<p>I was in NYC when a colleague got his duffel bag covered in ketchup by a “passer-by.” As the “passer-by” apologized profusely and helped my colleague clean his duffel bag, his accomplice picked his pocket. My colleague did not know he’d been robbed until quite a while later. It was also in NYC that I had my wallet stolen from my purse, which I had opened in order to pay the bus fare. The driver apparently saw what was happening, but the thief got off the bus and sped off.
When traveling abroad, I don’t wear jewelry. I heard stories about female students riding on mopeds in Southeast Asia and falling off the mopeds when thieves yanked at their arm in order to steal their rings or bracelets.</p>
<p>It all depends on how you dress and what style you choose and what fabric it’s made of. I tried on some today with my cordoroys and it blends in pretty well. Will see how it does with my dress slacks as well; it should be OK, since I don’t like “skin tight” things. I think the one that goes around the waist under slacks looks less “bunchy” under clothing than the one my husband favors that is all on one pouch and is attached to his belt and worn under his clothing.</p>
<p>OK, just tried it on UNDER my dress slacks & you can’t detect it (wore it against the small of my back, low, so that is below the waistline of the slacks but of course above my hips). 
Wearing it against the small of the back was a tip suggested by others and I can’t even feel it or see it.</p>
<p>He likes his clothing even looser, so the pouch is not noticable on him and he likes the convenience of being able to get to it as he needs to (in the privacy of a dressing room or restroom or a corner). He’s quite trim as well.</p>
<p>The weather will be fairly cool for us (40s-70s), so we will probably be bundled up some anyway.</p>
<p>It also depends on what you are storing. If only ONE passport and ONE credit and debit card and just a bit of cash, it’s a much thinner packet than if you are storing more.</p>
<p>UCDAlum82, you have indeed been to many places and are extremely well-traveled. I’m glad you have not had the pleasure of meeting as many pickpockets as closely we have. When they don’t get much of value, it is an interesting experience. I just don’t want it to be more than that.</p>
<p>One of the 1st things D did when she was admitted to USC and we visited her buddies there was quiz them about how to safely go around the area, what to do and not to so as not to be a victim. She paid a LOT more attention to them than she ever has to me. As far as we know, neither she nor her brother of any of their friends have been victims to date. She does NOT carry a purse around, except when she’s with us and we’re driving about–definitely not around campus.</p>
<p>Baggalini - check these out - I used one on a trip and haven’t gone back to my regular wallet yet!</p>
<p>Singersmom,
Do you keep your passports and all valuables in the bag? Just curious. I’ve seen these bags at trade shows & many other places. What style to you favor? I have heard good things about these bags.</p>
<p>By the way, I tried on the bulkiest security pouches (made of cotton) and still couldn’t see them under my clothing. There are thinner ones made of nylon and some made of wicking material like they use for sportswear, but the cotton ones were on sale at CVS and also what my brother loaned from his last trip (he wore it while his wife toted her valuables in her purse and a security pouch that she sometimes wore around her neck and sometimes stuffed into her bag because she didn’t like it).</p>
<p>I have also read of women who had someone in a Vespa (or other scooter) swoop by & yank their purse that they were wearing and the victim ended up minus purse & with a hospital bill for stitches. These things aren’t all THAT common, but I’m not willing to chance it when to me, wearing your valuables under clothing is my security blanket and not all that much of a hassle.</p>
<p>Pickpocketting and varying degrees of “mugging” seems to be quite an active profession, worldwide. That’s why my D wanted to get the “inside scoop” from her buddies and has acted accordingly. I want to enjoy our visit without excessively worrying about any of us being a victim.</p>
<p>I have been to all continents…never had my pockets picked there.</p>
<p>However, had my wallet stolen in a hospital in Pittsburgh, and another time right outside a Home Depot in DC. ( took my wallet out to show receipt at the door and wallet was missing between front door of Home Depot and my car). I was visiting both places.</p>
