smooth talking

stick something icky in your pants - no not that!
i mean some gummy worms or a taser or something, then ms./mr. (goofy face) pickpocket will get a nice surprize.

Someone tried to steal one of my framed photos out of the restaurant here. (I was at least flattered a little bit that someone found it stealable. Maybe just for the frame?) He/She left it in the bushes out front to snag it later. Some kind lady and her son found it later and gave it to me. Initially I thought that maybe the lady was teaching her son a lesson for being the one that did it but, alas, they had simply found it there. I left the would be thief a nasty surprise note in the same bushes. He He He!! I offered to let the good samaritans keep the photo, but they didn't want it. Humph? I like the sticky stuff in the pocket idea.

Some good advice here to help avoid theft. The best precaution is definitely to keep cash in different places. Money belts are much better than keeping your wallet in your pocket, but even they are not totally safe. I stick some cash in my sock (elastic band keeping it place) and noone is likely to go near that!

mojoguate, I would never put a digital anywhere but my fanny pack, and carrying a laptop would be advertising being more well to do than I am. Yes, if there is any chance of falling asleep, I use a cable lock to secure the pack to something.

How would someone know I have a laptop when it's in an ugly, crappy bag stuffed with all those sticky gummy worms. He He. It's not like I ever whip out the laptop out on the bus and start crunching spreadsheets. It stays in my ugly, crappy bag which I hug to my chest, though not too hard so as to release any worms!!!!