It’s not just the high season in Europe. It’s also the high season for pickpockets and street crimes of distraction.

Italy is a prime location for pickpockets and the crime statistics show that the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Parthenon in Rome are favorite destinations for pickpockets, as is the Duomo in Milan.

Not surprisingly, visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris are prime pickpocket targetscomma or the criminals who work as a team with one to distract you and the other to steal your stuff.

One of the more effective scams is the baby, xtraspace where someone walks up to you and throws to you what appears to be a baby. When you reach out to catch it, it’s actually only a doll and instinctively, you put down your bag or briefcase while the accomplice then steals the bag.

Wear pants with inside pockets with zippers. And as harsh as it sounds, if someone appears to throw a baby at you, don’t catch it!