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kids with school uniform - Istanbul
kids with school uniform
by SirRichard
Istanbul Warnings or Dangers: pickpockets tips posted by real travelers and Istanbul locals.
pickpockets
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pickpockets: Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas
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  • The area around the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Suleyaniye Mosque, and Rustem Pasa Mosque can get very crowded and congested, especially in the narrow alleys and walkways. A tourist with a backpack or other easily accessible bag or purse is an easy target for pickpockets, and we narrowly avoided being victimized when my wife caught some guy blatantly unzipping her backpack and trying to reach inside. Imagine his surprise when my wife used her stern teacher voice to command him to leave her alone! Fortunately he backed off quickly and several locals asked whether we were OK, but from then on we became very vigilant about carrying bags through crowded areas of the city.

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    pickpockets: pickpoketers
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  • Here is the dish on istanbul. I'm a turkish-american and travel to istanbul regurarly. The people you have to look out for are children, and young teenagers (that look like they might be on drugs...thinner ect. ) If they approach you, they might ask you for something like a smoke, or a light. But the best thing to do is just keep walking away from them, but try to keep an eye on them. Some of them carry knives. If your with a woman, try to walk so that her purse is nestled in between you two. Transvestites- there are many transvestites around istanbul, especially in the Taksim area. They are easibly noticabile. Best thing to do with them, is avoid eye contact and try not to stare at them, they dont like that. And they can turn dangerous. Driving- never leave purses or expensive items visiable in your car. I've seen people pull up at redlights, and kids have jumped through windows, opened up doors and stealen things. Other then these dangers and others :( Istanbul is great. Just use common sense, and be aware of your surroundings. If someone does hassale you, there usaully is some good Turks that might step in and help you out.

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    pickpockets: Beware of some kids
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  • kids with school uniform - Istanbul
    kids with school uniform
    by SirRichard
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    Kids may look adorable and cute, but be careful. I was once seated on a mosque patio drawing when a group of kids arrived. They started looking at the drawings, then asked for pen… then a few more arrived and surrounded me. I had my rucksack by my side, but was paying not much attention to it. In a while I felt opressed by so many kids around and decided to go. As I started to walk I noticed that 2 of the zips of my bag had been opened. I didn’t miss anything, but could have been worse…

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    pickpockets: Pick pocketing
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  • I' m going to copy, paste this warning and recommendation in all my pages dedicated to major cities of the World: included Higuerote, Venezuela. Pounder73 just wrote in his Madrid's page an Universal Truth (hope he was not quoting any Holy Book without making proper reference to it). "Although it didn't happen to me here, some other travelers I ran into in Madrid complained incisively about pickpockets around the plazas. The differences between them and I - they were leisurely walking around, looking like tourist, looking more up and around, than where they were walking. I, on the other hand, always walked like I knew where I was going, and when I wanted to look at something, I would stand to the side, and look. It makes a big difference."

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    pickpockets: Watch out
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  • It is safer not to leave the main thoroughfares in Istanbul. We turned down a street near our 4 star hotel. A group of four young men passed us, and suddenly two of them started fighting, really thumping each other. A third started to join in, while the fourth held back. They expected my husband to interfere, so that the fourth could then mug him. I kept my back to the wall, like a coward, fearing for my husband. He was more streetwise than me, and knew he was being set up, so just ignored the scuffle. I was scared, and we never moved away from main roads again.

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    pickpockets: Some places and some times can be unsafe...
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  • Pickpocketing is still a problem though more serious efforts done by local authorities nowadays. Criminals use many methods. Most dangerous one is using car. Consequently i would like to recommend a few precautions: -Be careful in crowded bazaars and streets-especialy Eminonu and Sirkeci areas have hundreds of thieves in weekends. -Women have to be careful while carrying handbags. Be ready to defend yourself and try to keep away from road while walking. -Street urchins and homeless became most serious problems in Istanbul streets. Some of them use thinner etc. and can be very dangerous. They may want money or cigarette etc. Keep out of them and do not walk through darker streets in late hours. -Late night is a time to be careful as many big cities of the world. Beware transvestites and prostitutes on motorways and streets(Beyoglu and around). Most of them may carry knife etc.

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  • Phone: Police-155
  • Website: www.iem.gov.tr

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    pickpockets: Pickpockets
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  • When i first planned my trip to Istanbul i heard about Pickpockets and i was very worried. The bazaars are very crowded and so are the streets. Watch your bag all the time and don't leave him alone. When you are going in a crowded place like the bazaars , Istiklal street and the ferries try to keep the bag close to your body and pay extra attention.

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    pickpockets: Watch your wallet!
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  • Be sure to keep your wallet someplace secure!! I was stupid and had my purse hanging over my shoulder in a dolmus. When I left the dolmus my wallet was missing from my purse thanks to the fellas sitting behind me. Lucky for me there wasn't anything in it other than my credit cards and ID- the situation could have been much worse (i.e. my passport could have been in it) Funny thing is, I was having such a wonderful trip, that having my wallet stolen didn't even phase me!! It's just a hassle to have to cancel and have everything replaced.

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    pickpockets: Pickpockets and bag snatchers.
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  • My mother put her bag down on another chair and luckily i was walking back when noticed a young girl getting ready to snatch it,with another older guy also getting ready to block any pursuit i guess,so keep all belongings close and in eyesight.

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    pickpockets: Street robbery is common in...
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  • Street robbery is common in the major Istanbul tourist areas. Beware of approaches from strangers offering food and drink which may be drugged.

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