# Pissed-off tourists beating up pickpockets in Europe **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546 "2026-04-25T13:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/21 "2026-04-25T23:09:34Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > How do the police in Europe handle these things? Is beating someone up for pickpocketing you (or trying to pickpocket you) a ticket to the same jail as the miscreant? Do they tend to look the other way? In Italy, I was told that the local police (not the Carabinieri mind you) ignore pickpocketing on tourists- possibly due to corruption. One law “Cartabia reform” means that pickpockets will get off scot free unless the tourist stays there until trial time- even if the Officer saw the crime. Also the pickpockets in Italy are often transients. There are a LOT of Youtubes and other social media complains about the police doing nothing. My traveling friends carry a second decoy wallet, with small bills, and some fake credit cards, etc in it. They can pay for small things like a beverage with that, and if it is stolen, the thieves get away with $20 or so. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > I think there’s a line between self-defense and extra-judicial punishment. Like, if you catch a pickpocket actively trying to rob you and you knock him upside the head, self-defense. If he’s already pickpocked you, and you catch up to him and then put the beat down on him, well… you’ll probably be in cuffs while the cops sort things out, at the very least. Yeah, it depends on the “beat down”. If you just knock the thief down enough to stop them, fine. If you start whupping on them- handcuffs for you also. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/22 "2026-04-25T23:28:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Also, pick-pocketing isn’t [robbery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbery). In the OP, the pickpocketer pulled a knife. Once you bring force or intimidation into your theft, it becomes a robbery. If you steal my stuff, I can chase after you to get it back. If you then pull a knife on me, that’s robbery. Also, “duty to retreat” only pertains to deadly force. It doesn’t apply to me punching you in the face because you pulled a knife on me in order to continue depriving me of my personal property. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/23 "2026-04-25T23:31:07Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > If he’s already pickpocked you, and you catch up to him and then put the beat down on him, well… you’ll probably be in cuffs while the cops sort things out, at the very least. I haven’t seen the videos, but what you described in the OP was a criminal pulling out a knife, and the victim punching him once and then kicking him to end the threat. Doesn’t seem unreasonable in the least. But, again, maybe it looks different in the video. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/24 "2026-04-25T23:35:48Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > In the OP, the pickpocketer pulled a knife. Once you bring force or intimidation into your theft, it becomes a robbery. That’s a _lot_ different than pickpocketing. It’s not about property anymore when somebody draws a knife. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/25 "2026-04-25T23:49:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s a _lot_ different than pickpocketing. It’s not about property anymore when somebody draws a knife. Exactly my point. The scenario in the OP was much more than pickpocketing. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/26 "2026-04-25T23:58:42Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The worst I seen on my YouTube a bunch of crowding and pushing in train stations and some content creator hollering Pick pocket. No, no - you’re supposed to yell “The thief’s hat is on fire!” ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/27 "2026-04-26T00:56:54Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I can chase after you to get it back. If you then pull a knife on me, that’s robbery Except the OP says: “one dude didn’t cotton to some wannabe thug gangsta pickpocket reaching for his knife after being caught, and he straight cold-clocked him with a haymaker, then followed it up by a Chuck Norris kick to the head”. That’s not self defense it’s just plain old assault. If someone pick pockets you and then you chase after them and beat them up, that’s not remotely self defense. Even if the pickpocket pulls a knife _while_ you beat them up. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/28 "2026-04-26T03:43:55Z")
Any Americans here posting what it was like when they were in Europe: please say how long ago you were there. Are we talking 5 years? 30 years? It makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/29 "2026-04-26T09:24:20Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Any Americans here posting what it was like when they were in Europe: please say how long ago you were there. Are we talking 5 years? 30 years? It makes a difference Going back to the 1980’s (the last time was in 2019) I’ve been to 16 countries in Europe, some multiple times. We’ve never been robbed or pickpoketed. You have to keep your wits about you. Keep your wallet in your front pocket. Not fall into a state of tourist hypnosis while looking at the sights. Watch how you’re carrying your purse. Don’t get distracted by someone offering to sell or give you something. We did have a guy try to pull some shit in Paris once but were immediately wise to him. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/30 "2026-04-26T11:52:26Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > pickpocket reaching for his knife after being caught, I read that as the pickpocket being “caught in the act” of picking the pocket, not “caught up with” after being chased. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/31 "2026-04-26T12:01:43Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Any Americans here posting what it was like when they were in Europe: please say how long ago you were there. Are we talking 5 years? 