"We are unlikely to be bothered [by pickpockets] because we look American"

[u/HighWaterSheriff]

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[u/Zefyris]

"I feel like Americans would be the number one target"

-> it is AFAIK, correct at least in Paris. IIRC the American embassy did issue warnings accompanied with numbers about pickpocket in Paris stealing a lot from Americans and lots of them losing their passport that way.

They're apparently easy picking.

[u/Icy_Finger_6950 → u/Zefyris]

They're not used to walking on streets, catching public transport, etc. They're like a bunch of toddlers let loose in touristy places.

[u/Adowyth → u/Zefyris]

Instead of facing the facts they instead believe the fake story about an American who beat up a pickpocket in Paris that was making the rounds on tiktok and shorts a while ago.

[u/V_Aldritch → u/Adowyth]

The funny thing about that story is that there was a fight after the American tourist caught the pickpocket. The American just lost so badly that she wound up in hospital.

[u/Adowyth → u/V_Aldritch]

Must be a different story because the one i was referring to was about a man.

[u/V_Aldritch → u/Adowyth]

Must be. Not like there's any shortage of "American being pickpocketed" stories out there.

[u/Adowyth → u/V_Aldritch]

It was basically something like "embassy had to give out a warning because Americans would just beat people up if someone tried to pick their pockets like this guy here'

[u/MadScientist_666 → u/Adowyth]

How can people who are not used to walk more than a few steps beat up someone? Sounds like their usual delusions about being "the best, the strongest, the greatest". Sure, some are for sure capable of what they brag about, but most probably not even close.

[u/CongealedBeanKingdom → u/V_Aldritch]

Because she didnt have a gun

[u/Pulga_Atomica → u/CongealedBeanKingdom]

Couldn't call in air support

[u/CongealedBeanKingdom → u/Pulga_Atomica]

Was there a near by girls' school?

[u/IrishViking22 → u/CongealedBeanKingdom]

Couldn't have been, if there was the air support would have been approved

[u/Successful_Row3430 → u/Zefyris]

They are soooo loud here!

[u/Which_Specific9891 → u/Successful_Row3430]

I went to a cafe today and a friend and I really struggled-- the place was SO LOUD. We couldn't figure it out until I spotted a table-- 4 Americans. They were talking SO loudly, everyone else was upping the volume just to hear themselves and each other. I pointed to my friend and I said that is why it's so loud in here. The Yanks. When they go, the volume will drop to a reasonable volume.

And that's precisely what happened. They were SO loud and so annoying everyone was speaking at top volume to drown them out.

[u/eugeneugene → u/Which_Specific9891]

My husband is American and always starts talking this loud without thinking, I have a hand gesture I do that when I do it he immediately talks at a normal volume lol. The few times I've visited his family in the US it's been so loud I wished I had earplugs. People are just shouting across the house there lol.

[u/cionn → u/Which_Specific9891]

Its because, as they always say, america is so much bigger than Europe. So they have to be heard over greater distances

[u/AgencyPhysical1897 → u/Which_Specific9891]

you are right it is so awful. We spend a lot of time in the Caribbean and the Americans are so obnoxious. The other thing is that they don’t control their noisy fucking kids.

[u/hasdga23 → u/Successful_Row3430]

Maybe also the pickpockers are annoyed and will go for them more often xD.

[u/StaendutBlakk → u/Zefyris]

Wallet in your back pocket plus carrying a lot of cash is a pickpockets wet dream, I'd imagine. Americans do both. Much easier to just trade in a bunch of dollar bills at the nearest bank than it is trying to gain access to someone's MasterCard.

And as much as Americans like to think different, they don't discourage pickpockets due to being violent gorillas.

[u/CongealedBeanKingdom → u/StaendutBlakk]

And as much as Americans like to think different

By different do you mean infrequently?

[u/Adam198763 → u/StaendutBlakk]

Cmon, most people have contactless anyway. You wouldn't even need to try to break the pin

[u/SkinAndAnatomyNerd → u/Zefyris]

Probably because they think thy won’t be targeted, and thus don’t take the necessary precautions.

[u/SharkByte1993 → u/Zefyris]

I'm glad you agree with my comment. Even if Americans are violent, I think they underestimate that the average American is stupid, or at least European pickpockets will think they are stupid

[u/ConflictAdvanced → u/Zefyris]

As far as I know, the pickpockets in Barcelona light up when they see American tourists heading their way 😅

[u/jolittletime → u/ConflictAdvanced]

I was about to say that. I went on the metro in Barcelona a few years ago and in one trip saw 3 american men complaining their wallets had been stolen from their back pockets.

