Are there still pickpocketers in Greece?

[acamp7]

I haven't heard too many news of pickpocketers in Greece these days... is it still a thing? Has anyone been pickpocketed recently?

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

Hell yea there are!

My wife is in Greece visiting her parents and she stopped someone from trying to steal her mom's wallet just the other day. There was a huge scene because a man, who just stopped the pickpocket from getting his wife, spotted the picpocket trying to get my wife's mom.

She also saw something happen in Omonia with some tourists. She wasn't sure what exactly happened, but she believe a tourist was just pickpocketed there.

The sad thing is that gypsies send their kids out to pickpocket and steal from people/stores. Pickpocketing in Greece will always be a problem because tourists are easy targets.

 

[Worldwide Greeks Editor]

This is certainly true in Greece, especially ion the larger cities and tourist areas (Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, etc).

Here are some tips to help protect yourself from being pickpocketed or mugged in Greece:

1. Go in larger groups (not by yourself) in areas that have nightclubs and bars in the early mornings (when clubs let out it is morning).
2. If you carry a bag or purse, make sure to have the strap around your body with bag in front of you (not in your back) and make sure the bag does not have very small straps that can be cut.
3. Keep your nice jewelry or watches at the hotel locked up when going shopping with massive crowds of tourists.
4. Always keep your cash and credit cards separate (I recommend putting some catch in your sock or shoe).
5. When you shop don't take out tons of cash to not make it visible, only the money to pay for what you are buying (if cash or use credit cards).

I am sure there are plenty of other ways to protect yourself from being pickpocketed in Greece, but these are some of the big things that come to mind!

Thanks for the great question!!

 

[Deborah]

Beware of heavily-touristed areas and the Metro, especially if you are “juggling” luggage or are exiting anywhere around Omonia Square. It is not Greeks who are doing this, but as with any major city - it happens.

 

[redsoxdw_]

Yes tourists are always being targeted, be aware and make sure your valuables are tucked away

 

[k_tsoukalas]

I have heard stories of people getting their pockets picked while in Greece. Mostly, the people who got their stuff stolen, they simply weren't paying attention to their belongings. Meaning, in one instance someone had his wallet in his back pocket on a crowded subway... This was a preventable theft! He should have put his wallet in your front pocket, and laid his hand over the pocket, and the likelihood of it getting stolen would have gone way, way down. Petty thieves want an easy grab. Don't become the easy grab!