A British tourist who fell victim to pickpocketing while holidaying in Malta is calling for more awareness to be raised with foreigners on the dangers of pickpockets on the island.

“The holiday representative who met us at the airport told us Malta was extremely safe and that crime rates were very low,” Sally Thorneycroft told Times of Malta.

“I never expected to be targeted by pickpockets while waiting at the bus stop. The experience got us talking and we’ve come across several people who have been pickpocketed in Malta.

I had felt absolutely nothing at all

“A bus driver, who was absolutely lovely, told us that it was becoming quite common.

“The waitress at the hotel also told us of guests who were victims as well.”

Ms Thorneycroft, 72, was in Malta for the first time with her husband, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. A bus they were travelling on was diverted through an alternative route and the couple got off at St Paul’s Bay.

Ms Thorneycroft had her handbag over her shoulder and a map opened before her to show the bus driver their destination when she was approached by a well-dressed man whom she described as “eastern European”.

“He was short and dark haired, though not terribly tanned. He asked me about the buses to Sliema Ferries. I flung my handbag over my shoulder, so that it was dangling down my lower back to better show him.”

In her handbag, she had her mobile phone and a purse containing €850. Suddenly, another man said something in a language she could not understand from behind her and sped off.

“At the same time, the bus came up. I thought to myself: how strange of the man to run off but it was only when I boarded the bus and sat down that I realised that the zip was open and my purse was missing. I had felt absolutely nothing at all.”

Pickpocketing is common in countless countries across the world, including the UK, Ms Thorneycroft added.

“However, in the UK there are notices everywhere.

“I don’t think the Maltese should fear raising more awareness by, for instance, instructing the representatives of tour operators to warn clients.

“They need not worry that it would stop people coming – tourists still travel to notorious hotspots like London and Paris.

“But it would make them more aware of their belongings and the risks.”

How to avoid being a target

Pickpockets can ruin your holiday with a simple flick of the wrist but these tips can help you avoid them.

• Wear a money belt: A money belt is a small, zippered fabric pouch on an elastic strap that fastens around your waist, under your trousers or skirt.

• Leave your valuables in your hotel room: Expensive gear, such as your laptop, is much safer locked up in your hotel room than carried in a day bag on the streets.

• Secure your bag: Thieves want to quickly and unobtrusively separate you from your valuables, so even a minor obstacle can be an effective deterrent. If you’re sitting down to eat or rest, loop a strap of your daypack around your arm, leg or chair leg.

• Stay vigilant in crowds and steer clear of commotions: Go on instant alert anytime there’s a commotion; it’s likely a smokescreen for theft. Be careful on packed buses or subways; to keep from being easy pickings, some travellers wear their day bag against their chest (looping a strap around one shoulder).