[u/Adam198763 → u/jolittletime]

Dude, I always keep my wallet in my breast pocket, zippered up to high hell and keep only cash and ID when I go to a big populated European city.

I'd surgically graft it to my skin if I could. Keeping it in your back pocket isn't even ignorant, it's plain stupid

[u/jolittletime → u/Adam198763]

Totally. But it happens a lot! I'd do the same in an American city too though. You'd have to be a bit special to make it that easy for pickpockets but I live near London and everyday see people walking along with their phones in their hands, not paying attention to their surroundings, tourists holding up ipads to take photos, backpacks and handbags open on the tube

[u/IndependentYam3227 → u/jolittletime]

I don't understand why people do that. I have always kept mine in my hip pocket, and I usually put my hand in over it if I'm in a really crowded space. Years ago, before I ever traveled abroad, we had a family friend who referred to the back pocket as the 'sucker pocket'.

[u/Odd-Quail01 → u/ConflictAdvanced]

Carrying wads of cash in wallers in pockets of oversized cargo shorts?

[u/theamericaninfrance → u/Zefyris]

Americans are absolutely a massive (probably #1) target for pickpockets in Paris

Source: check my username

[u/Cnidarus → u/theamericaninfrance]

Tourists, thus likely to be carrying more cash and more likely to be distracted, that are less likely to have grown up in areas with pickpocketing and be savvy to it? Huh, I wonder why /s

[u/secretpsychologist → u/Cnidarus]

many tourists come from areas with barely any or no pickpockets. myself included. doesn't mean that we don't know how to act when we are in a major city.

[u/Ok-Preparation2370 → u/Zefyris]

Now I feel bad for the pickpocket. /s

Imagine pulling a wallet only to find USD, instead of finding higher value Euros. 😂🤣

[u/Dark1000 → u/Ok-Preparation2370]

For some reason Americans insist on travelling with huge amounts of cash, particularly in well-travelled locations in Europe and Asia where you can just use your card, or withdraw petty cash whenever you feel like it.

I tell my relatives not to, but they just do it anyway.

[u/Ok-Preparation2370 → u/Dark1000]

I should edit my comment and remove "a small amount at that" because you are absolutely right.

From what I know, they are insistent on using that venmo thing for online / phone transactions. And of course, using big stacks of their cash believing it is usable in europe and superior to euro. 😂🤣

Edit : Just realised that you're likely an American and want you to know i am not making fun of you personally and I hope we're fine. It's just that your people do things a certain way and the rest of the world has a certain opinion about all that.

[u/Illustrious-Fall-954 → u/Zefyris]

Between their clothes and their shouting it’s like a big neon I’m-foreign-and-clueless-rob-me sign

[u/JBRifles → u/Zefyris]

Sadly it’s because it’s not endemic to the US, so they don’t know what to watch for.  

This guy still sucks and is an idiot 

[u/Wise_Temperature9142 → u/Zefyris]

Americans phantasize being these commando badasses that everyone will simultaneously shower with adoration for bringing American dollars, and quiver in fear at presence of their bravado.

In reality, Americans are ignorant and naive travellers. They are easy targets and many are so out of shape that they wouldn’t be able to chase a pickpocket beyond one block.

[u/whatifwealll]

Don't rob the fat guy in flip flops. Who knows what he's capable of. The wife might even demand to speak with the ring leader.

[u/New-Pie-8846 → u/whatifwealll]

"I want to speak with the ring leader! We want our refund! What do you mean you can't refund us? The customers are always right!"

[u/whatifwealll → u/New-Pie-8846]

I have a hostel in Mexico. US people are (on average) hilariously anxious and inept when dealing with any level of difficulty. I know Mexico can be rough at times, but they're even more sensitive than people who come from much more developed/comfortable countries. You just have to make them feel like a special individual and "heard" and they generally go away

[u/ChrisBChikin → u/New-Pie-8846]

Terry Pratchett was taken from us too soon because I can see this exact scene inevitably playing out in the Ankh Morpork Thieves Guild at some point.

[u/OpeningHappy9692 → u/ChrisBChikin]

And they'll have lost the receipt, and claim, that the cheap watch that got stolen was actually worth a lot more, and whatever else they can think of to complain over.

[u/LoveAlwaysIris → u/ChrisBChikin]

Sir Terry Pratchett is still one of my all time favourites. Definitely taken too soon.

