I Think They Just Took Our Money, Pickpockets in Europe

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If you are going to be a pickpocket, you should pray for someone from the Midwest to walk by you. I was an easy target but the unfortunate truth is, it wasn’t my money they took but my friend’s. In 2017 I got had in Madrid. I share this story to maybe help you be aware when you’re on your first trip abroad.

While working in a cubicle, steadily going out of my mind, a friend texted me and threw a lifeline out to go to Spain with her for a week. Veronica was a teammate of mine from my skeleton days, well traveled internationally. As I looked at my first time in Europe, I knew I’d want to learn how to travel internationally from her. Veronica has been all over with the sport of Skeleton. Navigating the intersection of mass transit and new cultures is nothing new for her. In all her times abroad she had never lost money to the hands of a pickpocket or scammer until she brought her friend from Wisconsin.

You don’t have to reply.

One of the first pieces of advice I learned while attending a Paella cooking class in Barcelona was, “If they’re on the street offering to show you the menu, you didn’t want to eat there to begin with.” If you wanted the local experience you had to avoid the tourist traps. The deeply troubling truth for any midwesterner though is we are nice to a fault. When someone is looking at you, looking for that eye contact and making a good natured appeal, it’s so damn hard not to look over and even give the forced smile and, “No, thank you.” They are fishing in the river of tourists though and as you pass, their eyes are already upstream, they’ve forgotten you, a new fish is coming. Keep walking.

You really should have kept walking.

It’s a simple question stated as a directive, “Sign this petition.” Hook line and sinker, they’ve got me. It’s not uncommon here in Madison, Wisconsin. Someone is always on the sidewalk saving the earth, saving the whales, or petitioning for another human’s rights. It’s often noble, it’s often something I don’t mind lending a signature too. As we walk to the Royal Palace in Madrid and are surrounded by four girls with funny accents from somewhere far from Spain, directing us to sign the petition, my only question is, “What for?” Handicapped children. Who the hell isn’t going to lend their name to it? They were kind, overwhelmingly positive, key word overwhelmingly. Finally, “Just show us your I.D,” I think they said it was local law or something for signing.

Sitting on a bench and checking again.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the interaction. It was so strange. It happened fast, what was that? We pull our wallets out again, there is no way they took our money, we were looking the whole time.

“They got my Czech Kroner.” Veronica proclaims and immediately all midwest nice gives way for anger. I’m off the bench running back to where we were had and circling around looking for the girls but they’re long gone.

Pickpocket Lessons Learned

Keep walking. Anyone who comes up to you and forces their way into your life should be walked past, home or abroad. Whether they’re offering to show a magic trick, sign a petition or show a menu, keep walking. It’s okay, really.
Keep account of your wallet. A front pocket is the best place to go in my mind but not fool proof from pickpockets. If it’s going in a bag, find some way of locking your zipper. Professional pickpockets are extremely smooth at swiping things without tipping you off and zippers aren’t necessarily a deterrent, but don’t make it easy.
Keep your space. On busy trains, busses or crowded streets do your best to keep your personal space. When you can’t keep your space, keep a hand on your things.
Don’t let them take your peace. This is unfortunately something that can happen when we are abroad. Don’t let it ruin your day or your trip. Move on.

Check out these helpful tips on Outsmarting Pickpockets and Thieves from the master, Rick Steves.