Traveling abroad, especially in popular European cities, often comes with risks from pickpocket gangs and criminals targeting inexperienced tourists.
You can avoid becoming a victim by learning how to outsmart thieves and applying survival strategies for savvy travelers, turning yourself from an easy target into a confident solo traveler who stays safe 100 percent of the time.
Set up your smartphone to prevent theft.
Don’t fly to Europe without configuring your smartphone to thwart criminals. Thieves’ first move after stealing a phone is to swipe the screen to enable airplane mode, cutting off internet signals immediately. The best tech countermeasure is to set your phone so that the quick access menu or Control Center cannot be opened to disable the internet while the screen is locked. If your phone is stolen but still online, you can use location tracking features to follow it in real time, and remotely lock or erase data promptly.
Use earphones to receive navigation directions instead of staring at your phone.
Pickpocket gangs target people standing on the street staring down at Google Maps because it distracts them and lowers their alertness. The solution is to switch to wireless earphones to hear left-right navigation cues instead of looking at the screen, combined with walking confidently. Walk briskly like a local mafia who knows the routes well. Acting decisively and scanning your surroundings constantly will deter thieves from approaching.
Golden rule for sitting in a café.
Relaxing in restaurants or cafés is a vulnerable moment when many people get caught off guard. A strict rule is never to leave your phone on the table when sitting in a foreign café. Criminals often approach pretending to ask for directions, hand out flyers, or sell items using a paper to block your view, then snatch your phone smoothly in a split second.
. For handling your bags, always loop or tie the strap to the inner side chair leg. This prevents thieves from running off with your bag from behind while you are distracted or enjoying the atmosphere.
Social media tips to avoid criminals.
The first plan comes from social media users, which is to carry two wallets. One is your real wallet, hidden securely close to your body, and the other is a dummy wallet containing expired cards and a small amount of cash for emergency situations. If confronted or pickpocketed, you can hand over the dummy wallet without suffering major loss.
Additionally, for solo female travelers, carrying a pair of large men's shoes and leaving them outside your room door creates the illusion of having a male companion on the trip, which is an interesting trick to enhance safety.