In Hong Kong I had a dip try to grab my wallet. I was gripping it across the width not finger/thumb across the thickness so it was not going anywhere but it was a professional attempt. They tugged from the other direction so when I looked round I had to do a 270 deg turn and there were the toilets. I would bet it was a woman/girl so that I would follow into the gents if I was quick enough. Money/cards would have been removed and passed to an accomplice with the rest flushed away. As I looked around I saw a coach load of what looked like differently intelligent youngsters and I looked at the teacher who for all the world had observed and knew but had no wish to get involved.

I must have been concerned as I was paying for whatever hence the particular grip I adopted. I also had a dummy wallet with paper credit cards cut from magazines. No one found that!

Recently in Thailand I kept my money and passport in a body bag - not to bulky and only a bit emabarrssing when exchanging currency. It only added a bit on to my wasted size. But it felt more secure than a hotel room. But when at home we relax our guard.

I'm sorry to be sexist but we men have pockets and I for one would feel a dip messing around my genitals. But then some men leave wallets in jackets on chair backs or in back pockets bulging for all to see and get squeezed-out even just from sitting in pub chairs.

Now hands-up all those that loose keys in all those pockets (or handbags - ladies) and spend minutes in the rain looking for them? Only to find they are in the other trousers (handbag).