# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [June 26, 2026, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/101 "2026-06-26T08:44:23Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Sure, and you also should keep your valuables in front and not in a back pocket, and pay attention to your surroundings. In the interests of maintaining people’s health it should be noted that having anything bulky like a wallet or phone in your back pocket is [bad for your back](https://neuroandspineconsultants.com/blog/why-you-should-not-keep-a-wallet-phone-back-pocket/), as it screws up your sitting position. So whether they’re worried about pickpockets or not, people shouldn’t keep their wallets there as a matter of prudence. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/102 "2026-06-28T00:10:19Z")
Lincoln Steffens (my favourite author) mentions people wearing “watch guards” and other traps to deter pickpockets in American cities. My grandfather mentioned sailors sewing fish-hooks into their pockets, and still suffering loss in South America. Whatever the pickpocket problem in Paris or Rome, it seems like it’s rather less than it was 100 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/103 "2026-06-28T00:26:09Z")
Cutpurse is an archaic term. But was big in its time. I just spent 2 crimefree weeks in Italy & adjacent. The USA has far more violent crime: assaults, murders, etc. Europe has far more property crime: pickpocket, burglary, etc. I’ll take their kind every time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/104 "2026-06-28T01:02:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The USA has far more violent crime: assaults, murders, etc. Europe has far more property crime: pickpocket, burglary, etc. Sure, but why not try to reduce both types of crime? Especially go after corrupt police who turn a blind eye to such “minor” crimes. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/105 "2026-06-28T04:03:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I just spent 2 crimefree weeks in Italy & adjacent. The USA has far more violent crime: assaults, murders, etc. Europe has far more property crime: pickpocket, burglary, etc. I’ll take their kind every time. Yeah, same. Including having just gotten back from two weeks in Italy. I never feel unsafe walking around European cities, the way i sometimes do in US cities. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/106 "2026-06-29T21:55:58Z")
In grandfathers house in the late '70s, I found a dummy pocket watch case that might have served that purpose. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546.md?page=5)