Pickpockets

I had the most interesting experience during my recent trip to Los Angeles. 

I have to go to Los Angeles for Prose lens eye appointments.  Having been there well over 6 or 7 times - I am losing count, I feel like I know LA. I know the feel, and how to maneuver about with transit etc. and considered it a comfortable experience. Since it is such a large city I usually plan to see something I have not seen before with each trip.  This time I chose to explore the fabric district downtown LA.  It's basically 8 blocks or more of side by side fabric and notion and trims stores.  It's a wholesale district where the public can buy as well.

Being a sewer, I brought a small backpack with me as I ventured to this area.  I anticipated making some purchases, and thought it would be easiest to use a backpack.  The back pack had one main long zipper for the main compartment and a smaller zipper for an outside pocket.  I had nothing in the backpack, and being overwhelmed with tens of thousands of fabric bolts, I was on visual overload and wasn't able to pick anything out.  Exhausted and hungry, I found a local café and sat down to eat.  I took off my back pack to see that both zippers were fully open.  Both!  I hadn't felt a thing!  I thought it so strange that I did not register anyone around me.  I am usually quite diligent about  being aware of my surroundings and the people in my space. I had gone very briefly into Santee Alley which has a reputation for that sort of occurrence, but left immediately as I did not feel comfortable.  I just shrugged it off as it was an empty backpack, and I didn't lose anything.

After lunch I stayed to the main fabric area which wasn't really busy.  It happened again!  I am completely mystified how it could happen twice, and I still didn't feel anything!

They say they have 10 bell pickpocket courses in Europe. 
I dare say they have the same thing in LA!

I did end up buying a few sewing tools ... and afterwards I wore my backpack in front.

I'm small town rural and horribly naïve : )  As I get older my confidence in navigating the big bad world is diminishing.  All I know is that when I travel from now on, as is necessary for my medical appointments, I will travel feather light, will know where everything is, and my money and id will be strategically and securely placed.