How do you avoid being the type of person a thief targets? Is it a brawny/threatening look, or just not using an iPhone in public?
I don't mean to blame anyone for being robbed, but being a little clueless and careless is definitely one of the main causes too. People forget that the cost of a new iPhone is almost the same as the average yearly wage in Cambodia. It's like seeing someone walking in a big US city with 20,000$ in hand, from the thief's perspective.
Cambodia is a very nice place in general though.
Good point!
From a thieves perspective it is probably not just the value of the visible goods - it's also about the arrogance such behavior exhibits - people who show off kind of deserve to get a reality check.
Basically don't stick out as a shining target.
Most places I've visited have at least enough white people for me to appear 'local poor expat', but I can see how being the only white or only really tall person throws a wrench into that approach.
Most foreigners will walk a different way from locals and it's really noticeable.
But dress is really important. Locals will wear some locally available brands, foreigners typically will keep on wearing the same brands they wore back home.
All that said, being 6'5" where just about everyone else is at least 6" shorter is a pretty unavoidable distinguishable difference.