When we’re away on holiday looking to relax and reset, we’re not likely to be pacing at 100 miles an hour while we’re exploring the town.
With no work and no deadlines beyond deciding when we’re enjoying our next aperitivo, there’s little reason to stress, right?
But now, a private investigator has warned against taking it a little too leisurely – as getting stuck behind a slow walker could actually land us in more hot water than we realise.
Sharing some of his top tips to make sure travellers don’t get scammed while they’re exploring new terrain, Paul Evans from I-Spy Detectives has advised against slowing down behind slow walkers or even stopping to enjoy street performers.
‘There are many types of scams when travelling, everything from taxis taking more expensive routes to the good Samaritan trying to help you use the public tube when your ticket doesn’t work only to request an extortionate fee for helping you, but one of the most common is to pickpocket you,’ Paul warns.
‘Never stop for street performers or watch out for slow walkers in front of you. These scenarios make it easy for you to get distracted, and what will happen is a pickpocket will be going through your bag or pockets at the same time.’
And while tactics are constantly evolving, there are some that Paul will always warn travellers to look out for – including someone ‘bumping into you’ or ‘spilling something over you.’
As Paul explains, this can ‘often be a way of distracting you while an accomplice goes through your things.
If this happens, create some distance and try to put your back to a wall; this way you can see everything in front of you and keep the criminals out of your belongings.’
How to stop pickpockets on holiday
Criminals are well aware that when you’re travelling, you’ll likely have valuables on you, including your phone, passport, and perhaps even a camera – but that doesn’t mean you’re completely powerless to stop them.
Worried about getting caught out on holiday? Paul has a few tricks up his sleeves.
Walk with purpose
Carrying your bag securely and keeping an eye on your surroundings is fundamental, but making an effort to appear confident and ‘walking with a purpose’ can often be enough to deter pickpockets completely.
So, if you look like you know what you’re doing and where you’re going – even if you don’t – you might be able to save yourself from costly damages.
‘Pickpockets don’t want to get caught, so they will select their victims carefully. Often, their victims are distracted and not concentrating on the environment around them; someone who’s looking at a map on their phone or struggling with their baggage is a perfect target,’ Paul explains.
‘What you need to do is look confident and have an idea where you are going when out in public. If you’re stopping to check your map constantly, then you are an easy target.’
Use a dummy wallet
Ever heard of a dummy wallet? It’s one of Paul’s favourite tactics. In his words, all you need to do is ‘get an old wallet, fill it with either small bills or monopoly money and put expired cards in there, too.’ Clever, right?
‘You can then put this wallet in a pocket that is more exposed while keeping your real wallet hidden away,’ Paul suggests.
‘If you are to become a victim of pickpocketing, the thieves are more than likely going to take this wallet rather than your real one, by the time the pickpocket has stolen from you, you will be out of their sight.’
Flight attendant says you should always throw a water bottle under hotel beds
Esther Sturrus, who works for Dutch airline KLM and shares TikToks about her journeys, recommends always throwing a water bottle under the bed when you get into a hotel room.
Although unlikely, tourists can be targeted by thieves or intruders, with some travellers choosing to be vigilant in certain countries or in rooms on lower floors.
According to Esther, her hack lets you ‘check that no one is under the bed without looking’, easing your mind if you’re wary.
She advises rolling the bottle under the bed, adding in her video that it ‘has to come out on the other side’. If it doesn’t, you may want to exercise caution.
Bear in mind that an obstruction doesn’t necessarily mean there’s someone hiding underneath your bed.
It could just as easily be where spare sheets are stored, or you didn’t throw the bottle hard enough to get it right across to the other side.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to check, and you’ll sleep better knowing you’ve done your due diligence.
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