Pick pocketing does exist in the US but it is much rarer than in Europe. Even if you just compare major American cities to major European cities. Pickpocketing is much more common in Europe.
I don’t think that’s down to a risk of confrontation though. I think it’s down to the fact that pickpockets can’t make enough money to live on in the US.
Cash is less common in the US. A lot of people straight up don’t carry cash on them, and the rest barely carry any. Almost everything has accepted cards for nearly 2 decades here.
Managing to steal a card is much less useful than stealing cash. The card is liable to get canceled the moment someone realizes it’s gone, maybe they can get lunch with it before it’s canceled, but they can’t keep that money around to pay rent or buy groceries with. Phones and other things to can be pawned, but that’s another extra step, and another chance to get in trouble, and most of the time the actual money they can walk away with is much less than the value of the item.
Pick pocketing does exist in the US but it is much rarer than in Europe. Even if you just compare major American cities to major European cities. Pickpocketing is much more common in Europe.
I don’t think that’s down to a risk of confrontation though. I think it’s down to the fact that pickpockets can’t make enough money to live on in the US.
Cash is less common in the US. A lot of people straight up don’t carry cash on them, and the rest barely carry any. Almost everything has accepted cards for nearly 2 decades here.
Managing to steal a card is much less useful than stealing cash. The card is liable to get canceled the moment someone realizes it’s gone, maybe they can get lunch with it before it’s canceled, but they can’t keep that money around to pay rent or buy groceries with. Phones and other things to can be pawned, but that’s another extra step, and another chance to get in trouble, and most of the time the actual money they can walk away with is much less than the value of the item.