It finally happened to me. The person who always advises visitors to watch out for pickpockets, got pickpocketed. I guess I was really right when I told people how good the pickpockets are in Europe. They are real pros. You won’t even feel them grab things.
The Wrong Coat
I usually go out with my 27-pocket ScottE vest or my Regatta raincoat with several internal zip pockets. On Tuesday, I took a friend visiting from Minnesota to Antwerp and wore a different coat than I usually wear. It has large pockets that snap shut, but no internal pockets.
In a lapse of personal security that lasted about a minute or two, someone grabbed my iPhone from my pocket after I took a photograph of the town hall, turned the phone off to conserve my battery, and placed it in my pocket. It was there for a few minutes while I readjusted things in a bag. I noticed right away that it was gone, but it was too late.
At first, I thought I had stuffed it in my bag without thinking. I emptied all my pockets and bags, and it wasn’t there. Immediately, I realized I was a crime victim. My phone was gone forever. I felt so stupid! I’m the one usually telling people not to do things like that!
The Ordeal
The first thing I did was try to find a police officer. It seems like they are never in sight when you need them. I walked into a nearby building to ask if someone could call the police. They were unable to call but gave me the phone number. Of course, without a phone, I couldn’t call. Then, they gave me the address of a local outstation about 10 minutes away. And without GPS, my horrible sense of direction led me on a bit of a goose chase. My friend’s GPS was a lifesaver. We found the building, and I rang the bell.
“Heb uw een afspraak, mevrouw?” she asked. (Do you have an appointment, ma’am?) I replied that I didn’t. At that point, she let me into the building to make one, which was 30 minutes later. I climbed two flights of stairs where I met Davy, the very kind police officer who spoke perfect English. I explained what happened. He needed the IMEC number of the phone, which, of course, I didn’t have. By a stroke of luck, I still had the five-year-old phone’s original box with the serial number and everything else on it, so I was able to forward it when I got home. I also sent the address that FindMyPhone gave me as to the current location of the phone.
Nothing Is Easy
In Belgium, the police can’t just go around to an address and enter a home to retrieve stolen goods. It looks like my phone is currently living in social housing in Antwerp, where the new owner will quickly discover that the phone has serious issues. Maybe the thieves will believe in karma now.
What to Do?
What should you do if you lose your phone? Ironically, I was traveling to Antwerp with a friend who had recently lost her phone in Portugal. She felt my pain and was a great source of information and calm. Like her, my first step was to report it to the police. They wouldn’t even take a report there! In Antwerp, they did.
Next, I went to the Telenet phone store to report the theft and get a new SIM card. My old phone number was transferred to the new phone. Next, it was time to erase my phone remotely, a handy iPhone feature. I did that as soon as I got home, changed passwords and notified my bank.
Luckily, I had just purchased a new phone one week earlier because my old one was freezing and unable to update. I was worried it would die on an upcoming vacation trip that I’d planned for months. I had transferred my information and photos to my new phone, and those that I missed were downloaded from the cloud automatically. All of my bank information was stripped when I remotely erased my phone — a great iPhone feature. No problem, though. I just needed to change all my passwords and reload my data.
Pickpockets Are Everywhere
You’ll see signs to watch out for pickpockets in cities like Paris, London and Amsterdam, but they also operate in other cities. They LOVE busy tourist destinations. Crowded places like subways, elevators and cafes are attractive to thieves. Be extra vigilant at tourist sites and town squares. And airports! Many pickpockets are ready to pounce as soon as you stop to take photographs or fiddle with your luggage.
Image by SplitShire from Pixabay
How to Prevent Pickpockets
- Always be aware of your surroundings. There weren’t many people near the Antwerp town hall where I was pickpocketed, but it only takes one or two talented pickpockets to separate you from your money, passport, phone or camera.
- Buy travel secure clothing and accessories.
- Wear a coat or vest with internal zip pockets. My favorite brand is ScottEVest. I adore my SCOTTeVests, coats and shirts. You can safely travel with them and keep your personal belongings safe. I have convinced friends and families to buy their products, and everyone has been deliriously happy with them, as I am. Bluffworks also has some nice travel apparel.
- Use a crossbody bag. It is more difficult for a thief to get into a crossbody bag, especially if you wear a coat or sweater over it.
- Never stick your wallet in a back pocket.
- Keep your phone secure. If you’re like me, your entire life is in it! Be careful and vigilant!
- Don’t use your phone on public transport. My former roommate had hers stolen while standing on a Brussels tram. The thief denied it. Funny, he didn’t look like a guy who would have a pink cellphone case! She confronted him, made a scene, and he threw the phone on the ground. The screen was broken, but she got her phone back.
Step-By-Step Tips
- Contact the police.
- Call 112. The 911 emergency number used in the US, is not used in Europe. In 1991, 112 was approved as the European-wide emergency number.
- Contact your banks.
- Contact your phone provider.
- Get a new SIM card.
- Erase your phone remotely, if you can.
- Get your police report and report theft to your insurance provider, if your phone is insured.
- Be more careful next time, a lesson I have certainly learned!