30 years? It makes a difference. I’m in Europe almost every year. I am not stupid and have situational awareness. I was there a month ago (Germany and Belgium). No issues. I was in Greece and Germany about 6 months ago. No issues. I was in Barcelona about 2 years ago. I personally had no issues but again, I have situational awareness. I did watch in real time as a Japanese tourist was relived of his camera bag and wallet while walking cluelessly in La Rambla. He was too far away for me warn him to do or say anything and it was too quick anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/32 "2026-04-26T12:53:39Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > The fact that the child was clearly Romanian did not help. Spanish police and the media associate Romanian with Gipsy and Gipsy with organized crime. **Which is not even wrong.** I’m calling you out on your anti-Roma slur. Shame on you. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/33 "2026-04-26T13:04:57Z")
Shame has **[nothing to do](https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/)** with it. Save your ire for a **[worthier cause](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465092756)**. > At what point does theory depart the realm of testable hypothesis and come to resemble something like aesthetic speculation, or even theology? The legendary physicist Wolfgang Pauli had a phrase for such ideas: He would describe them as “not even wrong,” meaning that they were so incomplete that they could not even be used to make predictions to compare with observations to see whether they were wrong or not. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/34 "2026-04-26T13:10:28Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I read that as the pickpocket being “caught in the act” of picking the pocket, > not “caught up with” after being chased That would seem more like “randomly beating someone up for getting in your personal space” (and almost certainly staged IMO). FWIW I can’t find any videos like the one described on YouTube, I see lots of videos discussing incidents like this but the actual videos seem to have been taken down. Regardless of the actual sequence of events its not helping to shake the stereotype of Americans being dumb. Really your gonna get stabbed over your wallet, how fecking stupid is that in 2026? It would have been dumb in 1996 but at least then your wallet would have some cash in it. Nowadays it just has your credit card which can be frozen, and any unauthorized transactions refunded, in about 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/35 "2026-04-26T16:25:23Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > That’s not self defense it’s just plain old assault. If someone pick pockets you and then you chase after them and beat them up, that’s not remotely self defense. I’m not talking about just beating them up for punishment. I’m talking about using appropriate force to regain possession of your personal property. If someone takes your property, you can use reasonable, proportionate and appropriate force (short of deadly force) to immediately regain possession of your property. This immediacy stills applies under “fresh pursuit”. If, while attempting to get your wallet back, the thief pulls a knife, it becomes a robbery. In fact, if the thief uses any force at all to prevent you from retrieving your stuff, it becomes a robbery. If they push you away, threaten you, punch you, etc. Any use of force or threat of force makes their simple thievery a forcible felony. You’ll see this all the time as people run out of a store after shoplifting. It quickly escalates to robbery. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/36 "2026-04-26T16:31:29Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I’m talking about using appropriate force to regain possession of your Again… > [@HeyHomie](#): > > he straight cold-clocked him with a haymaker, then followed it up by a Chuck Norris kick to the head, leaving him semi-conscious There is no jurisdiction where beating someone unconscious would qualify as “reasonable force”. That’s assault, bordering on (to use the UK legal parlance) causing greivious bodily harm. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/37 "2026-04-26T16:32:12Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > There is no jurisdiction where beating someone unconscious would qualify as “reasonable force”. That’s assault, bordering on (to use the UK legal parlance) causing greivious bodily harm. That was AFTER the thief pulled a knife. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/38 "2026-04-26T16:33:50Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > That was AFTER the thief pulled a knife Again no… > [@HeyHomie](#): > > one dude **didn’t cotton** to some wannabe thug gangsta pickpocket reaching for his knife If it’s obvious from the video that he didn’t see the knife it’s just beating someone unconscious for taking your wallet. Which not self defense in any jurisdiction ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/39 "2026-04-26T16:34:17Z")
Now I wish I could find the video. But basically, guy gets pickpocketed off-camera. Guy and his homie find the pickpocket and start trying to get his attention. Seeing that he’s been made, he signals for his fellow gang member and approaches the victim. Victim grabs him by the shirt, pickpocket goes for knife, bim bam boom, pickpocket is on the ground and his gang homie is nowhere to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/40 "2026-04-26T16:36:53Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Again no… > > > [@HeyHomie](#): > > > > one dude **didn’t cotton** to some wannabe thug gangsta pickpocket reaching for his knife > > If it’s obvious from the video that he didn’t see the knife it’s just beating someone unconscious for taking your wallet. Which not self defense in any jurisdiction Okay, what does “didn’t cotton” mean, then? I thought it was just saying he “didn’t care”. It sounds to me that the victim caught up to the thief, and the thief pulled out a knife. The victim then punched and kicked the knife-wielding robber. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546.md?page=3)