Luggage theft at Las Vegas airport carousels
Big article in today’s Las Vegas Review Journal on bag theft at the McCarran airport carousels. No surprise. This isn’t new. In my book,…
Good free travel info
When you research your destination, check on crime and security issues, too. Knowing what commonly happens and where gives you the edge. The goal…
Kevin Mitnick redflagged
At the Atlanta airport last week, a limo driver stood holding a sign marked “Bob Arno.” Next to him stood another driver holding a…
Airport observations
So many airport ticket agents spend their work hours in terrible environments. In particular, I notice the noise level. Baggage belts and security scanners…
Research crime before your trip
It was Cecily’s dream vacation: she and her family had rented an ancient stone farmhouse near St.-Paul-de-Vence on the French Riviera. Recently renovated to…
Rome train station
Rome, Italy—Termini Station serves up buses, trains, and the subway. Four long rows of ticket machines busily dispense tickets and confound travelers. Traffic is…
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good, part 6 of 6
Panama City, Panama—Bob asked one of our Panama police escorts what serious crimes against tourists had occurred recently. The officer stunned us with a…
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good, part 5 of 6
Panama City, Panama—Angel lives in the school building with his mother and assorted siblings. Aha! So that’s who’d done all the neat laundry hanging…
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good, part 4 of 6
Panama City, Panama—Bob and I had come to Panama as guests of the national and local police departments and the Panama National Hotel Association….
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good, part 3 of 6
Panama City, Panama—As Bob and Angel spoke, a tall, handsome boy appeared dribbling a basketball. Soon he was part of our interview. His name…
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good, part 2 of 6
Panama City, Panama—Too much laundry was hung too neatly on a wire line stretched across the broken schoolyard. This boy can’t be that industrious,…
Panama Cannons: gangsters gone good
Panama City, Panama—Angel Sanchez is trying to stay clean. Neither crack nor speed produces the high he craves. At 23, Angel is trying to…
Living in a Houston taxi
There was barely room for us in a certain Houston taxi van. The driver must be living in her vehicle. Other than the back…
Promised pictures of thiefhunting in Russia
Were you waiting with bated breath for the promised pictures of the Russian ice cream seller and the stolen credit cards she retrieved from…
Interviewing thieves
Caught-in-the-act criminals aren’t always keen on conversation. “Why I should talk to you!” some say. We’ve been threatened with rocks, hit, spit upon, flipped…
Bob Arno on thiefhunting
A Thief on Thieves Conning Criminals into Conversation Las Vegas — Who said it takes a thief to know a thief? The Tall Swede…
Bolshoi Bandits: more pickpockets in Russia
The Bolshoi Bandits and the Crosswalk Czar In which Bob Arno and his fancy accessory spy on the Russians. St. Petersburg, Russia— I was…
Chortle reviews Just For Laughs
The UK comedy guide Chortle.co.uk reviewed the Just For Laughs Craig Ferguson Gala. The most interesting part of the review: The next act, Bob…
My travel stats
I’ve made 69 take-offs and landings so far this year. There will be nine this week. I’m holding reservations for 27 more this year—so…
Duck in a can
Montreal—Read anything about this city’s vibrant dining scene and you’ll be pointed to Au Pied de Cochon. You’ll also be warned: dining here entails…
Bob Arno in Just For Laughs
Montreal, July 18—Hospital instead of curtain call for Bob Arno at the end of his performance in the televised Just For Laughs Gala, Friday…
Russian Rip-off: pickpockets and thugs, part 5 of 5
Pickpockets in St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, a few weeks later—We loaded ourselves with video equipment this time, and headed straight for the Metro corner….
Hoodwinked, the show
“If it weren’t onstage, it would be illegal” —The Montreal Gazette Montreal—Our new show, Hoodwinked, opened July 15 in the Gesù Theatre as part…
Russian Rip-off: pickpockets and thugs, part 4 of 5
St. Petersburg— “They think I robbed you,” he said. By then it must have been obvious to the cops that we were not Mohammed’s…
Russian Rip-off: pickpockets and thugs, part 3 of 5
St. Petersburg—Pseudo-cops!” we thought: bandits who pretend to be police. We’re about to be robbed! At the same time, I thought: no, we’re about…
Hoodwinked
Montreal—Pardon this little interruption in the Russian Rip-off 5-part story. For our Canadian friends and fans, Bob and I would like to announce one…
Russian Rip-off: St. Petersburg pickpockets and thugs, part 2 of 5 (video)
St. Petersburg pickpockets St. Petersburg—we were surrounded by five hostile faces. Shaking inside, we stood firm until the men stalked off. Bob and I…
Russian Rip-off: pickpockets and thugs
St. Petersburg— The beefiest of the five Mongolian thugs shoved his fist in front of Bob’s face, thrust forward his chin, and stared. Bob…
Midnight sun in Stockholm
A family visit to Stockholm turned into a media circus. How did they know we were in town? First was an interview for an…
What currency do you charge in?
Overheard at the reception desk on the Queen Mary 2: German gentleman: “Good Afternoon. I have a digital camera with a rechargeable battery——” Receptionist:…