Usually both the United States and Europe is safe when it comes to violent crime. But it’s very “dangerous” in terms of petty theft: Purse-snatching and pick-pocketing are rampant in places where tourists gather. Thieves target tourists — not because they’re mean, but because they’re smart. Tourists have all the good stuff in their bags and wallets. Loaded down with valuables, jet lagged, and bumbling around in a strange new environment, they stick out like jeweled thumbs. If I was a street thief, I’d specialize in tourists — my card would say “Thieves We Be.”
Thus said, if you’re not constantly on
guard, you’ll have something stolen.
Many tourists get indignant when ripped
off. It’s best to get over it. You’re rich and thieves aren’t. You let your
guard down and they grab your camera. It ruins your day and you have to buy a
new one, while they sell it for a week’s wages on their scale. And the score’s
one to nothing. It’s wise to keep a material loss in perspective.
Remember, nearly all crimes suffered by
tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Be aware of the pitfalls of traveling,
but relax and have fun. Limit your vulnerability rather than your travels.
Be Prepared
Before you go, you can take some steps
to minimize your loss in case of theft.
Make photocopies of key documents —
your passport, rail pass, car-rental voucher, itinerary, prescriptions (for eye wear and/or medicine), and more — to bring along. For a backup, leave a copy
with loved ones, too, in case you lose your copy and need to have one faxed to
you. You could also bring a couple of extra passport pictures.
If you have expensive electronics
(camera, tablet, smartphone, etc.), consider getting theft insurance. Take a
picture of your pricey gear and store the picture at home, in case it’ll help
you settle an insurance claim. As you travel, back up your digital photos and
other files frequently.
Leave your fancy bling at home.
Luxurious luggage lures thieves. The thief chooses the most impressive suitcase
in the pile .
Avoiding Theft
If you exercise adequate discretion,
stay aware of your belongings, and avoid putting yourself into risky situations
(such as unlit, deserted areas at night), your travels should be about as
dangerous as hometown grocery shopping. Don’t travel fearfully — travel
carefully.
Here’s some advice given to me by a
thief recently released from prison:
Wear a money belt. A money belt is a
small, zippered fabric pouch on an elastic strap that fastens around your
waist, under your pants or skirt. I never travel without one — it’s where I put
anything I really, really don’t want to lose.
Leave your valuables
in your hotel room. Expensive gear, such
as your laptop, is much safer in your room than with you in a day bag on the
streets. While hotels often have safes in the room (or at the front desk), I’ve
never bothered to use one, though many find them a source of great comfort.
Theft happens, of course, but it’s relatively rare — hoteliers are quick to
squelch a pattern of theft. That said, don’t tempt sticky-fingered staff by
leaving a camera or tablet in plain view; tuck your enticing things well out of
sight.
Establish a “don’t
lose it” discipline. Travelers are more likely to inadvertently lose their bags
than to have them stolen. I’ve heard of people leaving passports under pillows,
bags on the overhead rack on the bus, and cameras in the taxi. Always take a
look behind you before leaving any place or form of transport. At hotels, stick
to an unpacking routine, and don’t put things in odd places in the room. Run
through a mental checklist every time you pack up again: money belt, passport,
phone, electronic gear, charging cords, toiletries, laundry, and so on. Before
leaving a hotel room for good, conduct a quick overall search — under the bed,
under the pillows and bedspread, behind the bathroom door, in a wall socket...
When you’re out and about, never idly
set down any small valuable item, such as a camera, e reader, wallet, or rail pass.
Either hold it in your hand or keep it tucked away. At cafés, don’t place your
phone on the tabletop where it will be easy to snatch — leave it in your front
pocket (then return it to a safer place before you leave). Make it a habit to
be careful with your things; it’ll become second nature.
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 day pack around your arm, leg, or chair leg. If you plan to
sleep on a train (or at an airport, or anywhere in public), clip or fasten your
pack or suitcase to the seat, luggage rack, or yourself.
Even the slight
inconvenience of undoing a clip deters most thieves. While I don’t lock the
zippers on my bag, most zippers are lockable, and even a twist-tie, paper clip,
or key ring is helpful to keep your bag zipped up tight — the point isn’t to
make your bag impenetrable, but harder to get into than the next guy’s.
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. Imaginative artful-dodger thief teams create a
disturbance — a fight, a messy spill, or a jostle or stumble — to distract
their victims.
Crowds anywhere, but especially on
public transit and at flea markets, provide bad guys with plenty of targets,
opportunities, and easy escape routes.
Be on guard in train stations,
especially upon arrival, when you may be overburdened by luggage and
overwhelmed by a new location. Take turns watching the bags with your travel
partner.
Don’t absentmindedly set down a bag while you wait in line; always be
in physical contact with your stuff. If you check your luggage, keep the claim
ticket or locker key in your money belt; thieves know just where to go if they
snare one of these. On the train, be hyper-alert at stops, when thieves can
dash on and off — with your bag.
City buses that cover tourist sights
(such as Rome’s notorious #64) are happy hunting grounds. Be careful on packed
buses or subways; to keep from being easy pickings, some travelers wear their
day bag against their chest (looping a strap around one shoulder).
Some thieves
lurk near subway turnstiles; as you go through, a thief might come right behind
you, pick your pocket and then run off, leaving you stuck behind the turnstile
and unable to follow. By mentioning these scenarios, I don’t want you to be
paranoid...just prepared.
If you keep alert, you’ll keep your valuables, too.
As always, stay safe !
-
bird
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