Crowds are back, and so are the opportunists who treat busy sidewalks like a shopping aisle. “Pickpocketing” rarely has a perfect global scoreboard, so this list leans on the best nearby signals: official “theft from the person” figures, police warnings, and reporting tied to high-traffic visitor zones.
None of this means every neighborhood feels risky, or that locals are the problem. It does mean you should plan like a realist: protect phones, split cards and cash, and assume transport hubs are a hunting ground when foot traffic spikes.
1. United Kingdom
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
London’s street-theft conversation is loud because it’s visible. According to the UK Office for National Statistics crime bulletin, “theft from the person” remains a major urban pressure point—exactly the kind of category that spikes in packed visitor corridors, stations, and nightlife zones.
Packed rail platforms and tourist bottlenecks create a perfect “blink and it’s gone” environment. Your best defense is boring discipline: keep the phone out of your hand at curbside, zip bags before you step onto escalators, and avoid back-pocket storage when you’re shoulder-to-shoulder.
2. Portugal
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Portugal is often a relaxed-feeling trip, which is exactly why petty theft can catch visitors off guard. The U.S. Travel advisory for Portugal specifically flags pickpocketing and theft as common in tourist areas and on public transportation, especially in big-city hotspots.
Police messaging has also focused on “distraction” tactics, where close-contact misdirection replaces classic wallet-lifting. Treat friendly strangers who invade your personal space like a fire alarm: step back, cover valuables, and keep moving.
3. Italy
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Italy’s risk is less “danger” and more crowd physics: landmarks and transit nodes compress everyone into the same narrow channels. The U.S. Travel advisory for Italy routinely warns about pickpocketing in tourist-heavy areas, including major cities and transport hubs.
Think in layers: a zipped outer pocket, a second wallet kept elsewhere, and a quick plan for card freezes if something vanishes. If you carry a day bag, keep it closed and in front of you on trains—especially at stops where crowds surge on and off.
4. Spain
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Spain’s national picture can look calmer than the hotspots—but hotspots are where travelers live. The U.S. Travel advisory for Spain calls out pickpocketing and theft in tourist areas and on public transit, which lines up with what visitors report around major stations, nightlife strips, and landmark zones.
Build habits that work anywhere, especially in queues: keep a hand on the zipper, avoid open totes, and don’t leave a device on café tables, even “just for a minute.”
5. Canada
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Canada still feels low-drama for many travelers, but dense downtown crowds create the same conditions pickpockets love anywhere else. The U.S. Travel advisory for Canada includes theft and petty crime reminders—worth taking seriously if you’ll be moving through stadium crowds, festival streets, or packed transit platforms.
Your best play is simple: carry less, close everything, and keep essentials split. If you’re in an event crowd, assume the person brushing past you is the moment your phone becomes a target.
6. Australia
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Australia’s theft figures have climbed in a way that matches what travelers feel on the ground: more opportunistic stealing in busy retail and transit environments. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded-crime release is a useful reality check if you want a big-picture signal before you plan heavy time in shopping precincts and transit-heavy city centers.
The takeaway for visitors is practical. Keep your phone off café counters, use a crossbody bag with a closure, and treat packed malls like transit hubs, because the same crowd physics apply.
7. Switzerland
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Switzerland has seen enough tourist-area pickpocket activity to trigger targeted operations, including arrests tied to heavily visited hotspots. It’s a reminder that “orderly country” does not mean “zero petty crime,” especially where tourists cluster.
Travelers who assume “Switzerland equals no theft” are the easiest mark. Keep the same street-smart routines you’d use in any major European hub: closed bags, no open pockets, and extra care in stations and scenic viewpoints where people stop and stare.
8. United Arab Emirates
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The UAE is generally low-crime by international standards, yet even places like Dubai have had
