Tourists are being urged to remain vigilant in popular holiday destinations and not to carry an item that is sure to attract the attention of pickpockets.
According to the Daily Mirror, pickpockets are always looking for a “target” – as they call a potential victim of theft.
“Pocket theft is a momentary crime that occurs when it is physically easy to get something out of your bag or pocket, and at that moment you are distracted and do not notice anything. Be careful in crowded places,” one of the tourists wrote on the forum under Nickname FoldedTwice.
For example, when a tourist is photographing landmarks, they may be too busy choosing an angle and not notice how someone takes a wallet or phone out of a bag. In fact, a camera can be a great “gift” for a pickpocket, as an enthusiastic content maker can be easily distracted.
“A camera hanging around your neck will make you stand out as a tourist and therefore potentially become a ‘mark’. There are many other things that make you a tourist, such as the fact that you speak English and visit crowded places and attractions,” experienced travelers share.
A security expert told The Mirror that stealing a phone can be a lot more stressful these days than it used to be. Primarily because of how much people rely on their devices.
“A couple of decades ago, stealing a phone was no different than missing anything else, but now most people store flight, hotel, and banking information on their gadgets,” the source notes.
Ben Stephens, business manager at HMD Global in the UK, shared with the publication his tips on how to protect information in the event that the phone was stolen:
“An easy way to bypass a phone lock is to remove the SIM card and insert it into another unlocked phone. By setting a separate SIM lock, you can prevent access to your account and data, and prevent anyone from calling and texting your number. Although the exact method depends on the phone, there should be an option in the security settings to “configure SIM card lock” or something similar, “the specialist advised.