European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 5, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Streetwise abroad defensive tourism by Roberto Suro new York times the trunk was locked the car was parked in a if  lot with lots of people including policemen wandering around. To Pla Nedlo spend Only half an hour looking at a majorly Fisl attraction in the hear of Rome and my wife and i Lull secure As we tossed a shoulder bag with a few Odds and ends into Tho trunk kalhor than drag in around the Baths of Caracalla. To were wrong to did no notice anything amiss unlit Afler we got Home. The thieves had done no violence to the car and had even locked the trunk Agun after hey had done their business. They can pick a car lock so quickly and cleanly that one of us can be standing right there and it will look like Iho Guy who owns Tho  said the Carabi Nien who Loch our report at inc local police station. To were luckier than some last summer a pair of americans showed up at the american embassy in Rome in Damp bathing suits. Their car with All Ihetu Luggage in he trunk had been stolen while they were sunning themselves at he Beach nonviolent Street crime has been on the Rise in most of Europe s big cities in the 1980s, and us consular officials local police authorities and Tounsel officials Are increasingly warning visitors to take Basic precautions against being robbed. The incidence of crime still does not approach Hal in big cities in the United states but even Streetwise americans can be disarmed by the Romance of a Holiday abroad and foreign visitors Are undoubtedly the preferred largest of Pelly criminals. Tourism s would do Well to remember that in ancient times the god Hermes was the Patron of both thieves and travellers and that inc two have always gone together As one american Diplomat put it even shrewd and careful people sometimes gel Over Here and just Lurn off All their defense systems we sometimes have to remind folks 1o bring their common sense along when they go on  Law enforcement authorities Olfer a variety of reasons for the crime increase. Spain has persistently High unemployment Italy has sult ered a sudden Rise in drug addition among the Young in France unemployment drug abuse and a big influx of third world immigrants Are blamed. Cars Are not by any Means the Only largest. Purses Are vulnerable too As Are wallets thought to be secure in a pocket. The favored Hunting grounds Are predictable places like St. Peter s Square in Rome the arc Detriomphe in Paris major shopping sheets and stations of All varieties Tram subway or bus. As in most Large american cities one has to be careful wherever there Are crowds and one can easily be jostled. Judy Francis of the american embassy in pans recalled a Man whom she saw Riding the metro Wilh hotel key. Wallet and passport bulging out of his hip Pockel. I suggested he put his valuables in an inside buttoned Down  she said. But he just laughed. The next morning he was in my office to report everything had Boon pick pocketed in your Wallet or purse is stolen along Wilh Cash. You Ara Likely to lose credit cards and passport. Thieves Are primarily interested in the Cash. Credit card fraud is in the infant Slages in Europe compared Wilh the United states. Nor is there a vast Black Market in passports in Europe. In last. The . Consulate in Rome periodically receives big garbage bags full of american passports found by police after they have been discarded by thieves. United states officials advise travellers to make a photocopy of the pages of their passports Wilh the picture and Basic information before leaving Home and to keep the copy apart from the passport itself. Most . Consulates in major european cities can replace a stolen passport overnight As Long As a person has adequate identification. A photocopy of the passport helps to Speed the replacement process according to consular officials. Hole rooms can be considered secure for most belongings but not for Small easily pocketed valuables such As jewelry. For these things it is Best to keep in mind advice pasted in the rooms at the mount Kenya safari club in the african Foothills of mount Kenya thou shall not  Why lest the moral fortitude of hotel staff when a string of pearls can easily be stored in a Safe and a Good camera locked inside a suitcase purse snatching has become an increasingly prevalent and sometimes violent crime f pickpockets. Page 14 the stars and stripes