Experienced traveller shares the best bag for avoiding pickpockets

Intrepid traveller Amanda Rollins has shared her best pick for a travel bag to take around Europe to avoid pickpocketing. The American has been living in Paris, France, for the past eight years and regularly shares travel safety advice on TikTok.

According to statistics from Quotezone , there are a number of popular European destinations that are hotspots for pickpockets. These include the Trevi Fountain, Rome; Eiffel Tower in Paris; Las Ramblas, Barcelona; the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin; and the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

In her video, Amanda said: “I make content about not getting pickpocketed and staying safe, like anti-theft safety, security, that’s kind of my whole thing. You want a tote bag, a tote bag, let me explain why.

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“Most people when they get pickpocketed it’s either on the Metro or in a crowded area, and it’s because the opening to your bag is out of your eyesight. Particularly on the Metro where there’s a lot of bodies around and they’re bumping into you, so it’s normal to have people brushing up against you.

“They will sneakily cover their arms, like do something to disguise what they’re doing and open your bag and take your stuff out of your bag. Same for when you’re standing in line for a monument or something, like they’re very close to you, and because your opening is not in your direct eyesight that’s how they do it.”

Amanda added: “Guess what, a tote bag, the opening is under your armpit, no one is getting in there. I use a tote bag every single day of my life in Paris, every single day, and do you wanna know why, because I can put more stuff in it.

“Whenever I travel I always carry a tote bag. The opening is up here so no one’s getting in there and if they try to I will obviously feel it, right. And it’s deep, so if I put my phone in my tote bag, the opening is up here, my phone is at the bottom.

“There’s no way a person is gunna get under my armpit and reach into my tote bag, a standard, regular tote bag, not the wide ones but the regular size ones.”

Amanda also recommended a tote bag for being able to store other items such as umbrellas, jumpers, or even a souvenir. She continued: “I’ve been pickpocketed five times, I’ve had five cell phones taken from me in my first two years in Paris ‘cause I was very naïve, I didn’t know what I was doing. I have not had anything stolen in the last five years.”

She explained that when her phones were previously stolen, she had been using a crossbody bag or directly from her pocket. Amanda’s video has been viewed over 238,800 times, receiving 17,700 likes and 531 comments. A number of other intrepid travellers shared their own bag suggestions for preventing pickpocketing.

Birdie wrote: “I am a flight attendant and I have the Travelon crossbody bag. the the zippers all have clips on the ends and the strap has wires in it.”

Carolina suggested, “Uniqlo bag crossed and sided Infront m. London girlie here,” while Haylee Bell said, “I’m in Europe right now with the Pierre Cardin anti theft bag and it’s perfect all the pockets lock and it’s the perfect size to carry everything I need.”

Lisa wrote: “Currently in Paris, I brought the Lululemon 5L festival bag and use a zipper clip. Very secure!” Mellie said: “Tote bags WITH A ZIPPER! Like a Longchamps. Close them. Don't carry an open tote bag with you!”