[u/_Halt19_ → u/ChrisBChikin]

great, now I’m depressed about that all over again :/

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett

[u/Garagantua → u/_Halt19_]

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett 

[u/Locko2020 → u/whatifwealll]

[u/codereview → u/Locko2020]

Had the same scene in my head

[u/Prinzka → u/whatifwealll]

You mean the guy who gets winded driving around his neighbourhood on a golf cart?

[u/whatifwealll → u/Prinzka]

Holy shit the golf carts! They keep bringing these things to small towns in Mexico. Places where you'd never have to walk more than 20min to cross the whole town.

[u/Prinzka → u/whatifwealll]

Man, I used to think I hated walking, until I met Americans.

Like, I don't like going on hikes for fun, but I still walk half an hour to work because it's just more convenient.
And I still want to be able to walk/bike to all the stores I need etc

[u/loralailoralai → u/whatifwealll]

The fat guy in flip flops is probably Australian lol. Fat guy in baseball cap American

[u/hcornea → u/whatifwealll]

“Speaking of ring-leaders, you appear to have dropped this shiny gold ring. Today is your lucky day.”

[u/flashbang88]

Worked in tourism all over Europe,

Pickpockets target Americans specifically because they dont watch their surroundings and arent aware of the people in their space.

And American tourist almost comically stick out and are mostly older not in shape people.

It's just hillarious to me they think it's the opposite

[u/Kelmon80 → u/flashbang88]

I'm in Japan right now, and while you see a lot of foreigners in major urban areas, none are so blatantly sticking out as Americans, and so oblivious about everything.  The favorite thing I heard one American voice say (while being at a buddhist temple) was "this is one of them mosques" (not a question, a statement to her friends)

[u/Sozle → u/Kelmon80]

In June I saw a group of Americans spend 40 minutes complaining to a bartender (who didn’t speak much english) that they were overcharged 300 yen on a bill. Massive queue behind them and no one could order whilst this was going on. 300 yen is $1.90, and they just wasted 40 minutes of their trip. They left whilst calling the entire business a ‘tourist scam’. Talked to another bartender that was called in from his break and he explained that it was the cover charge.

[u/PneumaMonado → u/Sozle]

You would think that Americans, more than anybody else on the planet, would be used to price increases at time of payment. Between tipping culture and not including Sales Tax, you almost never get the real price before paying over there.

[u/GapPerfect5494 → u/flashbang88]

I’m not sure self-awareness is particularly common amongst American tourists

[u/E420CDI → u/flashbang88]

Not to mention loud

[u/LeftMechanic1995 → u/E420CDI]

The best way to avoid pickpockets (or any opportunistic criminals) is to keep a low profile and blend into the background (literally the 2 things which Yanks are famous for not doing).

[u/Relative_Pilot_8005 → u/LeftMechanic1995]

Looking ever so slightly psychotic works well,too!

[u/Artituteto → u/flashbang88]

And a lot of them come from rural America where you can carry weapons. When traveling they lose the only thing they have to protect themselves, and feel helpless when they have to confront the real world only using their natural abilities. Thieves know they won't fight back.

And they tend to be wary of black, latinos and "urban" men. While the people they should be suspicious of, who are going to ruin their holly days and take their money are blond white rom girls. And don't tell them to be careful around roms, they'll say you are racist (then complain that Europeans didn't protect them)

[u/ViolettaHunter → u/Artituteto]

blond white rom girls

I've never seen a blonde Roma girl. Some of the older women colour their hair but that often looks more orange-y.

[u/Keyspam102 → u/flashbang88]

Yeah they also seem to carry huge amounts of cash with them.

[u/CongealedBeanKingdom → u/Keyspam102]

Its because they have never heard of chip and pin or contactless payments. They're probably out there giving their credit card to some random in a shop so they can take it out the back and do whatever with it.

[u/PneumaMonado → u/CongealedBeanKingdom]

I used to work in credit card fraud (investigating not committing), and whenever one flagged up as a swipe transaction it would always be a massive pain in the ass because of how insecure it is. Magnetic Stripes are so easy to clone I genuinely have no idea why Americans still insist on using them when the rest of the world disavowed them before I was even born.

[u/throwjabslikemike]

Nobody looks at Americans and thinks “oh we better leave them alone, they look like big scary Americans” 😅 Literally Americans get targeted the most lol, they are usually pretty naive, a lot more so than most.

