Thieves at Starbucks abroad
 

When in Starbucks, don't let your guard down!

Read here.

Thanks for the tip!

I actually worked for Starbucks for a couple of years. One night someone came in, grabbed the tip jar, and took off running. Must have been high... who risks a robbery just for $50 in quarters?

Apparently, thieves have moved on to something more lucrative: purses. :lol:

Good thing I don't drink Starbucks, eh? :D

In Spain you have to be on alert. I am not sure why it is such pickpocket haven but more people get ripped off in Barcelona than anywhere else (Rome and Prague were the most common ones I had heard). All of that said, it is still my favorite country.

Buy a pack with lockable zippers (yes thieves will unzip your pack while you are walking). Next make sure it has a cable (as in stranded metal) so you can lock that with a thick lock to immovable objects and even then do not leave your pack alone often or for long periods of time. When you are in a restaurant or a bar and you want to take your pack off, wrap the straps somewhat snuggly around your legs.

On trains, make sure the train is moving if you need to use the restroom. On the way to Budapest our Train conductor told us to lock the door because thieves jump on trains during stops, check doors that are unlocked, and run out with valuables. They tried our door (but the train was moving, not sure how they were planning on leaving)

These aren't foolproof, but ff you get in the habit of doing it everywhere you will not be the easiest target wherever you travel, which is what petty thieves want.

--Joey

AND.....when in internet cafes! BEWARE! I had my entire day bag taken while I was sitting at an internet cafe in Mendoza, Argentina. When I reported it to the employees, the girl responded with "I never even saw you come in with a bag". I knew in that moment that she had something to do with it.

Always keep your bag on your person, or the strap looped around your leg, or chair leg!!

Starbucks hey? I guess it just goes to show you should always be on guard, no matter how much it feels like your back in the US. :P

Damn thieves. I want to have my Gelato in peace when i go to italy this summer lol i guess i gotta have my eyes out for them. Im going to brussels,amsterdam,london,paris,florence,venice,ro me,athens,mykonos, and santorini. N e one know if any of those places are real bad with pickpockets?

Im sure amsterdam and rome would probably be bad.

I think any place with a high density of tourists is pretty bad.....

Tony: Rome, Amsterdamn, and Brussels are bad (in that order).

--Joey

We've had a rash of laptop thefts at coffeehouses in San Francisco lately. People get off their guard when they've got their Wi-Fi on, get up to order a second or third cup, and *poof* their laptop is gone.

Tip: It's not that hard to just close the lid and take it up to the counter with ya :)