"Do you worry about being robbed?"
My answer is: What kind of a person are you?
You should think this through.
Are you paranoid or not?
Do you wear a money belt in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami, Boston or New York?
If not, then why do you want one in Europe? Is it because of "...those people who speak different languages? They look different..."
Have you heard stories about your aunt's brother's friend who had their pack sliced in Rome?
What about my direct friend who was shot at in Oakland? Or the lady I work with, whose neighbor killed his two kids and wife about a year ago? Or the lady (whose child was in my class at the time) two doors up the street who was murdered walking on the river trail about 20 years ago?
Are you fearful? Scared of stuff in general... scared to fly because of recent crashes? Afraid "gay marriage" will destroy your "traditional marriage," or that a person's ability to drink wine will result in everyone becoming an alcoholic? Scared that migrant farm workers will steal your tech job?
These are serious questions, and I am not making light of any of it.
If your answer to these questions is yes, then you should get a money belt, maybe two, and use it.
Especially if it gives you a feeling of security. That way you can relax and enjoy your trip.
But that is still no guarantee. They can be sliced off or stolen as well... so perhaps you should read on for some actual tips to help you avoid problems.
We have never used one.
Foolish perhaps... or maybe we are just more optimistic, less afraid of things in general.
Maybe, just maybe, it is a personality thing.
This is not to say you should toss common sense and normal precautions out the window.
Here are some things we do, as a normal part of our everyday lives, that we do in daily living, or traveling in the US, which also work in Europe:
We do not exude that "Rich American" vibe. Gail does not wear jewelery, I do not have a fat wallet bulge, and we don't flash around iPhones or laptops in crowded, public places. And we do not have fur coats.
When we are walking, which is most of the time, we look around, are aware of our surroundings and pay attention to things like crowds and street crossings. In spite of this I have been hit twice in a crosswalk by a car, both times here at home in the small town I live in. NOT in San Francisco or Rome or Paris. My own home town. Yet, I still walk. Looking around alertly also gives you the advantage of noticing the details in life, and that is what you want to see on a trip.
I make eye contact with people. I think it shows confidence, whether walking down the street, or just living daily life. I am always surprised, just driving around town, how many people have "tunnel vision" and they don't even see you as you pass.
We are in reasonably fit condition and do not look like frail targets. I could, if I had to, run with my pack on (at least for a short distance). And I would, if I had to. Chase someone down. Yelling, "Aiuto! Polizia! Vaffanculo!!!" in Italy, or whatever is appropriate in a different language.
Side note: it is worth learning a couple words in the local language, especially a good string of cuss words. Now THAT will attract attention when you need help!
Gail and I keep an eye on each other. Just a natural thing. In a crowded bus, or if the street gets crowded, she walks in front of me, I watch her back (and her backpack).
We are not loaded down with luggage. I have seen people who cannot manage to carry their things, and have to huff them up into the train one at a time. Leaving the other out on the platform. Unattended. Or in the train car. Unattended.
We don't stop in the middle of a crowded sidewalk to read a map. We will stop around a corner, inside a shop, or look during a café break. But we don't look like Mr. And Ms. Lost.
We are not ashamed to turn around and walk out of a bad situation. One time in San Francisco, when our kids were small, we somehow seemed to cross some invisible barrier into a neighborhood, and a homeless (?) druggie actually laid hands on me. After I pushed her off, cussing loudly right back at her, we just turned the corner and beat a retreat before too many of her friends could gather.
Side note two: you can always duck into a store or business if you suddenly feel uncomfortable.
I keep some cash money in one pocket, wallet in another. If someone is watching me pay, they would assume all my money is in that one pocket and target it. Gail keeps her money and credit card buried in the deepest, hidden inner pocket of the inside of her pack. You would have to either take the entire pack, or know exactly where to slash to get to it.
When I am using an ATM I look around first, sometimes go in the early morning to avoid crowds, and check for skimmers. If Gail is with me, she watches my back.
Finally, I am not swayed by stories of this or that happening to someone that someone knew. You know, it is like airplane crashes. Statistically, it is more dangerous (but not as fun to read about, thus not as sensational) to just walk or drive, than it is to fly.
Nationmaster has side by side crime (and other) statistics, if you are interested in stuff like crime statistics compared to the USA. It is pretty eye-opening to realize the facts about where we live.
Perhaps these tips will help. But I really and truly believe a lot of things come down to your attitude.
We try to live life.
Just live it, without fear.
Well, I got pick-pocketed in Napoli. You can read about the whole thing here.
Here's the thing: it was my own fault, my lapse of attention, and I still will not and do not carry one of those hidden "money belt" wallets. I would bet that, in this exact same circumstance, that would not have worked either.