Have you ever experienced being stolen money or mobile phones in China? Do you know how to avoid this?
A news company interviewed the police about different forms of pickpocketing that have occurred over the years.
The police summed up 7 different methods that pickpockets often use and shared tips on how to prevent being stolen.
01
“Squeezing through the crowd”
Pickpockets will squeeze through large crowds of passengers on the public transport and steal your mobile phones or money while pretending to try to push through the crowd.
How to Avoid
Do not put your cell phone or wallet in any outside pockets. If you are carrying a backpack do not hold it behind you. Instead, wear it on your chest with your hand across it in order to prevent theft.
02
“Traditional pickpocketing”
Pickpockets to use their hand or some kind of tweezers to reach into your bags and front and back pockets in order to steal your wallets and cell phones.
How to Avoid
Do not follow large crowds into car doors or when getting on the public transport.
03
“Stealing from an unattended bag”
Pickpockets will wait beside the water fountain, the toilet or smoking area and wait for you to get a drink, smoke or wash their hands in the bathroom. In those few moments when you’re distracted, the pickpocket will try to take something from your luggage.
How to Avoid
Even if you leave your luggage for a moment, make sure there is someone you trust looking out for it. Never have your items out of sight!
04
“Hanging up the coat”
The pickpocket will put his coat on a coat hook and pretend to dig through the pockets. However, he is actually looking through the pockets of the other coats hanging near his coat.
How to Avoid
Never put anything valuable or money on a coat that you hang up on a coat rack or a coat hook.
05
“Going through the luggage rack”
The pickpocket will put their bag with other bags on the luggage racks. Then, under the guise of getting something from their own luggage, they will stealthily transfer money and other items from other bags on the rack into their own bag.
How to Avoid
When you take public transport, put your luggage under your feet, tucked under legs. If you need to put your luggage in the overhead luggage racks you should put it diagonally in front of your own seat so it is directly in your line of sight.
06
“Switching bags”
Pickpockets will have a bag that is the same shape and color as that of yours. When you’re not paying attention the pickpocket will switch their bag with your bag.
How to Avoid
When discovering that this has happened, you should try to switch the bags back if possible and if not possible, write up a report. However, keep any valuables or money on your person.
07
“Using a blade”
Pickpockets will cut off your money and goods using a knife. The pickpocket may cut off part of a bag in order to get at your items.
How to Avoid
Don't carry a lot of cash but carry bank cards instead. If you need to carry large amount of money and you have companion, try to sleep in shifts. You should also put your cash in a few different locations on your person and in your bags to avoid pickpockets taking all of your money.
Source:THEPAPER/eChinacities
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