07/01/2026
Pickpockets Do Not Rob at Random. This Is How They Choose.
They often work in groups of three or more, especially around metro platforms, bus stops and crowded stations.
While you are waiting, they are watching.
They look at what you are doing, what you are carrying and where you keep your phone or wallet. When tourists check tickets, take out their phone, open a bag, pay for something or keep touching the same pocket, they are showing exactly where their valuables are.
The moment you arrive at a platform, do not only look for your train or bus. Scan the people around you too.
Be careful when you see a small group standing close together but not really talking, often positioned in a loose circle, with large bags, jackets over their arms or hands kept close to other people’s bags. They may be watching passengers more than they are waiting for transport.
Do not panic, but do not ignore it either.
Make eye contact. Move your bag to the front. Put your phone away. Keep your wallet inside a closed bag or secure front pocket, and do not keep checking where it is.
The moment people see that you are alert and that you have noticed what is happening around you, you become a much harder target.
They are looking for distraction. Do not give it to them.