Xiamen Warnings and Dangers

When we were at Xiamen city, in front of the Xiamen station, we were identified by a group of pickpockets as potential victims. They pretended that they dont know one another. One of them approached us and started a conversation by asking us whether we want to hire his service as a guide in Xiamen. He can bring us to a place and he has an offer on the admisson tickets. As our plan for the day is to shop, we just told him that we are not interested and kept on walking while telling him that. He was rather persistent and kept following us for a distance. When we were reaching the shopping centre, he finally stopped following.

We were lucky in that (1) we didnt stop to chat with him on the offer. If we had done that, the other counterparts may have a chance to approach and pickpocket. (2) There are four of us, but one of my uncle was behind us initally and he overheard the group of pickpockets signaled to each other, pointing to us and said "the three of them" and then saw them spreading around surrounding us. A person targetting to each of us. So my uncle deliberately joined us for a while and then moved back and walked behind us so that the pickpockets know that someone we know is watching and thus, have no chance to act. As there is a policeman stationed near the shopping centre, the pickpockets broke off into different direction as there are no more chances.

My uncle said that the man who pretended that he is a guide is not a local at all. The man's accent is different from the local. Thats why its even more suspicious.

The key to preventing pickpockets is always to take care of your important belongings and never be distracted by other people who try to strike a conversation. Its best to travel in group if possible and then keep an eye for one another.

The above is a very common tactic used all over the world. My friend has also shared on a story of her nearly being pickpocketed in a subway in Paris by people who pretended to ask her the time.