[u/ConfusingVacum → u/throwjabslikemike]

To be fair, we do avoid them in cafés because they often speak very loud and act like they own the place

[u/Malverno → u/throwjabslikemike]

Case in point this post. Let them believe so, I'd rather have the pick pockets have their money instead.

[u/Lovely_Libertine → u/Malverno]

They’re not being robbed. They’re stimulating the local economy.

[u/DrawingNo519]

They wouldn’t survive 2 seconds in London they would be pickpocketed without even knowing it

[u/Starvenger88 → u/DrawingNo519]

This. Doesn't matter where you're from or what country you're in. If you've been targeted, you probably won't know you've been pickpocketed until it's too late.

[u/DrawingNo519 → u/Starvenger88]

True but when someone boasts that i wont get pickpocketed because American no you will be first to be a target also can only speak for London as i live in the UK

[u/Starvenger88 → u/DrawingNo519]

There's probably a high correlation between the boasting and a lack of attentiveness that attract pickpockets. I hope they at least remember not to keep their wallet in their back pocket.

[u/Ascentori → u/Starvenger88]

naa, for people like this, the back pocket is exactly where they should store their wallet, phone and passport

[u/LeftMechanic1995 → u/Ascentori]

"naa, for people like this, the back pocket is exactly where they should store their wallet, phone and passport"

I imagine a pickpocket will go through the stolen goods and the value assessment will probably go something like this:

- phone... valuable

- wallet... it contains $300 US dollars, so I can at least get a few quid

- passport... straight in the bin. Not even worth using as an arse wipe or a wank hanky.

[u/ViolettaHunter → u/LeftMechanic1995]

Passports can be sold on the black market. 

[u/The_Professor2112 → u/Ascentori]

Moat of them can't reach their back pockets, the fat fucks.

[u/The_Professor2112 → u/DrawingNo519]

Do they think we think they'll have their AR-15s with them? Or do they think we think they're hard as nails and not to be fucked with?

Neither is true.

[u/LoveAlwaysIris → u/The_Professor2112]

Considering the amount of yanks that get upset for being denied entry into Canada at border crossings because they try to bring guns thinking US law applies globally, they probably think they would have their gun on them.

[u/daveoxford → u/Starvenger88]

This is the crucial point that never seems to occur to them.

[u/Mysterious_Floor_868 → u/Starvenger88]

I've got the advantage that despite being told off for it regularly in my youth, I never lost the scruffy habit of standing with my hands in my pocket.

[u/PrincessKikkei → u/DrawingNo519]

Right, like pickpocketing is a skill that relies on fast hands, misdirection and confuse. A guy who is overly confident on their abilities to spot one may be the easiest target because they think they know what to look for while actually knowing nothing.

Add in a dose of this kind of arrogance and you'll lose your luggage ten seconds after leaving the airport lmao

[u/bassie2019]

What would Americans do? Because carrying a gun (and using it) in France or anywhere else in Europe, will get you in more trouble than the pickpocketers.

[u/Ted-Crilly → u/bassie2019]

They'll try to chase them but then remember they're morbidly obese and their healthcare won't cover a running injury

I'm joking, their healthcare will deny any claim without a reason

[u/Technical_Shake_9573 → u/bassie2019]

That and there are not really the sprinters they think they are. Even if you notice that you are getting stolen, good luck to chase After them with most of americans healthy physics.

[u/Opposite-History-233]

Their buddy is an idiot.

[u/HighWaterSheriff → u/Opposite-History-233]

I think he might be the American equivalent of Jay from The Inbetweeners. He probably also found Italian women drop their knickers readily for American men because they're not used to such intense masculinity, and Germans all have a quiet respect for Americans after having their asses whooped in WW2.

[u/Lavaswan001 → u/HighWaterSheriff]

I mean, why wouldn’t you respect someone just because they happened to be born in a country that won a major war decades after said war concluded, and this particular someone never having personally served in the military themselves?

[u/SkinAndAnatomyNerd → u/Lavaswan001]

You’re right! Next American I see, I’ll shake his hand, and thank him for the service he didn’t provide, over 80 years ago.

[u/Suitable_Good8833 → u/SkinAndAnatomyNerd]

Call them vietnam's bitch.. sets them off

[u/Kaizin_0607]

r/Iamverybadass

[u/Exciting-Music843]

Strange people aren't they?

But is suppose if you spend your life being brainwashed that you are superior to every one at everything purely down to the country you were born in you would end up like this!

