Copyright Men's Journal
Traveling to new countries and experiencing new cultures is an exciting experience, but one has to remain aware of their surroundings, especially when traveling abroad. One problem that travelers have faced for decades is pickpocketing. Pickpocketing is simply “a thief who steals things out of pockets or bags, especially in a crowd,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary. It can happen anywhere, but when tourists are out and about in unfamiliar places, they can especially be targeted for pickpocketing. So, when on vacation, be aware that there might be criminals around who are stealing things from people’s pockets or bags, especially tourists, who are distracted while trying to take in the sights and sounds of a new place. Research Names Which Countries Have More Pickpocketing Now, travel outlet Travel Binger has done research to determine six countries where pickpocketing is on the rise. “New research has revealed that Bangkok has officially been ranked the world’s number one pickpocket and scam hotspot for 2025, while the Thai capital scored 83.45 on the website’s ranking of pickpocketing and scams hotspots worldwide,” they note in a feature published on Oct. 25 and syndicated on AOL. 6 Countries With Rising Pickpocketing So, what are these six countries? The tally includes Thailand, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and China. As for Thailand, Bangkok records 9.82 scam and pickpocket mentions per 1,000 reviews, according to their research. “The Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, was marked as the worst site in the world for tourism crime, receiving more mentions of scams and theft in visitor reviews than any other destination,” they note, adding that “while two other popular spots, Wat Pho and the Chatuchak Weekend Market, also stood out for the number of pickpocketing and scam reports.” Tips to Avoid Getting Pickpocketed Rick Steves’ Europe has some tips for avoiding getting pickpocketed. “Before you go, take steps to minimize your loss in case of theft,” he notes. “Make copies of key documents, and store them online. Consider getting theft insurance for expensive electronics. Leave your fancy bling at home. Luxurious luggage lures thieves. The thief chooses the most impressive suitcase in the pile — never mine.” So, this report doesn’t mean to completely avoid these popular tourist destinations. But, just be careful.
