The Art of Invisibility, by Kevin Mitnick, reveals how data on us is gathered
Our Data, Our Selves They know who you are. They know what you buy, where you live, where you work, where you go in…
Hardworking Paris pickpocket needs $2M for U.S. visa
“I know you!” the girl said when she turned around and got a glimpse of Bob Arno. He and I had followed the girl…
Thanks to pickpockets, Chinese now shun travel to France
Asian tourists have been scared away from Paris by the plague of pickpockets who target them. According to Jean-François Zhou, President of the Chinese…
Pickpockets look like tourists
Pickpockets look like tourists, and it’s not by accident. Replete with water bottles, backpacks, camera, baseball caps, these “props” are intended to camouflage the…
Bag stolen in Barcelona cafe
The loss of a valuable shoulder bag stolen in Barcelona was devastating to the victim. The bag had been on the floor beside her chair in a…
Keyless car theft, increasing crime
Keyless car theft is possible even when a car is locked and the electronic fob is away from the car. With a small electronic…
Survey: Did you file a police report when you were pickpocketed?
Did you file a police report when you were pickpocketed? I’ll be grateful for your response to this short survey? It applies to a…
Hotel lobby baggage theft
otel lobby baggage theft is common precisely because people think it is not. We tend to feel we’ve entered a safe zone when we…
Airport Surprises
Slogging through endless airports, hoping for a nice lounge, or at least a seat near a power outlet. Occasionally, delightful surprises are discovered. For…
What are Airport baggage kickers?
Regular readers of Thiefhunters in Paradise know that I recommend hard-sided luggage and avoid zippered bags as checked luggage. I’ve seen way too many exploded zippers…
Sumela Monastery in Northern Turkey
I OFTEN COMPLAIN about too much travel. 250 days a year on the road, more or less, for 23 years non-stop. At the same…
Gang of 11 Pickpockets Stole Mobile Phones
Pickpockets Stole Mobile Phones Who says pickpocketing is a petty crime? A gang of 11 thieves was just sentenced in London. These pickpockets stole…
Child pickpockets in Europe
French and Romanian police have just busted 18 members of an organized crime group in Romania and Paris. The gang, actually part of a…
A Pickpocket’s life story
Bob and I interviewed “Pedro” in Paris a few months ago. We first saw him at a coffee bar inside Gare de Lyon, a…
Theft by Blocking
Similar to the Prague pickpocket teams I’ve written about but even more sophisticated, was a South American gang regularly devastating an intersection on Fifth…
How pickpockets pick victims
Picking before picking Some pickpockets, Angelo for example, rifle full speed through as many pockets and purses as possible in a tight crowd. That’s…
Hotel Oddity #51. Enjoy your life!
At the Carmos Hotel in Madeira, you are heartily encouraged to enjoy your life! Good idea! Okay, let’s start now! Enjoy your life! This…
Theft on a train
Christine boarded a train in Cologne, Germany, to travel to Frankfurt. Approaching her first class seat, she saw a man in the seat opposite…
Pickpocket Pickpockets Pickpocket Policeman
No, Bob Arno was not the thief in this incident. It happened on the Paris Metro at the Chatelet station. The thief was a…
Pickpocket foiled on Rome train
Dear Bambi and Bob, July 26th, 2015 was a typical hot summer day in Rome. My family and I decided to visit the Bhorgese…
Deception in Thievery
Trust me… The gentlemen thief of the strategist variety is a consummate con man. By design, he thwarts suspicion and earns his intended victim’s…
Gypsy Beggars in Sweden: Documentary
If you’re even a little interested in the explosion of gypsy beggars across Europe, and particularly in Sweden, you must see this documentary. It’s Bulgarian…
Stockholm beggars incite political daring
Stockholm beggars, still clogging streets, store entrances, and subway entrances throughout the city, reflect a problem all of Sweden is experiencing. The beggars come…
Venice pickpockets
Venice pickpockets are identified on a poster taped up all over Venice. Take a good look and you’ll realize it’s pretty hopeless to identify…
Pickpocket paradise: a crowded bus
Pickpocket paradise, but still requires nerve and patience Luciano’s morning hit was tense. He had ridden the trams during what should have been rush-hour,…
Eiffel Tower pickpockets force landmark closing
The Eiffel Tower was closed due to pickpockets most of Friday. Once again, this so-called “petty crime” has affected tens of thousands. How many…
Hotel Oddity #50. Whose clothes are in the bed?
It’s my birthday, and we’re on the road, as usual. This time it’s an okay low-budget hotel in Anchorage. Our plan for a nice…
Leaving bags in hotel luggage storage
At check-out time, you call a bellman to collect your luggage. You pay your bill, then tip your bellman for loading your bags into…
Psychic Schools or Scam Schools?
A year ago, psychic swindler Rose Marks was sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for fleecing clients of her fortune-telling business…
Car scam. Sellers beware!
Closing up our Stockholm house, I’ve been selling things on the local version of Craig’sList. Many items sell in the first day, even in…