[u/TopInvestigator5518 → u/Exciting-Music843]

I remember seeing a comment section about a year back between Americans all hyping each other up how pick pockets are too scared to mess with Americans and the comments were so absurd

just living in their own make believe land

[u/BionicBananas → u/TopInvestigator5518]

I commented in one of those threads that Americans are in fact preferred targets because they, except for maybe New Yorkers, have no idea on how to really walk through a city or behave on public transport. I got downvoted

[u/LeftMechanic1995]

Americans in America: "I dress like a cunt, but I have a gun".

Americans not in America: "I dress like a cunt, but I don't have a gun".

Muricans need to realise that once they leave their safe space, they are no longer as safe as they thought they were. No amount of self-delusion will ever protect them from the real world.

The real world will give them an education, but that education won't be accompanied by a school shooting drill: it will be accompanied by a swift, unapologetic kick in the bollocks.

[u/zztopsthetop → u/LeftMechanic1995]

They're still mostly safer outside their safe space than in it, just feel less so.

[u/MegWithSocks]

In America it’s called “purse snatching” and in Europe it’s an art form thats often unnoticed until it’s too late.

It’s easy to chase someone when they rip the bag from your hands, harder when your wallet is just gone.

[u/gilestowler → u/MegWithSocks]

Yeah, this whole "they know what Americans will do if we catch them!" thing is kind of funny. THE WHOLE POINT IS YOU DON'T CATCH THEM!!! That's what pickpockets do. And what do they think Europeans do if they catch someone doing it? Hold their hands up and say "OOOH we can't do anything without the big tough Americans to save us like they did in both world wars god bless America!"?

[u/Speshal__ → u/gilestowler]

See how this brave American male deals with being robbed in public.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/1pgya09/attempted_robbery_of_american_tourists_in_colombia/

https://giphy.com/gifs/oGOW75SleZPR6

[u/aSkeptiKitty → u/MegWithSocks]

I've seen an attempt once, it took barely a couple of second and I didn't realize what I was seeing until someone yelled. The pickpocket was already jumping out of the metro and the doors closed a second later. 

People don't realize how fast an experimented pickpocket is. 

[u/Alternative-Hall7067 → u/aSkeptiKitty]

I’ve seen a showcasing once and the guy always made sure to target those who 1) looked like they had something and 2) who were busy with something and he’d take like the watch of their wrist, even ties and glasses… was crazy

[u/ViolettaHunter → u/Alternative-Hall7067]

I once saw a public exhibition where the pickpocket was facing the "victim" and talking to him. 

Neither the victim nor the crowd saw the actual pickpocketing and we were all watching out for it!

[u/Alternative-Hall7067 → u/ViolettaHunter]

I know right. Good pickpockets are like illusionists. You know it’s a trick somehow but you just don’t see it unless you know exactly what to look for.

[u/Worry_pas_ta_brain → u/aSkeptiKitty]

I didn't even realize I had been pickpocketed multiple times when I was in Germany.  They didn't get anything of value but they did try.

 I didn't keep anything valuable in my backpack and had carabiners on every zipper except the one with a tiny virgin mary statue that my MIL had given me to "keep me safe ". That pocket was unzipped several times on my trip .

[u/Aboxofphotons → u/MegWithSocks]

Are you suggesting that theives in the US arent superior to theives in the rest of the world?!

HOW DARE YOU!

[u/Accomplished-Bank782 → u/MegWithSocks]

They are really slick. Years ago when I was a student, I went to Florence for a few days, and when I arrived was walking around with a rucksack until I could get into the hostel. I’d lived in Italy for a while and I knew of course that pickpockets were about in touristy places so I stashed everything nick-able in the hardest internal pocket to get to, and just used the outer pocket for rubbish and used tissues (I had a bit of a cold that day). It truly warmed my heart to find that outer pocket unzipped when I took the bag off - I hope whoever dipped in there enjoyed the lovely soggy snotrags they found 😂 I didn’t feel it happening at all though. And I was watching out for it.

[u/Scarletmajesty → u/MegWithSocks]

I had my phone visible behind the counter at work once, it was in my line of sight at all times and still a "customer" managed to sneak it away and i didnt notice. Pickpockets here are extremely quick and agile at their thievery. He was out of the store when I noticed it was gone and I couldnt even see him on the street when I went after. I dont know what americans are on if theyre available to catch them

[u/Punk_owl → u/MegWithSocks]

Purse snatching also happens here but perhaps in other ways. For example while riding a scooter or right before subway door close (snatching phones from people scrolling next to doors). So still methods where you can't really catch them.

