Quote:
Originally posted by JJRousseau
You won't notice a pickpocket. So you won't have the opportunity to punch him.
|
I caught a pick pocket in Kenya. i felt a hand go for my wallet (which was chained to me) in a busy market, and i managed to grab the hand. i already had my other hand up for a backhanded hit on the culprit... but when i turned around, i saw the culprit was a small child... she looked about 5 years old.
i couldn't hit a five year old, and immediately realised that she was probably being forced to pick pocket tourists by older kids or crims, so i dragged her, without letting go of her hand, to a sweets stall, and i bought her a bunch of lollies. poor thing.
so, if you do manage to catch a pickpocket, just try to gauge who exactly is trying to rob you before you strike... they might not be children, but they may be armed and dangerous if you attack them.
mind you, i wouldn't mind belting those damn gypsies who robbed my mum of her sketch book (that was filled with her impressions of europe from iceland and the orknies to spain), which they probably just threw away.
but, like JJRousseau said, in Europe i'm willing to bet the pickpockets are *far* better than the ones in Africa... so you probably won't notice til its too late.
about the passport thing, maybe you could insist that they take impressions of your credit card, and a photocopy of your passport (if they have the resources, which they probably will). all they need is security that you won't run without paying... so if they have those details, maybe that'll be enough.
listen to Mal, Lonely Planet is a great resource... but if its too pricey (like they are here... $50 for Lonely Planet Japan in the shop the other day)... you can just go and take notes on what the book recommends... like i did.
have fun.