When traveling in cities, I used to worry about being pickpocketed. Then I learned how pickpockets. That taught me how to prevent it from happening to me.
So how do they do it?
Well, to begin with, they look for someone on the street who has stopped to look at buildings or people. That's one of the reasons tourists are an easy mark.
Then what happens?
The pickpocket will often pretend to bump into the victim by accident. He might act as if he's drunk. He may ask where you're from, act really friendly, and try to shake your hand.