[u/Upstairs_Narwhal]

"They know what Americans will typically do if someone catches them trying to pull this shit"

Mate you can't bring your gun on a plane. What are you going to do, beat me in a hot dog eating competition?

[u/RadioLiar → u/Upstairs_Narwhal]

Fr they sound like they think you can just beat someone to death in the middle of Paris and claim you were just protecting your property. Non Monsieur, you are going straight to jail because you are a dangerous psycho

[u/Separate_Rise_8932 → u/Upstairs_Narwhal]

Screech like banshees

[u/Comfortable_Card_146]

I'm pretty sure if a pickpocket saw someone who "looked American", they'd be the biggest target on the street

[u/Adam198763 → u/Comfortable_Card_146]

Nah, they wouldn't target the American because they'd assume some other pickpocket already got to them before they did

[u/triz___ → u/Comfortable_Card_146]

Literally and figuratively

[u/SpiritDonkey]

As an European (but not a pick pocket) I would’ve thought Americans were considered an easy target

[u/patrandec]

92 upvotes. 92. NINETY TWO.

[u/ohdearitsrichardiii]

If I were a pickpocket I'd target americans and fake fumble it, make them notice what I'm doing so that they can "catch me" and fell all streetsmart and cool. Then when they were strutting around, telling people how they are too wily for european pickpockets, my buddy would pick their pockets clean

[u/Outrageous_Bass_1613]

How do they look American? 

Fat and dressed like shit?

[u/jessemv → u/Outrageous_Bass_1613]

Polo shirt and khaki cargo shorts is quite common

[u/aberdoom → u/jessemv]

White new balance. Baseball cap. Bum bag. Sunglasses on head over cap. Few extra pounds round the waist.

[u/Fosg2828 → u/Outrageous_Bass_1613]

Excactly, and the reason pickpockets leave them alone is because without their wallet the delicate balance americans requiere to not fall over is no longer the case, pickpockets just don't want to risk that thr american falls ontop of them.

[u/SharkByte1993]

My comment in the wild! (My comment is the up voted one, thanks OP)

[u/HighWaterSheriff → u/SharkByte1993]

My pleasure, you saved me from posting that scene from Trainspotting where the American tourist gets robbed. 😆 https://youtu.be/1ryye-v-8j0?is=2qNK-SseDdC5fP4l

[u/Frequent_Waltz_166]

ROFLMAO, this is same level of brainwashing as the whole Chinese passport is powerful thing where ultra patriotic influencers staged skits where they just waved their Chinese passports around to magically solve some crisis or escape danger that made the rounds on Chinese internet a few years ago. Think it started in a Chinese action movie?

Very cringe and no surprise that Americans find themselves on the same level lol.

[u/JFK1200]

“Because we look American”

[u/Legal-Software]

And if not the targets, the perpetrators. Was once on the train from Tokyo to Narita and caught someone rifling through my bag - an American. Wasn't very happy when I reported him to the train staff, who had the police waiting for him when we pulled in. Only time I ever had to deal with theft after living in Japan for 7 years.

[u/Octavio_Bs]

At least in Spain the Americans are the first objective of pickpocket guys as we all see them like big overgrown babies.

[u/Initial_Evidence_783]

They are just as narcissistic as their president.

[u/StrangelySerious-]

And it's upvoted instead of downvoted to oblivion. This is why no one takes American seriously.

[u/MadScientist_666]

What is "American looking"?

Also, since many Yanks are so loud, superficial and busy bragging about something, I think that "being American" is rather a disadvantage against pickpocketing.

[u/papermoony → u/MadScientist_666]

Rosacea, thin yellow hair, very fat and goofy clothes

[u/YetAnotherBart → u/MadScientist_666]

What is "American looking"?

They stand out because they dress so badly.

[u/Alone-Stick-2950 → u/MadScientist_666]

American looking : Fat

[u/Optimal_Diet_6621 → u/MadScientist_666]

"What is "American looking"?"

There is a certain size of person that you just don't see in Europe.

[u/Agreeable-Mine-3860]

I feel like Australians don’t get pick pocketed much because we look so scruffy and poor.

[u/LoonyT13 → u/Agreeable-Mine-3860]

Same as kiwis. Shorts, tshirt, jandals/flipflops and no cash.

