No one knows better than the police which tricks criminals are using on unsuspecting tourist. By Rachael Jackson and Budget Travel
London. Always take the city’s ancient-fashioned back cabs, which are licensed by the city, rather than the so-called “minicabs” that sometimee wait outside theaters, retaurants and bars at night, says Scotland Yard spokesman Alan Crockford. In 2005, an average of 10 women a month were assaulted by the drivers of minicabs, according to the most recent data available from the London Metropolitan Police. Minicabs belonging to a car service are licensed but even those cars are only legally permitted to pick up passengers who have called to amake a reservacation-they can’t stop for people on the street. Contact the Transport for London office (011-44/20-7222-1234, tlf.gov.uk) if you want a list of licensed minicab company number, Crockford says.
Montreal. Police commander Alanin Simoneau says the theft of car stereos, Laptops, IPods and GPS devices from unlocked cars is huge problem. Cars in Ancient Montreal are often targeted and Simoneau say you should place your belongings in the trunk when you park there. Police officers have begun placing pamphlets on car windshields and in restaurants are a reminder for tourists to lock up. Not doing so could even cost you money; leaving your doors unlocked is against the law in the province of Quebec and punishable by a fine of at least $30.
New Orleans. A common scam is the French Quarter goes something like this: A man approaches you and says, “Bet you $5 that I can tell you where you got your shoes!” Whether you accept the bet or not, he adds, “On your feet on Bourbon Street,” and demands the money. Authorities say some people pay up just to avoid a confrontation. If a weirder tries to entice you into a bet, police officer Shereese Happer suggest you keep walking and don’t say a word-responding encourages the scam artist to harass you.
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