Thank you Mary Elizabeth!!!!

How to Not Get Robbed in Buenos Aires

Advice from an Experienced Victim of Pickpocking

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-not-robbed-buenos-aires-644517.html?cat=46#comments

Mary Elizabeth Smith, Yahoo Contributor Network
Nov 9, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."

MORE:

I wish that I could say that I had never been robbed in Buenos Aires. In fact, I think I could win the price as the ultimate victim for petty criminals. Tall, blonde, travelling alone.

 Generally overly trustworthy and naive, prone to talk to strangers. The list of things that have been stolen from me while in Buenos Aires is long and includes things of minimal value, like an old celular phone, my CT State Driver´s License, and $2.50 pesos (roughly .75 U.S.). I have fallen for schemes in which someone doused me with hand lotion without my knowing, and then "came to my rescue" by offering to wipe off my coat as they searched it for money.

 I have chased down and caught the man who grabbed my bag while getting out of the subway. All in all, I have learned a lot about how petty thieves work in this city, and can at least attest to what NOT to do.

Don´t blindly trust or mistrust anyone. That is, anyone, even those you least expect, can be a thief in Buenos Aires. In fact, some of the biggest thieves are sitting right in the governmental buildings!

1-Any large amount of money that you are carrying should always be in your front pocket, or in an inner pocket.

The subway can be so packed with people during rush hour that even if you have your backpack in front of you, you may not notice a hand slipping in it, amongst all the pushing and shoving. (I agree with Elizabeth, you can check my post with a similar advice).

The same goes for phones, camaras, anything of value. (I am tired of watching tourists carrying their cameras in such a way as they were at home in the garden. This is Buenos Aires…!)

 The subways and buses are prime locations for thievery, so always have your eye out, and always have at least one hand covering the zipper of your bag. The same goes for artisan markets, train and subway stations, and any commercial area where there is a crowd. There´s no need to be paranoid, but you should always be prepared for a strange situation.

Aside from the occasional pickpocket, I have not had any problems with crime in 2 years of living in Buenos Aires, and I have not lived a sheltered, upper-class neighborhood lifestyle. I feel safe walking in the street at night, waiting for a bus or hailing a cab alone in most places in Buenos Aires. Women certainly get hassled once in a while in the street, but it is not nearly as offensive as the level of sexual harassment in some Caribbean countries.

There is a growing income disparity, which you will see reflected on every street corner. Children contribute to a minimal family salary by selling knick-knacks on the street, washing car windows or juggling in the intersections. Entire families can be seen sorting the garbage in search of the usable or recyclable items. In this growing clash of rich and poor, the rate of small robberies and pickpockets has risen. This is especially true in the traditionally working class neighborhoods which have become tourist attractions, such as San Telmo and la Boca.

Beware of walking at night alone, of flashing your money or leaving your purse unattended in a restaurant. Barbara Bush got her purse snatched off the floor of a restaurant last year in San Telmo, and headlines abounded about safety issues in Buenos Aires. If you ask me, there is no amount of money and no number of security guards who can prevent blatant stupidity.

My number one piece of advice is the age old adage "don´t judge a book by its cover". I have never seen or heard of anyone getting ripped off by a homeless person on the street, while I have seen an older man in suit, tie and jacket hustle people without anyone giving him a second glance.

 The hand lotion scheme was carried out by a group women in their 50s who looked like they were out for a morning stroll. My experience in the "villas misereres", which would be our equivalent of the ghetto or the projects, has been without a flaw, while tourists get robbed in Barrio Norte on a daily basis.

Common sense is key here. Don´t flash your money.

If it can be at all avoided, don´t carry your valuables, keep money and camaras to a minimum. Be careful when leaving ATM machines. Take a taxi (Radio Taxi is the best) late at night, and pay attention to where the driver is going. The most important thing is to have fun and make the most out of your stay in Buenos Aires. If I had to donate my driver´s license and .75 cents to a professional thief to do that, I´d say it has been more than worth it.