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Comment by rloc | Hacker News Reader

My solution is to build habits. I wear only 3 things, wallet, keys and phone each always in the same pants pocket. When one's missing I notice right away.

When I remove them from the pants they're always gathered in the same place. When I remove a thing from the wallet I always put it back in the exact same slot.

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I've noticed that every time I walk through an exterior door (in either direction) I unconsciously tap my pockets to confirm the presence of the things that are always supposed to be in them.

It's called 'the triple tap'. Phone, wallet, keys.

Be careful with doing that in crowded public places. It's a helpful behavior to you, but its also a helpful behavior to pickpockets.

The bulge is enough for an attentive pickpocket, especially with how large smartphones have become. Prevention is unlikely, so just check periodically so you aren't surprised later. Further, I think it might even signal to a potential pickpocket that you are aware of you surroundings, even though it's just habit.

I carry 3 thigns: keys, phone, wallet. Each in a different pocket. I tap both front pockets using both hands at the same time, then repeat for back pockets.

So essentially I've told a pickpocket: I keep things in my pockets. Not sure what new information I've armed him with.

You have given him indication that you have something in your pocket worth saving from getting stolen. That's pretty big.

Do you often have things in your pockets not worth saving from being stolen?

If it's in your pockets, is probably at least moderately valuable. Wallet and phone area obviously valuable. Keys might be. Those are the only things a pickpocket is likely to expect from your pockets, and tapping your pockets probably doesn't change that

Suppose you are the thief. In a crowd of people, no one but one person is touching is pockets to check something. You will be attracted to that person and become curious as to what is in his pocket. He's the odd one out.

Probably not. The guy who is checking his pockets just seems like a riskier target.

Good idea. That balances out.

Put things in your front pockets. If you're in a really suspicious area (like traveling through tourist traps abroad) use a hidden body wallet / money belt (they're like a small fanny pack that ties around your stomach under your clothes).

I read a lengthy article about the demise of the pickpocket a while back. Probably on HN. From what I remember, it basically said that pickpockets have gone all but extinct, their skills a thing of a bygone age.

So you haven't been in Barcelona recently :)

I managed to merge my keys and wallet into a single lump by getting a wallet with a grommet for a keyring. It's MUCH harder to forget/misplace than two smaller items.

https://google.com/search?q=Chain+Wallet

As for an ATM card, I make a special point of keeping my wallet in my hands while I am using the ATM and my ATM card (or anything else that belongs in the wallet) is not in my wallet. If I put my wallet back in my pocket while something is missing from it, I am much more likely to walk away and leave it behind without realizing it until later.

Yup. I started doing something similar when I was a teenager. I appointed a single place to store my outdoor gear - i.e. a container on a cupboard next to my room's door to put wallet and keys inside (the phone almost never leaves my pocket). It quickly started to feel natural. The only adjustment I do is for colder seasons - instead of storing things in a container, I just keep them in my jacket all the time. Each one has a dedicated place, and stays there whether I'm outside or inside.

This is exactly what I started doing a few years ago, and it's worked wonders. I do still occasionally forget things, but I notice their absence much sooner, and not when on a flight halfway around the world (it's happened.)

I have the exact same configuration too. Keys, phone, wallet. Everything else can easily be replaced at an opportune moment given I have those three items.

When traveling, I replace the keys with my passport. I still bring keys usually, but I put them in my carry-on so as to avoid dropping them. Keys are easily replaced anyway, given a phone, wallet, and passport, so it doesn't matter so much if they go missing then. The passport however, I keep close at all times, it's the key to replacing everything else. The other items, phone, wallet, just makes it easier.

This habit has saved my skin more than once.

Yup, as a forgetful person, I have a similar system - make sure I have inhaler, keys, bankcard and then I'm good to go. Secondary things (like metro card) can be sorted by having the first three.

The movie Memento (about a man without the ability to form new memories) talked about such a system. It works!

Another useful habit for me is to look around when leaving a place. It helped me immensely to avoid losing coats and umbrellas.

Also know as triple tap or 3 point check. I am now so used to it that I feel uncomfortable if I intentionally leave one behind.

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