2/18    How do you protect yourself from pickpockets, European pickpockets?
        \_ Put your money down the front of your pants.  Keep a fake
           wallet in your backpocket containing nothing but a piece of
           paper covered in insults in 12 different languages.
        \_ Carry around a Walther PPK like Bond, James Bond.
        \_ I wore a moneybelt when I was in Europe.
           \_ Yeah, until it got stolen while you were getting head in
              Amsterdam.
        \_ Put your wallet in your front pants pocket. For really
           important stuff I would wear a t-shirt w/ a pocket and
           put it in that w/ a regular shirt on top. Another option
           is to get shirts where the pockets have flaps and buttons.
           Most pick-pockets (even in asia) aren't bold enough to
           go for money kept there.
        \_ Get a neck pouch.  Plenty of travel luggage companies have them.
           Basically a pouch with a string that goes around your neck.
           Pouch then goes under your shirt.  Keep some small bills out
           in your front pocket to use for normal purposes. Keep big bills
           passport, cards, etc. in the neck pouch.
           \_ This also works in belt form if you feel like a douche
              wearing a necklace-- you can position the pouch to hover
              above your thigh, and it goes underneath your pants.  Note
              also that the zippered/button approach below does not
              work; I was stopped by police several times and told to put
              my wallet in my front pocket because the gypsies would just
              cut the bottom of your seat pocket and grab the wallet as it
              fell out.
              \_ I find moneybelts to be more uncomfortable and less safe.
        \_ pants with zippered or buttoned pockets.  More than anything,
           though, you just need to keep an eye out, keep your hands in
           your pockets in the metros and, if you need to pull out money,
           never expose how much you actually have.  I tend to keep small
           change handy, with my big bills tucked away where it won't be
           seen even if I do pull my wallet out.  Money belts are a pain
           in the ass, but more paranoia is better where pickpockets are
           concerned.  Also, if you're going to keep your bills in a pack,
           use a bag where a few seconds with a pocket knife won't get all
           your valuables.  Walk with attitude and look people in the eyes
           if they try to case you.
        \_ My dad would often wear a pair of lightweight shorts with pockets
           under slightly larger pants when traveling.  large quantities of
           cash/valuables went into the shorts, disposable amounts into the
           outer pants.  He said it also helped deal with his growing belly.
        \_ Don't act like a tourist.  Avoid bright colors, shorts, tennis
           shoes with white socks, fanny packs, being an obnoxious loud
           tourist in public, reading a guidebook all the time while walking
           around (try to read up before venturing out), don't take along a
           fat wallet--take only the cash/cards/ID you really need, keep your
           hand in your pocket on your wallet near signs saying BEWARE OF
           PICKPOCKETS (don't ever pat your pocket to make sure your cash is
           still there), keep some loose coins & small bills separate from
           your wallet.  -John
        \_ I like to buy a small sack or pouch with drawstrings, place my valuables in
           it and tie it on my penis and just let it hang down my pant leg.
        \_ I like to buy a small sack or pouch with drawstrings, place my
           valuables in it and tie it on my penis and just let it hang down
           my pant leg.
           \_ does it also get you chicks/guys?
        \_ Carry only a small amount of money in your wallet. Put the rest of
           your money into a plastic bag, apply some lubricant, and gently push
           it up your ass. Don't forget to pick it up and put it back before
           flushing water in the restrooms.