10 Secrets Pickpockets Never Want You To Find Out

Pickpockets will pick their victims based on ease of success, and if you look like a tourist — if you are wearing fancy clothes, or if you are wearing something vastly outside of the norm — you're at a greater risk.

You should try to blend in with the locals as best you can, and avoid wearing fancy name-brand logos on your clothes or items.

Pickpockets often do their best to blend in with the environment, to come off as unthreatening and harmless as possible.

When keeping an eye out for pickpockets, you want to direct your attention to those who may seem too unassuming, who are wearing plain clothes associated with the middle class, most likely activewear or jeans.

It's true that some pickpockets are well-practiced with their sticky fingers and can pick your pocket all on their own, but most will work in groups.

Whether one distracts you by asking directions while the other swipes your wallet, or you're bombarded by a group on the train and suddenly no longer have your money, be wary of folks in large or small groups.

For example, the girls in the photo above are actually working in an inconspicuous way to snatch the belongings of the folks in front of them.

Even if you are in your hometown, the more tourist-heavy areas put you at greater risk for being pick-pocketed.

Taking in the sights is great, but just make sure that all of your important things are secure, and that you never leave yourself vulnerable in these high-traffic areas.

Not all bags are created equal. Even bags you think are safe could still be a pretty simple score for a pickpocket.

Zipper bags, for example, aren't quite as secure as you'd think. A clutch purse is much more challenging for them to steal from.

Pickpockets want to be as inconspicuous as possible, so if they can use you to aid in the theft, they will.

If a corner of your phone is showing from your pocket, they can simply grab hold of the corner, and when you walk away, they end up with their phone in their hands. You never felt a thing!

To avoid this, just make sure to keep your things either zipped away or totally concealed in front pockets.

Some will stop you to ask for directions, others will ask if you can take a photo of them to occupy your hands with a camera, and some will even spill coffee or food on you so you're too preoccupied with cleaning up to remember that your valuables are vulnerable.

If someone asks you to take a picture of them, you don't have to say no, but you should double check that your bag is zipped up all the way and your belongings are all secure.

Many pickpockets will use your kindness in their favor.

Perhaps a seemingly innocent citizen drops their groceries all over the ground, and you stop what you're doing to help pick them up. Meanwhile, a second pickpocket has already made off with your wallet or phone.

You don't have to stop being a kind person, but you do have to be well-aware that your kindness might be put to the test.

I know you want to wear that cute bag you just bought, but if you are going into a high-traffic pickpocket area, even if it's in your own hometown, a travel bag or a travel wallet are your best options.

Some travel bags and wallets are hidden under your clothing, while others are tightly secured to your front, around your waist. There are tons out there, but if all of your valuables are protected by essentially a fortress, you will not become a target for pickpockets.

Pickpockets use a lot of the same techniques magicians do, since it's all about distraction, timing, and sleight of hand. There are plenty of courses out there to learn the "magic" of the steal, so almost anyone can get their hands on the information.

That means that there are likely more pickpockets out there than you originally thought. Any number of the people that surround you on a daily basis could be a pickpocket, so stay vigilant.

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