Working methods and preferred crime scenes of pickpockets
Pickpockets love busy places where there are lots of people out and about, where there is a dense crowd or where their victims are distracted. Popular crime scenes are therefore means of transport, bus stops and train stations, department stores and supermarkets as well as large events (e.g. public viewing).
The thieves often work in groups: One of them distracts the victim, for example by bumping into them or asking for information, help or money. The next person uses this moment to steal the loot from the bag or clothing at lightning speed and passes it on to a third person, who disappears with it.
In the Gütersloh district, the perpetrators often commit their crimes in city centers as well as in front of and in larger supermarkets and discount stores.
Police recommendations for protection against pickpockets
In the Gütersloh district, we have found that handbags, shoulder bags, backpacks etc. are not a safe place for cash and other valuables! In everyday life, it is impossible to constantly pay attention to the bag you are carrying and how you are carrying it. Time and again there are situations - such as when stowing away shopping or after making payments - that perpetrators use to reach into bags. For this reason, we recommend
- Carry wallets and valuables in inside jacket pockets, breast pouches or special waist or belt pouches!
- Memorize your PIN numbers
- Only take as much cash, payment cards and ID with you as necessary
- Divide cash and payment cards on your body.
- Carry some loose change in your jacket or trouser pockets or in a small wallet so that you can pay small amounts without having to pull out your wallet with your cards and IDs
The latter recommendation prevents perpetrators from stealing the wallet or watching where it is kept, e.g. when changing money or making donations.
Occasionally the following recommendation can also be read:
- "Always wear bags close to your body, with the zipper facing you!"
This recommendation is only an emergency solution for people who continue to keep their wallet in their handbag. It is not really safe there even if you carry it this way! It is better to carry valuables in inside jacket pockets, chest pouches or special waist and belt pouches.
On vacation in particular, it is safer to keep cash and payment cards close to your body (e.g. inside jacket pocket, belt pouch and breast pouch).
The Gütersloh police advise against this: If the perpetrator pulls on the bag with great force, it can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially for senior citizens. The same applies to carrying the bag diagonally.
Police recommendations suitable for daily use for storing money and documents:
- Chest pouches worn under clothing make it considerably more difficult for pickpockets to commit the crime.
- Inside jacket pockets in closed jackets are a safe place to store wallets.
- Belt pouches with a zippered compartment facing the body are a good place to store valuables.
For the sake of completeness, other options / products that make pickpocketing more difficult should be presented here:
- Money belts are belts with a zippered compartment on the side facing the body. This can be used to store money and documents.
- Money pouches or belt pouches are closable pouches that can be attached to the belt. These can then be worn under the trousers.
- Secret pockets can be sewn into pants or jackets.
- Shoulder bags or shoulder holsters are fastened with two straps (shoulder and waist strap) and can be worn under clothing on the body.
- RFID blockers prevent data stored on credit or debit cards from being read in passing with a reader. RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips are used today in many cards (eID cards, club cards, etc.), including credit and debit cards. The technology for transmitter-receiver systems enables the automatic and contactless identification and localization of objects and living beings using radio waves. If cards with an RFID chip are kept in a wallet or pocket, the data stored on them can be read by a reader without having to touch the card. Products with RFID blockers prevent this.
You can find further information with films on how to commit crimes and recommendations at
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the website of the Landeskriminalamtes NRW
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and the " Polizeiliche Kriminalprävention des Bundes und der Länder" (In German language only)
https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/diebstahl/taschendiebstahl/.