For pickpockets, use a decoy wallet

by Jack , Friday, May 18, 2018, 10:55 (2904 days ago) @ Jay
edited by Jack, Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:07

May sound silly, but I'm serious. If you don't have an old wallet to use, of course there are websites that offer them.

It's kind of fun putting worthless crap in the wallet and almost hoping that some pickpocket ends up with spent Starbucks cards, credit cards from long gone organizations like Circuit City, a Blockbuster Video card, 10 year old business cards of people you don't remember, a Get Out of Jail Free card and maybe an old 500 lire note you might have found in a drawer.

Yes, all of the above are in my decoy wallet. My real wallet stays home. My passport and money are in my money belt (or the passport is in the hotel safe). But I'm carrying a phone and a camera, so the decoy is still necessary. Pickpockets want cash above all else and will go for a wallet first.

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Complete thread:

PAK, travel followup - Jay, 2018-05-18, 08:23
- Just wanted to thank you all for another great thread. - PAK, 2018-05-19, 12:59
- sights: must-do's - Jay, 2018-05-18, 12:20
  - Have you been to Giverney? - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:27
    - haven't, but going this summer - Jay, 2018-05-18, 14:59
  - re: The Louvre - MattG, 2018-05-18, 12:27
    - And there's the Rubens room - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:30
- a book and a movie (fixed video) - Jay, 2018-05-18, 11:25
  - Music rec: buy an Edith Piaf collection - HCE, 2018-05-18, 13:33
- UK-specific tip - they... replaced? all their money? - MattG, 2018-05-18, 11:06
  - Is money from 2013 still good? - CK08, 2018-05-18, 12:28
    - Not the pound coins or 5-pound notes. - MattG, 2018-05-18, 12:45
      - You can put those old notes in a decoy wallet!! - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:20
  - Not true with the coins. They're still perfectly good - Jack, 2018-05-18, 11:09
    - OH NOW ITS ON. They are not legal tender - MattG, 2018-05-18, 11:41
      - Ah, but that article says you can still exchange them - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:11
        
        Well, yes. That’s what I originally said :) - MattG, 2018-05-18, 13:28
        
        I have an easier method - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:33
- Awesome info. Couple of things to add... - PAK, 2018-05-18, 10:15
  - Also, we booked a hotel in the 1st Arr. - PAK, 2018-05-18, 11:31
    - can't be more central than that - Jay, 2018-05-18, 12:21
      - Normandy Hotel on Rue de l'Échelle - PAK, 2018-05-18, 13:08
        
        Angelina is right around the corner - Jay, 2018-05-18, 14:58
      - If? Hah! - Greg, 2018-05-18, 12:35
        
        Let me guess. Fideaux? - Jack, 2018-05-18, 14:59
    - Worth it. - MattG, 2018-05-18, 11:48
  - Some notes - Joe I, 2018-05-18, 11:05
    - Adding, macaron - Joe I, 2018-05-18, 15:37
    - I'll second the Rodin museum. I thought that was the - BillyGoat, 2018-05-18, 11:13
      - Agreed. It's worth it for The Gates of Hell alone - HCE, 2018-05-18, 11:22
      - Agreed, and it's also right near Les Invalides - Jack, 2018-05-18, 11:21
        
        Yep. It's pretty amazing. - BillyGoat, 2018-05-18, 11:30
      - it's the next must-see after the big 2 - Jay, 2018-05-18, 11:21
  - good tip on temporary phones - Jay, 2018-05-18, 10:25
    - If you have T-Mobile ONE, it works in any country for free. - MattG, 2018-05-18, 11:02
- "Don't bring any expensive jewelry." - Grantland, 2018-05-18, 10:09
- transpo tips - Jay, 2018-05-18, 10:04
  - For pickpockets, use a decoy wallet - Jack, 2018-05-18, 10:55
    - easily defeated by decoy pickpockets - Jay, 2018-05-18, 12:27
      - Damn! - Jack, 2018-05-18, 13:19
- On medications - ReginaldVelJohnson, 2018-05-18, 09:43
  - good point, I think basic allergy stuff may not be OTC - Jay, 2018-05-18, 10:05
- That is a terrific checklist, Jay - Jack, 2018-05-18, 09:26

the Polo Grounds

For pickpockets, use a decoy wallet