them)
> > 
> > * If you need to operate on some valuables (e.g. pick up a phone call on
> > a pricey phone), get into a nearby shop -- it's way easier for someone
> > to just grab your stuff and runaway if you're in the streets.
> > 
> > * Avoid obvious stuff that will get you robbed (e.g., if you're the only
> > person walking on some random street at night, you probably shouldn't be
> > there.
> > 
> > * Always be aware of your context (if there's plenty of room and someone
> > has been standing next to you, there's probably a reason for that).
> > 
> > * If possible, when doing stuff (e.g., sightseeing), it's better if in
> > groups: if you fail with anything of the above, someone else of your
> > friends might notice and "save" you.
> > 
> > 
> > Is the above needed for, say, Prague? -- most likely quite a bit of it
> > isn't. But if you incorporate the above and are able to apply it without
> > having to think about it, you'll reduce your own personal risk of being
> > robbed or pick-pocketed.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > -- 
> > Fernando Gont
> > e-mail: [e-mail] || [e-mail]
> > PGP Fingerprint: 7809 84F5 322E 45C7 F1C9 3945 96EE A9EF D076 FFF1
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> 
> --
> Ladislav Lhotka, CZ.NIC Labs
> PGP Key ID: E74E8C0C
> 
> 
> 
> 

-- 
---
Toerless Eckert, [e-mail]