[u/Mitleab → u/Agreeable-Mine-3860]

And we usually don’t carry cash, unlike Americans

[u/ThrowRA-Huckleb]

Ok so this is nothing to brag about, BUT I am romanian and I bet a lot of people in Western Europe can testify that when romanian first went to the west they did a lot of scams and bad things.

I have heard from people that romanians in the US get people there with scams that the europeans stopped falling for for 20 years now.

[u/LeftMechanic1995 → u/ThrowRA-Huckleb]

As a Brit I can confirm that Romanians used to be the biggest scammers in the UK... but then the internet happened and now we are inundated with Nigerian Princes.

[u/Mysterious_Floor_868 → u/LeftMechanic1995]

Still get Romanians on Westminster Bridge doing the ball and cup scam.

[u/LordJebusVII]

But I thought we were all so desperate for your precious USD that everywhere in the world prefers them? Wouldn't it be worth risking your scary "thing you will typically do" to get your precious US dollars instead of our worthless Monopoly money?

At least pick one delusion and stick with it

[u/GapPerfect5494]

What will ‘Americans typically do’? Oh please, pray tell?
Whinge and call the cops?
Demand special treatment cos America?
Complain about how this wouldn’t have happened if shitty European countries just allowed ‘open carry’ laws?
Complain about the inability to use lethal force to prevent a wallet theft?
Decide a minor theft is therefore
worth the death penalty?
Demand a public execution?
Get all confused every time there’s a public shooting in your country and blame it all on a lack of guns?
I’m all ears

[u/niktagross]

As a Parisian I spot American tourists in about 5 seconds, so I’m guessing pickpockets do too. They are always so careless with their bags…

[u/ZaireekaFuzz]

Being this overly confident based on nothing just means they dont know any of the precautions and would be the easiest targets.

[u/IndependentYam3227]

I have seen a pickpocket get beaten on the Metro in Paris, but it was by a bunch of French people, while an older man made a speech in English apologizing for 'Yugoslavish gypsies'. The Japanese woman who'd had her wallet lifted from her bag looked pretty stunned by the whole thing, and the cops were there at the next station.

[u/purpleplums901]

92 upvotes because they think the whole world thinks Americans are tough hahahaha

[u/SkinAndAnatomyNerd]

What would they do? Shoot them with the guns they’ve left at home?

[u/pathos_ludens]

Bet they believe the narrative that Italian authorities warned local pickpockets to beware of American tourists.

[u/HailtheBrusselSprout]

I'm guessing this is linked to the BS Medium article that said French government put out a warning to pick pocketers not to go after Americans because they will attack you.

[u/auntie_eggma]

Oh look. Americans bragging about disproportionately violent reactions.

How admirable.

[u/Renbarre]

That's a hoot. Americans are targeted as much as other tourists. It's not snatch and run, it's pick the pocket discreetly. I'll bet OOP won't even know where their credit card disappeared.

[u/Rykmigrundt90]

Americans are I guess based on this more likely to commit serious violence over petty theft, apparently believing this makes them look civilized and formidable.

That’s quite a flex.

[u/Mordenkainen2021]

"Well traveled in europe"

Gonna press X to doubt.

[u/Sgt_Dvorak]

I saw this comment on the original post and immediately thought about this subreddit

[u/HighWaterSheriff → u/Sgt_Dvorak]

Yeah I was surprised it had survived six hours without being posted here. There's also now a brilliant comment about "it's because so many of us are Irish they don't dare fuck with us" too. 😆

[u/Sgt_Dvorak → u/HighWaterSheriff]

It's so delusional I cannot believe it's true, it's either bot or satire.. hopefully

[u/JamesH_670]

Like the comment says, if anything, looking American makes you an even bigger target.

[u/Secuter]

The second you think "we won't be pickpocket because X" you've already put yourself in a position where you're an easier target.

[u/vagabond_bull]

I wish I had their level of delusion sometimes.

They’d - almost universally - be the number 1 targets for pickpockets.

They’re tourists, usually unaware of their surroundings, used to carrying cash and fat enough to ensure they’re not going to be able to catch anyone.

[u/upthemstairs]

Be easier to just give them a sandwich and berate them for a $20 tip.

[u/ellielindsya]

The arrogance is staggering but the fucking weird fantasising about beating up people is just so strange to me man

[u/yukonnut]

Spoken by someone who has absolutely no idea how good these pickpockets really are.

[u/W2ttsy]

Being able to fight back implies that you know you’re being targeted in the first place.

The professional pick pocket crews are very light on touch and will be able to lift a wallet or phone before anyone notices.

