Pickpockets in Peru

Last updated on 22 Nov 2019

Arequipa, Cusco, Iquitos, Lima, Trujillo

How it works:

Version 1: they work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a cover (e.g. jacket/newspaper) and escapes.
Version 2: bird poo scam.

Places to beware:

Arequipa: Plaza de Armas, Historic Centre of Arequipa
Cusco: Centro Historico De Cusco, Plaza de Armas, Mercado Central de San Pedro, Twelve Angle Stone, SantuarioHistorico de Machu Picchu, Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo
Iquitos: Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm, Belen, Plaza de Armas de Iquitos
Lima: Miraflores, CircuitoMagico Del Agua, Barranco, Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor), Miraflores Boardwalk, Centro Historico de Lima, Parque Kennedy – Parque Central de Miraflores, CircuitoMagico del Agua, Plaza San Martin, Balcones de Lima
Trujillo: Plaza de Armas de Trujillo

What to do:

Passport: carry a photocopy instead of the actual one.
Valuables: wallet in front pocket, small valuables in a money belt/hidden pouch, large valuables in an anti-theft bag.
Travel insurance: get a good one that covers theft – check out the various travel insurance comparison platforms to find the best deal that works for you.

Tell us your story

2 user stories related to this scam

Variation on the friendly local In Peru

Lesley_Clarke 8 Dec 2018 2 2

There is a variation on the friendly local In Peru. Someone has seen you looking for a way to go or checking a map. They approach stating that they are a tourist as well, so why not go together.

While you are checking the map/ directions their accomplice is picking your pockets. Fortunately my friends had been briefed!

Comment

Had an empty backpack with which he covered his hand

Florin 21 Jun 2018 3 0

Today someone tried to pickpocket me in the bus from the airport to Cusco city centre. Fortunately I noticed and said loudly he should stop trying to pickpocket me. The people then reacted and asked him to get off the bus. He did. Later I noticed my rucksack was also open and my teabags were missing Luckily that’s all I lost. The thief operated in a crowded bus. He got very close and had an empty backpack with which he covered his hand while he was trying to open my pocket. I almost didn’t feel anything. I was probably targeted right from the airport although the thief got in the bus at a later stop. Someone might have told him there’s a silly tourist taking the bus…

Comment

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Pickpockets in Peru

2 user stories related to this scam

Variation on the friendly local In Peru

Had an empty backpack with which he covered his hand

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