The Gypsy.

As a frequent world traveler, I’m aware of my surroundings and security at all times, and one of the things I’m always attuned to is pickpockets in large crowds, like at concerts, markets, busy streets and while traveling on public transportation like buses or trains. For years I’ve heard of the Gypsies of Central Europe, and their abilities to pickpocket tourists. Every time I go to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, , I’m warned to pay attension to my surroundings especially if I’m going to travel by public transportation. I usually rent a car and drive around, so because of that I have never run into Gypsies. In Paris, France, I did use the subway system, (the metro), and Jme and I were super vigilant the whole time. Money secured under our clothing, in the front, not in our back pockets, or in a purse. So one year we led a bead tour in the Czech Republic and met our tour guests in Prague. One couple arrived a few days early so they could explore Prague alone before the tour stated. They were experienced travelers, and knew all the dangers, but when we all met up to start the tour, they sheepishly told me that they had fallen victim to Gypsy pickpockets while at the railway station in Prague.and lost all their money in their possession. They had been surrounded by a group of Gypsy children, and in the process had been pickpocketed.It happened so quickly and they were so agressive that they could not protect themselves. That was the only time I had heard of it occurring. First hand, from someone I knew, not just a story. In the Czech Republic, Gypsies are not well loved, and everyone we met warned us about them and had a story to tell us about them. About the damage they caused to houses and entire apartment complexes the government placed them in where they stripped the building of all the wiring and fixtures, even tore up the wood flooring and burned the wood for cooking and heating. Then when they were moved and placed in another housing complex, they would strip that building again. Non Gypsy citizens did not trust them. We did meet some Gypsies in Jablonec, a wholesale warehouse of antique jewelry components. They were men who owned and operated the business. They were wonderful, and we go back every year on our tour. But all the other businesses in Jablonec are distraught that we go to see them and warn us about them. They treat us good, don‘t cheat us or our tour guests. Anyway, maybe they are the exception to the rule about Gypsies. By the way,The term "Gypsy" is considered a racial slur by many Romani people; "Romani" or "Romany" is preferred.

which leads me to the second fist hand account of a Gypsy pickpocket incident. Jme and I met a lady at an estate sale recently who had an encounter with a group of Gypsies at the Prague railway station when on a holiday in the Czech Republic. She and her sister (Shelley and Lisa) were traveling all around Europe together, and had no problems until they got to Prague. Shelley, the lady we met, was attempting to enter the coach from the platform when she was surrounded by a small group of women, ranging from a teenager of about 15 years old, to a 20 year old, and a 30 year old and maybe a 40 year old. Right behind her was an old lady of about 94 years old, blocking her escape. Their hands were running all over her clothing and body, dipping into her pockets, reaching into her waistband of her jeans, looking for her hidden money. Her sister, Lisa, started screaming to attract attention. Shelley turned around to try and escape the crush of the pickpocket gang, and was confronted by the old Gypsy, who was part of the gang. Shelley also started screaming and tried to push past the old lady. The old lady screamed at Shelley, and pointed her finger into her face, and in English shouting a curse at her, “ how dare you wrong me, I curse you and your family forever for cheating me out of what’s mine!” With that they all melted away into the crowd and left the area before the police arrived on scene. The police confirmed that Lisa and Shelley were targets of the Gypsy pickpocket gang that plagues the train station, and that it is a common occurrence. Nothing was taken from them, Lisa had reacted so quickly by screaming that they scared the Gypsies off.

so it’s definitely not just a legend, gangs of Gypsy pickpockets do target tourists. Beware! It could happen to you.