Can’t beat up the dude that isn’t there because he nicked your shit 4 subway stops earlier.

[u/StayUpLatePlayGames]

There was a single news item about an American woman attacking her pickpocket and now EVERY American thinks they’re going to do it.

This from a nation who would shoot a girl scout with cookies who stepped on their lawn.

Talk about stolen valour. Add it to every other instance. World war 1, world war 2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran

They sure do lose a lot of

[u/Tudorboy76]

All highlighted by constant swigging from their massive bottles of water they carry

[u/Distinct_Ad_5598]

Not pickpocketing, as such, but there’s a really interesting documentary set in Edinburgh called Trainspotting.

There is a section where an American accidentally walks into the wrong pub, the locals certainly didn’t hold back becuase he was American.

[u/YouCantArgueWithThis]

They are the easiest target 😆

[u/brewdog_millionaire]

What is that? Shoot them? You're in France, if you want to get arrested and deported, and your passport incinerated, have at it. Not that you can take a gun on a plane anyway

[u/latefordinner86]

They are. Americans are known to have a lot of cash on their person and you can hear them 200m away bacause they talk so loud. Easy marks.

[u/Commandoclone87]

What would Americans even do. They had to leave all their guns at home.

[u/mrsbergstrom]

They forget they’re not allowed their guns here

[u/KrautKebabs]

Ha, please. You can barely defend yourselves at home while strapped with your 2nd amendment and free speech. What the hell do you think you can accomplish as a tourist overseas?

[u/Fluid-Piccolo-6911]

gravy seals being big and strong and unarmed ? what a joke..

[u/CongealedBeanKingdom]

Rich. Can't run. Docile.

Yeah, sounds about right.

[u/InterviewGlum9263]

Americans are considered the easiest targets here, they are so occupied with themselves that they don't even notice.

[u/Accomplished_Ice1708]

Ooh you’re ’ard.

[u/sblack505]

Take your guns on holiday then, do you? 😂

[u/dazvoz]

I think the average American overestimates his athleticism. Most of them would have no chance of even catching the thief.

[u/Big_Satisfaction_644]

I’ve traveled to many countries and cities in Europe as well as the americas and I have not once worried about/encountered pickpockets. Just pay attention, maybe hand in pocket and youre safe. If you bump into someone or someone gets close, put your hand over your phone to make sure it’s there and not about to leave your pocket. If you’re sitting down playing on your phone and not paying attention, hold it in a way that it’s not easy to grab and run.

[u/Suitable_Good8833]

Americans would cry if someone stole their stuff in Scotland, without their guns they are a bunch of weak crybaby wanks

[u/HighWaterSheriff → u/Suitable_Good8833]

They'd also leave a one star Google review for the local constabulary for the case not being treated as critical priority and the officer not responding well to threats of "I'll have you fired buddy!".

[u/Voinat107]

Most of them are so round, you could probably just push them away like a big ball

[u/Substantial_Airport6]

Im guessing Europeans see Americans as weak and ineffectual so probably an easy target. Makes sense considering this trumpster fire we're in right now.

[u/SparklyPelican]

Someone’s gonna learn the hard way.

[u/grrarghh_73]

Trainspotting: “The First Day of the Edinburgh Festival”.

[u/Disastrous-Map-7995]

Poor deluded soul. The reality is that the pickpockets are actually so skilled at their job, they won't even know they've been robbed, much less react.

[u/IllustratorWeird5008]

I think they meant likely rather than unlikely

[u/CleanMyAxe]

I'm never attempted to pickpocket but I might just learn purely to pick on the Americans.

[u/sin_esthesia]

What are you gonna do without your gun ? Record them ?

[u/GimmeThatRyeUOldBag]

They can't bring their gun to Europe so what are they going to do? Waddle after the thieves?

[u/Minute_Ad8807]

sounds like "ads don't work on me"

[u/Double-Hall7422]

Pick pockets know that Americans typically carry a big wallet.  Bragging about what Americans typically do if they catch them trying to steal it is redundant. They will not see this coming. 

[u/IUsedToLikeLimericks]

Like their second amendment.  They'll do fuck all.  Fat cunts bellowing with a target on their backs as far as pickpockets are concerned.

[u/mixxbg]

Post made by the pickpockets

[u/Pulga_Atomica]

So, what are Americans going to do? Bomb Greenland? Can't find it on the map. Fuckall, like when they're claiming to be protesting against their pedophile? Yeah, I'll go with option B.