<p>My bag is so big and messy, I usually couldn’t find anything in it. If anyone could reach into it and get my wallet out of it in seconds, then more power to him.</p>
<p>I agree, Oldfort, I have a hard time finding my wallet at the bottom of my purse. </p>
<p>I’m a very cautious person, yet I don’t worry any more about crime when I travel than I do at home. I think that it is important not to look like a tourist in lala land and I try to be alert and aware of my surroundings. I am careful where I go - I avoid iffy areas in unfamiliar cities, etc., but I don’t think I could ever bring myself to strap on a tummy pack. </p>
<p>I do notice groups of Americans when I’m in Europe - with their running shoes, shorts, hats and travel gear - many of them wear some sort of pouch around their necks. They are probably targeted by petty criminals.</p>
<p>oldford - :)</p>
<p>Gourmetmom, it is amazing what a skilled pickpocketer can do! In Russia, I was told, they do not bother with opening your purse. They simply slash the bottom with a sharp razor blade while you are looking at souvenirs on a street vendor’s cart and- voila - the wallet is theirs!</p>
<p>I “survived” Paris and St. Petersburg with my small purse which fit perfectly under my arm. My wallet had only a small amount of cash and one credit card and DH had our passports in a money belt. DD carried only her makeup, umbrella, and a copy of the front page of her passport (apparently, that works as your ID in St. Petersburg where the cops can stop you for no apparent reason and ask for your ID) in her purse, also secured under her arm. I have seen a couple of unsuccessful purse snatching attempts in the St. Petersburg Metro.</p>
<p>HIMom - I tried to find a photo of my Baggalini on line, but didn’t find the exact model. The one I have has a magnetic closure on the back. The front also has a magnetic closure, but the access to $$ zips up completely with the front folding to the magnetic pouch in front. The interior has one zippered pouch that you could keep your passport in plus slots for credit cards and a pull out zipperered pouch with a pocket for ID that you can keep $$ in.</p>
<p>Pac Safe also has bags that cannot be cut - the fabric is slash proof. Magellan’s has a selection on their on line site.</p>
<p>My D met a student who as exiting a bus with with a group of friends in the Netherlands had a thief come up, slash her bag and run off with it. She was the only person in the group targeted!</p>
<p>I also saw someone with a very cute bag and when I asked about it was told it was a back safe bag - it fit right at the side and was very compact. The shopper told me she had bought it for a trip, liked it so much that she didn’t switch back to her regular bag as it was so comfortable.</p>
<p>As a side note - I know a lot of women who swear by the Chico’s “Zenergy” line for travel pants and jackets because they are so light weight.</p>
<p>Looks like it’s called a Healthy Back Bag on LLBean. Travelsmith also has a selection of slashproof bags.</p>
<p>I bought a pac safe bag for D2 when she went off last year @ REI but she wouldn’t take it- it was black and only opened part way-although the material does look really sturdy!</p>
<p>She did get her wallet/cell phone stolen within a week of arriving, but don’t know what the circumstances were- it didn’t cause her too many problems however- cause she had copies of ID and it is cheap to buy a cell phone on the street.</p>
<p>She did travel alot through India by herself apparently - and developed a strong bladder because she said sitting at a train station for 7 hrs you couldn’t take your stuff with you and you can’t leave it.</p>
<p>Glad I didn’t know all that she did at the time- I thought she was going to volunteer and was staying with a family.</p>
<p>When I was in Hong Kong many, many year ago, I had my pursed in a zipped backpack, worn on my back. I didn’t realize until I was on the plane after my week there that there was a slash in my bag and a nick on my leather bag. Apparently someone slashed it WHILE I WAS WEARING it. Fortunately, they didn’t get anything and more importantly didn’t cut me in the process, tho I was frightened to realize that I could easily have been accidentally cut as well! This was broad daylight in crowded shopping areas, thronged with tourists!</p>
