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Tips on Staying Safe in Prague
Pickpocketing is one of Prague's most common
crimes. We
are sad every time we hear stories about someone getting
their money, documents, camera or cell phone stolen.
An advertising campaign
run by the City of Prague
in 2005 to try and reduce the incidence of petty theft
First
of all, we have two rather contradictory pieces of
advice:
1) Don't
underestimate Prague pickpockets and
don't think you can outsmart them. Many
of them are highly skilled "professionals".
2) Don't
become paranoid. Make
sure you are still enjoying yourself on your trip.
Although pickpocketing is a problem in Prague, just like it is
a problem in many tourist destinations around the world,
it doesn't mean that thieves are waiting for you at every
corner.
We have
been robbed in other European cities, but
never in Prague - knock on wood.
Czech police probably won't do much
to help you if you're robbed (just like the police in
some other European cities), so prevention is your best
protection. Here are some tips
to help you avoid becoming a victim of a pickpocket:
• Don't
carry large amounts of cash with you. Carry a credit
card and take money
out of a cash
- machine
as you go. Cash machines are plentiful in Prague
and their screens usually come with
- an English language
version. |
• Leave
important documents in a safe deposit box at your hotel.
You should carry
your passport with
- you,
but leave a copy of it at your hotel in case the original
gets lost. Making copies of your important
- documents
is always a good idea
when traveling. |
• Be
careful on crowded trams and subways, especially in
the historical center of
Prague. Know what's
- happening
around you, try not to find yourself squeezed
in a crowd of other passengers. |
• Wear
a money belt instead of a handbag. Although it can
be a
bit of a nuisance, we
have
found it to
- be a very secure place to
keep our
valuables. In addition, not
having to worry about a handbag or
- wallet
will free
up your mind to fully appreciate
the beauty of Prague. |
• If
you are carrying a handbag, always be aware of it.
Keep it closed up and hold
on to it in busy
- areas. |
| • Don't
take out your wallet or money in busy areas. |
| • Don't
change money on the street. There are plenty of banks
to choose from. |
• Be
especially careful in very touristy areas: on Karlova
and Melantrichova Streets,
on the Charles
- Bridge,
on the Old Town Square, on trams 22 and 23, in
busy stores.
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Car break-ins are the leading type of property crime in Prague. The advice here
is simple: never leave valuables in your car.
Car theft is also quite common in the Czech Republic
although the situation
has
gotten
a little better in recent years. To prevent your car from
being stolen or broken into, always park it in a guarded
parking lot or a parking garage. Don't
leave
your
car on the street if you don't have to. To read about
parking in Prague, click here.
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Taking a taxi in Prague can turn into one
of those experiences that can ruin your day. Prague taxi
drivers are known for their shameless and often
rude treatment of tourists and for charging prices several
times higher than what you should pay. Please read Taking
a Taxi in Prague to get a few pieces of advice.
top
Aside from property crime, Prague
is a relatively safe city. The rate of violent crime is
low and most areas of Prague are safe to walk around even
after dark.
Be careful on Wenceslas
Square at
night. There have been cases of trusting "love-seekers"
being robbed of all
their money. The city of Prague carried out a large cleanup
operation on Wenceslas Square in 2006 and the situation
is supposedly much better now.
The park around the
main train station (referred to by the locals as "Sherwood"
for obvious reasons) is not the safest place after dark.
This should change with the planned renovation of the
train station, which should be carried out in the years
2007 - 2009.
If
you use common sense and follow your intuition, you should
be able to stay out of harm's way.
top
If you need to contact the police,
call 158 (state police)
or 156 (city police) or the Emergency Central Number 112.
Below is a list of police stations in the city center:
Old Town
Bartolomějská 14, Prague 1
24-hour phone:
974 851 700
Lesser Town
Vlašská 3, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 730
New Town
Benediktská 1, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 710
Krakovská 11, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 720
Hybernská 2, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 500
Jungmannovo náměstí 9, Prague 1 (headquarters)
24-hour phone: 974 851 750
Vyšehradská 20, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 710
Vinohrady
Šafaříkova 12, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 720
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