Dodging the Dip Artist: Pickpocket Prevention Tips

Pickpockets and purse snatchers are not just opportunists, they are professionals at spotting distraction, exploiting vulnerability, and disappearing before you even realize you’ve been targeted. Their strategies are often clever, coordinated, and practiced to perfection, whether they strike in a busy tourist area, a quiet coffee shop on campus, or a neighborhood playground.

The good news? Once you know the tricks, you can recognize suspicious situations and take simple steps to protect yourself. Below are some of the most common pickpocket scams, each with its own twist, and how to avoid becoming the next target.

Pickpockets often target younger adults and tourists, but certain age groups are more at risk depending on the setting:

•Young adults (18–30): Especially college students and young professionals. They are frequently in crowded places (concerts, public transit, festivals) and may be distracted by phones or socializing.

•Tourists of all ages: Visitors unfamiliar with their surroundings are prime targets, as pickpockets rely on confusion and distraction.

•Older adults (60+): In some cases, seniors are targeted because they may carry cash, wallets, or personal items in easily accessible pockets or purses.

In general, pickpockets target anyone who appears distracted, busy, or unaware, rather than a single demographic.

Restaurants, bars, and cafés can be prime hunting grounds for thieves. A bag placed on the floor or slung over an empty chair can be subtly nudged out of reach with a gentle tap of a shoe. Once it’s far enough away, the thief bends down as if retrieving something, casually scoops up your purse, and walks off- sometimes even wearing it like it’s their own!

Prevention: Keep your bag on your lap or loop the strap securely around your leg or chair. Portable purse hooks that attach to the table are also a smart investment.

Gas stations offer multiple theft opportunities for a quick-handed criminal. With car doors often left unlocked, a thief can easily open the passenger door and grab your purse while you’re focused on fueling. If you step inside to pay, your vehicle becomes an even easier target. 

Sometimes, a staged “problem” at the pump or a friendly request for directions is all it takes for an accomplice to slip in and grab your belongings.

Prevention: Lock your doors every time you exit the car, even if you’re only a few feet away, and keep valuables out of sight.

Tourist hotspots, music festivals and other public events that draw large crowds are ideal for organized groups of pickpockets. One member spots a target, perhaps someone consulting a map or taking photos, and signals the rest. In seconds, several people converge, creating noise and confusion while a hidden hand slips a wallet or bag away. Victims are often so distracted by the jostling crowd they don’t notice the theft until much later.

Prevention: Stay alert in crowded areas, use crossbody bags with inward-facing zippers, and avoid storing valuables in easily accessible pockets. Put a paperclip or carabiner through your purse zipper hole and the strap to keep it closed if someone tries to secretly unzip it.

Some thieves specifically target parents at playgrounds, knowing their focus will be on their children. The setup might involve upsetting a child—stealing a ball, tossing sand, or starting an argument—so the parent rushes in to comfort them. While their attention is locked on their child, the thief quietly takes purses or shopping bags left nearby.

Prevention: Keep your bag zipped and strapped to your body, even when tending to your kids. Don’t leave it on benches, strollers, or picnic tables unattended.

Public restrooms can be risky places for unattended bags. Purse hooks placed high on stall doors are easy pickings for someone who can reach over, grab the bag, and be gone before you can react. Some thieves simply remove the wallet, toss the bag back to startle the victim, and vanish into the crowd, sometimes hiding the stolen goods inside a larger shopping bag for disguise.

Prevention: Hang your purse over the toilet paper roll or place your bag on the floor between your feet with the strap around your ankle or arm, and avoid using door hooks in public restrooms.

Purse snatchers sometimes operate from mopeds or bicycles for a lightning-fast getaway. They ride up from behind, targeting anyone walking with a bag on the traffic-facing shoulder. Sometimes, they yank it away; other times, they cut the strap with a knife. A second rider on the back of the bike often does the snatching, leaving the driver to focus on the escape.

Prevention: Keep your bag on the side opposite traffic when walking in public, hold it securely, and remain aware of approaching bikes or mopeds.

The common thread in every scenario is distraction. Thieves rely on your attention being elsewhere such as on your meal, your child, your map, or your phone so they can strike undetected. Many are skilled enough to pull off a theft in seconds, and they count on you being too absorbed in the moment to notice until it’s too late.

Reducing your risk is about building small, protective habits:

• Wear crossbody bags with locking zippers.

• Carry only what you need; leave unnecessary items in a secure place.

• Keep valuables in front of you in crowded spaces.

• Trust your instincts and create space from anyone acting suspiciously.

• Stay alert when approached by strangers, especially in busy environments.

Pickpockets and purse snatchers blend into everyday life. They could be dressed like any other shopper, tourist, or passerby. By staying aware, securing your belongings, and recognizing their most common tactics, you can turn yourself into a much tougher target and keep your possessions safely in your own hands.