<p>Since vacations are so short, I really don’t have the energy to spend them dealing with loss reports and crime. Hubby & I will wear our respective gear (honestly can’t feel the belt that wraps around the waist and he’s fine with the pouch that hangs from his belt). Will likely carry a bag with a jacket, snacks and maps.</p>
<p>We already have had more experiences with gypsies/pickpockets than we care to and consider ourselves fortunate that damage has been minimal.</p>
<p>The only problems I have had, were in my city- not traveling- but it is good to be aware.</p>
<p>In the parking lot of my daughters high school, I had left my purse on the front seat- but I literally was only gone for 5 minutes, while I ran up and slid an envelope under the counseling office door ( school was over, I was waiting for D at practice)</p>
<p>Someone, ( probably who I had mistaken for another waiting parent) had seen me leave the car, and busted my window ( so the alarm didn’t go off) & took my bag- with my cell phone, wallet etc. Immediately after getting it- they had already used my debit card to get three tanks of gas ( experienced thieves)-</p>
<p>Another time, when I drove a mini van, and was attending school, ( but had to park in a pay lot in a business district), I opened the sliding door in the back to stow my back pack to find a * kid* sitting in the drivers seat, going through my CD case ( since I didn’t have a CD * player* they were all educational software- like Kidpix or Reader Rabbit. ) . He looked up to see me, and calmly got into the mini van that was parked next to me ( which was much nicer and newer than mine), and drove off.</p>
<p>I was so furious- that I think that if I had , had a gun I would have popped him one- The adrenaline rush was scary.</p>
<p>Luckily I did have a cell phone and was able to call police with the license plate of the " getaway car", and the cops told me, that they found the van abandoned with the steering column thrashed. Apparently, what is common is a group of thieves, steal cars in the middle of the day when people are at work, move them around town, and then come back later to get them and sell them for parts to unscrupulous /unsuspecting people.</p>
<p>What was kind of funny at the time, was that my van was usually like my pocketbook- stuffed with books/ spare clothes for the kids I was always hauling around- etc.
But when it was broken into, I had just given it a meticulous cleaning inside and out.
I told my H, that kind of lessened the incentive to keep it spotless.
;)</p>
<p>Any other tips on lightweight travel pants besides the Chicos Zenergy? I looked at the website and they look a little “old” for me… but I do want to find a pair of lightweight (probably khaki or stone colored) pants that won’t wrinkle that I can wear for sightseeing, maybe with a sweater for dinner, and that will wash and dry quickly.</p>
<p>I bought a pair of nylon hiking pants from REI on clearance for $20 or less that are featherweight and have loads of pockets with zippers & velcro but look pretty stylish. I have worn them at different times. With thermals under them, they’re quite warm. By themselves, they’re pretty cool and suitable for warm weather. Since they’re nylon, they dry very quickly. I’m thinking of bringing them with us to Europe. The ones I bought are black and look dressier than the khaki ones my SIL gave me a while back (can’t tell they’re activewearJ). They look like these [REI</a> Rendezvous Pants - Women’s Regular at REI.com](<a href=“http://www.rei.com/product/798930]REI”>http://www.rei.com/product/798930).</p>
<p>I have seen folks with broken car windows in the mall too, where they had something in the car that was attractive to a thief (I try to take things with me or leave them out of sight in the trunk). How scary to see someone IN YOUR CAR riffling through your things!</p>
<p>Those pants look like the kind I bought from Patagonia. I love nylon pants with multiple pockets. They are my favorite traveling pants. The ones from Patagonia have elastic waist very convenient for eating and public restrooms.</p>
<p>Thanks for that feedback–guess I will be packing them! I also like the ones my SIL gave me, but they are not as flattering and really look like hiking pants. These look like any black slacks and do have better pockets than any of my other slacks.</p>
<p>These travel pants are awesome:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://store.lolewomen.com/us/epl-10-10.html#]TRAVEL”>http://store.lolewomen.com/us/epl-10-10.html#]TRAVEL</a> PANTS | LOL</p>