nush
Member
I think that's I'm reasonably streetwise, I've managed to avoid trouble in public a few times by being aware of people around me and the environment I'm in. There's what should be fairly obvious stuff you should not be doing like keeping your phone/wallet in your back pocket for example. But even then there have been instances where people have tried to rob/pickpocket me.
I'm walking down this street at about 8pm at night, I hear a guy behind me whistling so I turn and take a quick look. Then I hear that he's whistling in "Code" to a guy walking parallel with him on the opposite side of the street. Yes, they are going to try and rob me. I see the part of the street I'm walking up too and it just has a fence down the side, so that's where they will be making a move I guessed.
So I walked into the street, not many cars passing and instead of crossing over to have guy#2 following me I stay walking in the middle of the street. Not only is it brighter lit but cars are passing. Once the guys see what's happening, they turn and just walk away. I remember reading about this tip in advice for women not feeling safe alone at night, it works.
Another one. I'm in a busy tourist area and to get across the other side of the road you need to go through and underpass. It's relatively busy still but there are a lot of pickpockets working the place. I see this Russian looking guy walking in the opposite direction and he starts drifting towards me. I'm expecting a "Bump and pocket/bag dip" maneuver from him. So I just make eye contact with him and hold it for a second or two. Sure enough he changes course and drifts away from me.
This is something I've done many times with no trouble, pickpockets don't want to be noticed at all and if they see you SEE them they will avoid you as they have lost the advantage of surprise. They are often easy to spot as in busy areas while everyone else is looking where they are going the pickpockets are busy looking AT everyone else for opportunities.
One more. Escalators, these are prime spots for thiefs. People are standing still often close together and if the thief bends down to "Tie his shoelace" the sides of the escaltor hide what he's doing. So keep turning around and check who is behind you or walk up escalators. One time in a busy area I was on an escalator and my girlfriend was behind me. I kept checking and sure enough I saw a hand start sliding up the handrail towards her shoulder bag. I just smacked that hand, he quickly shot his hand back and did the "Innocently just looking around act". Then as we got to the top I saw him immediately take the escalator back down to try again on someone else. A colleague of mine who used to use one of those annoying wheely briefcases lost an ipad from an escalator thief.
So GAF, any stories or advice you can share too?
I'm walking down this street at about 8pm at night, I hear a guy behind me whistling so I turn and take a quick look. Then I hear that he's whistling in "Code" to a guy walking parallel with him on the opposite side of the street. Yes, they are going to try and rob me. I see the part of the street I'm walking up too and it just has a fence down the side, so that's where they will be making a move I guessed.
So I walked into the street, not many cars passing and instead of crossing over to have guy#2 following me I stay walking in the middle of the street. Not only is it brighter lit but cars are passing. Once the guys see what's happening, they turn and just walk away. I remember reading about this tip in advice for women not feeling safe alone at night, it works.
Another one. I'm in a busy tourist area and to get across the other side of the road you need to go through and underpass. It's relatively busy still but there are a lot of pickpockets working the place. I see this Russian looking guy walking in the opposite direction and he starts drifting towards me. I'm expecting a "Bump and pocket/bag dip" maneuver from him. So I just make eye contact with him and hold it for a second or two. Sure enough he changes course and drifts away from me.
This is something I've done many times with no trouble, pickpockets don't want to be noticed at all and if they see you SEE them they will avoid you as they have lost the advantage of surprise. They are often easy to spot as in busy areas while everyone else is looking where they are going the pickpockets are busy looking AT everyone else for opportunities.
One more. Escalators, these are prime spots for thiefs. People are standing still often close together and if the thief bends down to "Tie his shoelace" the sides of the escaltor hide what he's doing. So keep turning around and check who is behind you or walk up escalators. One time in a busy area I was on an escalator and my girlfriend was behind me. I kept checking and sure enough I saw a hand start sliding up the handrail towards her shoulder bag. I just smacked that hand, he quickly shot his hand back and did the "Innocently just looking around act". Then as we got to the top I saw him immediately take the escalator back down to try again on someone else. A colleague of mine who used to use one of those annoying wheely briefcases lost an ipad from an escalator thief.
So GAF, any stories or advice you can share too?
