In these beautiful places, the biggest risk is a quiet hand in your pocket.
Nothing can ruin a perfect vacation faster than the sick feeling of discovering your wallet or phone is gone. While violent crime against tourists is rare in most popular destinations, petty theft is a massive and highly organized industry. In certain cities, teams of skilled pickpockets and scammers have turned targeting unsuspecting visitors into an art form, thriving in the very crowds that make these places so vibrant.
Knowing where these hotspots are and the tactics they use can help you stay one step ahead, keeping your valuables safe and your trip on track.
1. Barcelona, Spain is the undisputed pickpocket capital.
Barcelona’s reputation as the world’s number one city for pickpocketing is well-earned. The crowded pedestrian boulevard of Las Ramblas is the primary hunting ground, where distracted tourists make for easy targets. Thieves work in sophisticated teams, often using a “blocker” to bump into you or a “distractor” who will ask for directions or “accidentally” spill something on you, while another accomplice swiftly lifts your wallet.
The city’s metro system, especially on crowded cars, and its busy beaches are also prime territories. The thieves are professionals, able to unzip a bag or slice a purse strap with surgical precision, according to International Traveller. A visit to this beautiful city requires a heightened state of awareness at all times.
2. Rome, Italy’s ancient sites are modern theft hotspots.
The awe-inspiring monuments of Rome create the perfect distraction for modern thieves. At the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and on the Spanish Steps, the sheer density of the crowds provides ideal cover for pickpockets to operate, as mentioned at islands.com. They often work in groups, sometimes using children to create a commotion or to approach tourists with a fake petition to sign.
Public transportation is another major risk area, with the number 64 bus route to the Vatican being notoriously infested with pickpockets. They are experts at taking advantage of the tight quarters and the fact that tourists are often looking up at the sights, not down at their pockets and purses.
3. Paris, France’s thieves are known for their theatrical scams.
In Paris, theft often comes with a bit of performance. Near the Eiffel Tower or in the crowded galleries of the Louvre, scammers use a variety of well-rehearsed ploys. The “gold ring” scam, where someone pretends to find a ring on the ground near you and then pressures you for a reward, is a classic. Another is the “friendship bracelet” scam, where someone aggressively ties a bracelet on your wrist and then demands payment.
While you are flustered and distracted by these encounters, an accomplice is often at work picking your pocket, Yahoo! News reports. The city’s Métro system is also a major hotspot, with teams of thieves swarming tourists as the train doors are closing.
4. Prague, Czech Republic’s charming bridges are a hunting ground.
The fairytale beauty of Prague’s Charles Bridge and Old Town Square can easily lull a traveler into a false sense of security. Unfortunately, these are the exact places where organized pickpocket gangs thrive. They are masters of using the dense crowds to their advantage, often creating a deliberate bottleneck to force people to squeeze together while they target backpacks and pockets.
These thieves are known for being incredibly subtle and professional. You will likely never see or feel a thing until you reach for your wallet later and find it gone. The city’s beauty is undeniable, but it’s a place where you need to keep your valuables secured in a front pocket or a money belt.
5. Hanoi, Vietnam’s Old Quarter has a snatch-and-grab problem.
The primary threat in the bustling, chaotic streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is not the subtle pickpocket, but the bold snatch-and-grab thief. Thieves on motorbikes are experts at spotting tourists who are distracted while using their phones for navigation or taking photos. They will ride up onto the sidewalk, snatch the phone or purse strap, and be gone in an instant.
This type of crime is fast, shocking, and leaves little time to react. Locals and savvy travelers know to keep their phones put away when walking and to wear their bags with the strap across their body, keeping the bag on the side away from the street. It’s a specific threat that requires constant vigilance.
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina is famous for distraction scams.
The thieves of Buenos Aires are masters of distraction, often employing messy and surprising techniques. The infamous “mustard scam” is a prime example: a scammer will squirt a substance on your back that looks like bird droppings or mustard. A seemingly kind and helpful “local” will then rush over to help you clean up, and in the ensuing confusion, they or an accomplice will lift your wallet or bag.
This theatrical scam is most common in the tourist-heavy neighborhoods of La Boca and San Telmo. By being aware of this tactic, you can immediately rebuff any such “assistance” and secure your belongings, avoiding a classic and costly trap.
7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s beaches require constant vigilance.
The beautiful and famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro, like Copacabana and Ipanema, have a well-deserved reputation for petty theft. Distracted tourists who are sunbathing, swimming, or playing in the sand are prime targets. Thieves often work in groups of young kids who will create a commotion, like starting a fake fight or kicking sand, to distract you while one of them runs off with your bag.
It is strongly advised to never leave your valuables unattended on the beach, even for a moment. Locals know to bring only the bare minimum to the beach—a towel, some cash, and a key. Following their lead is the best way to ensure your beach day isn’t ruined by a robbery.
8. The London Tube is a pickpocket’s paradise.
While London is a relatively safe city, its incredibly crowded subway system, the Tube, is a major hunting ground for professional pickpockets. They are experts at using the dense crush of passengers during rush hour to their advantage, especially at major tourist-heavy stations like Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, and Leicester Square. They can identify a tourist from a mile away.
Thieves will often strike as people are getting on or off the train, using the jostling of the crowd as cover. They are particularly adept at targeting people with backpacks or those who are distracted by their phones or the Tube map. Keeping your bag in front of you is essential.
9. Madrid, Spain’s plazas and markets are full of thieves.
The vibrant street life of Madrid is one of its greatest appeals, but the crowded plazas and markets are a paradise for opportunistic thieves. The Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor, and the sprawling El Rastro flea market are notorious hotspots where pickpockets operate with precision. They often look for tourists who leave their phones sitting on a cafe table or a wallet in a back pocket.
The city’s metro system is another key area of operation, especially during peak hours. A common tactic involves one person “accidentally” dropping something in front of you as you go through the turnstile, and as you stop to help, their accomplice comes up behind you.
10. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is known for scooter thieves.
Similar to Hanoi, the southern Vietnamese metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City has a major problem with motorbike-based snatch-and-grab robberies. The thieves are incredibly bold, often mounting sidewalks and weaving through dense traffic to target tourists. They will snatch anything that is loose: phones, cameras hanging around a neck, purses, and even necklaces.
The problem is so well-known that locals will often warn tourists they see walking with their phone out. The best defense is to be hyper-aware of your surroundings, keep all valuables out of sight, and walk on the inside of the sidewalk whenever possible. A moment of distraction is all they need to strike.
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands has a relaxed vibe that thieves exploit.
The friendly and laid-back atmosphere of Amsterdam can lull visitors into a false sense of security. Crowded areas like Dam Square, the Red Light District, and Central Station are popular with pickpockets who prey on this complacency. They are particularly adept at targeting travelers who are distracted by the city’s unique architecture and lively scenes.
A very common tactic occurs in the city’s packed trams. A team of thieves will create a crush around a tourist as they are getting on or off, and in the confusion of the jostling, they will empty their pockets or bag. The victim often doesn’t realize what has happened until the tram is already pulling away.
12. Athens, Greece’s historic sites have modern-day criminals.
Tourists flock to Athens to marvel at the Acropolis, but pickpockets flock there to target the tourists. The crowded pathways around the Parthenon and the bustling market areas of Monastiraki and Plaka are prime territories for thieves. They often work in groups, using classic distraction and jostling techniques to relieve sightseers of their valuables while their attention is directed upward at the ancient monuments.
The Athens metro system, especially the lines running to the airport and the port of Piraeus, is another area where thieves specifically target travelers who are encumbered with luggage. They know visitors are often tired and distracted, making them much easier marks for a quick and quiet theft.