2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
This happened to my co-worker. She flung the wallet away from herself and ran like h*ll when he went for it. She ran to the neighbors where they called the police. He was captured shortly after and she got back her wallet.

It works!