WATCH YOUR POCKETS!!!!

Riga, Latvia... watch your pockets!

In November, when my godmother was here, we met for lunch. At the end of our meal, she wanted to treat me, and all of a sudden, realized that her wallet was not in her bag! She raced home hoping that she had simply left it there, but no such luck... she'd been pickpocketed during her *5* minute walk to where we were meeting.
In December when JS's friends were visiting from Angola, on our first day walking around town we were walking down Brivibas bulvaris and all of a sudden I felt like there was someone just walking TOO close to me behind me. I turned just in time to see a few girls following me, and feel the one's hand in my purse... thankfully, not far enough in to get anything. Whew. But hey, good impression to leave on the visitors!
Two days later... JS himself gets his wallet stolen out of his bag. He doesn't notice in time, but they used the same tactics... walking up real close behind them... quietly slipping the hand inside, and as soon as they grasped the wallet, turning and heading directly in the opposite direction. We cancelled all the cards right away, and thankfully, he didn't have ANY money in there!
Today, as I was walking back home after hitting a few shops, I saw coming towards me two women, obviously tourists (always detectable, because they are not speaking Latvian or Russian!) with backpack type purses on. Right behind them, too close for comfort, a pack of gypsy lady pick-pockets. Not knowing what else I could do, I just yelled out, "Ladies, watch your bags!" and kept walking. I can only hope that they heard me and registered that my message was one for them to pick up on.
I just cannot tell you how infuriating these pick pockets are. They are everywhere, and they target anyone not speaking Latvian/Russian. Unfortunately, this leaves JS and I as targets as well, since we speak English between ourselves. Also, unfortunately, these people make a lot of money doing what they do, and so we can only try to protect ourselves.
So, for those of you out there that don't think it will happen to you... it can and will, if you don't take precautions!
Obviously, if you are traveling in a country where you don't speak the language, you can not help having to speak English, but if this is the case, then let me give you some clues!

-Don't carry a backpack purse! You're asking for trouble. Take only what you need when you leave the house, so that you can fit it all in a smaller purse that you can carry some other way.
-If you're carrying a purse that hangs on one shoulder, across your body, carry it in front of you, not behind you. This is how I almost got done, and I'm sure how JS got done.
-Best bets, carry a bag with a zipper... and keep it zipped!
-Gentlemen, don't carry your wallet in your pocket! Put it in your coat, in an inside pocket!
-Lastly I can only say that no matter where you are, no matter what time of day, just BE AWARE. They are everywhere, and they will get you!

I hate to be so untrusting, but sadly, this is how it is here. And it sucks that I and all my friends here have started to stereotype the gypsies to be the ones that are doing this, and therefore feel less safe around people that look a certain way... but I tell you what... it happens, or you see it happen one too many times, and it's hard to forget who they are and what they look like! And they look shady. If you happen to look them in the eye, you see only cold, heartless beings. They don't care that you have worked a 40, 50 or 60 hour week, at a job that you fought to get, after gaining a degree that kicked your ass... they don't care. They want what they see as "theirs" and they will take it. So, just watch yourself, and WATCH YOUR POCKETS!!!