European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Art of the steal Achung Tasche Ndebe a he Quot a beware of pickpockets continued from Page 5 a pit Stop one popular ruse in Southern France or Spain for Roadside thieves is to Point to a vacationers car As if something is wrong. When the Driver stops they feign concern while fellow thieves get into the car and steal bags cameras or anything of value. Thieves also haunt service stations where trusting travellers leave their cars unlocked while they go inside to pay for fuel or use restrooms. The action is hot in summertime because windows Are usually left Down. Thieves also scout hotel parking lots. They know vacationers sometimes neglect to remove All their Luggage at night. Sometimes they take the entire car. A the Case of the sneaky Exchange switching one attach Case for another. The Man who sets his briefcase or attached Case Down beside yours in the lounge May have business on his mind too. Your business. When he leaves he takes your Case and leaves his empty one. This ploy is particularly Safe for thiefs. They protect themselves by saying it was an honest mistake. Quot a lot of those cases arc never reported a a police officer said a fall Guy the Man you re following stops suddenly As he Steps off the escalator knocking you Down. While he and another con Man help you up they ransack your pockets or purse. A now you Sec it now you Don t crowded hotel lobbies checkout lines and Public trans portion Are spots where you re Likely to set Down your Luggage. While you re visiting with someone or paying your Bill your things have disappeared. Airport Pushcart arc Good targets. Usually people put their most important bag on top where it is most accessible. Remember if its easy for you to get its easy for a thief. A tight spots crowded places such As buses and trains work to a thiefs advantage because they can legitimately press up against you without suspicion. Women a purses Are particularly vulnerable. A beggars and choosers people looking like panhandlers sometimes get More than you think you gave them. While you fish coins out of your pocket for the ragged children clustered around you they May be lifting your Billfold or purse. A say Choc pc and be a chump someone offers to take a picture of you and your family in front of a historic landmark. Your smile quickly disappears when he turns and runs away with your camera. A now read this someone holds up a Large piece of cardboard with writing on it. Its merely As a shield for a pickpocket. Usually someone is trying to gel into your pocket or purse while you try to read what very a scribbled on it. An Ordinary Sheet of paper can also be effective. During an interview with a police officer at Frankfurt International Airport he showed a document from a major airline to a reporter moments later he asked a where s your tape recorder a he d taken it a everybody loves a to shirt kids Selling to shirts on the Street approach you in Masse inundating you with pleas to buy. They rub the merchandise against your lace a not to show you How soft it is but to distract you while a co conspirator gets into your purse or lakes your Billfold. A Good buy equals goodbye two Street salesmen approach and offer to sell something cheap. You take out your Wallet. Suddenly one grabs it and runs. When you Start to give Chase the other a clumsily a Steps in front of you to slow you Down. You can bet lies la swear to police he did t even know the Oiler Guy. How can you prove otherwise .1 a Randy Pruit guarding against a pocketful of thieves Security experts offer these lips on How to make a thiefs Job harder a never carry a Wallet in your rear hip pocket in the summer. Pickpockets know that summertime is when men leave jackets at Home. Use a neck Pouch that can be concealed underneath clothing or a Money Belt. A done to carry a lot of Cash. Keep Large amounts in traveler a checks. Keep traveler s Check numbers separate. If you must have Cash readily accessible spread it around in different pockets. A women should Wear purses with the handclaps toward them to prevent pickpockets from opening the Flap. A make sure you know All your credit card numbers traveler a Check numbers and emergency Telephone numbers before you leave and keep them in a separate place. A if you hear Money hit the floor done to react. Whoever dropped it will find it. A make photocopies of your passport and social Security card. Leave them with someone at Home and carry another set with you a write your name and address on the inside of your purse or Wallet. At least you might get Back what the thief did no to want. Thieves generally throw containers into the trash or out car windows. A keep All bags within body Contact at airports train stations and bus stops. Aiwas  in visual Contact will your Luggage a never leave Luggage or valuables overnight inside your car especially where they Are visible. Lock All doors. A lock zippers on purses Fanny packs and other containers with giant safety pins then secure the items to your clothing with another pin. Sure its inconvenient for you but think of How much such a precaution will discourage a thief. A lock the car doors and Check for open windows. More and More thieves Are Brazen enough to open your door or reach through a window while a Motorist is waiting for a traffic Light even in Daylight. A watch for motorbikes or scooters in Italy where on the move thieves have developed a flair for snatching purses. A be Alert for the unusual. An Airport police officer said one enterprising thief Bent the end of a radio antennae into a Hook. Sitting a Short distance behind travellers he used it to Snag baggage and purses and reel them in. A notify authorities immediately and keep a copy of the police report. It May come in Handy should you need to notify your insurance company. Randy Pruitt a Kinder safer . What about the United kingdom visitors to England have Little to worry about when it comes to major crime according to american embassy and British police officials. It s the Petty stuff that should keep visitors on guard. Americans have stopped at the embassy to report lost or stolen passports and to seek help when Money traveler s checks credit cards tickets or other items base been Tomt