Be safe.
BE LESS OF A TARGET.
BACK UP.
LUGGAGE.
COMMON SENSE.
ADDITIONAL STEPS.
WATCH YOUR BACK, SIDES, AND FRONT.
WHEN THE WORLD ENDS.
WHEN THE WORLD DOESN’T END.
IS IT A JUNGLE OUT THERE?
On the whole, the places we want to visit are safe and have low levels of violent crime. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about pickpocketing, snatchings, and other scams separating tourists from their money and valuables.
The news gets worst. Americans are prime targets. It’s not because the rest of the world hates Americans. On the contrary, most people like Americans when Americans like them in return. The reason Americans are such a great target is they make it so easy. Also, they usually come with the best prize.
Looking around while you look around.
You must be aware of your surroundings, not just as an admirer, but as a guard, at all times. In all my travels, I have only lost a pocket Instamatic, cash, several sunglasses, and my pride. Each time, I had let my guard down. It only takes a moment.
On the other hand, I have had trouble right here in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami. Someone is smashing my car windows, breaking into my house, and a knife at my throat while extracting my wallet. I guess it’s just safer to travel.
Many people travel the world and get home with everything intact. If you do lose something replaceable, it can spoil your day, but do NOT let it spoil your trip. Travelers have been victims since before a certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Travelers will be targets when we are traveling from planet to planet. If you travel enough, it’s probably going to happen to you. If you let them ruin your vacation or your opinion of where it happened, then they got away with a lot more than a watch or wallet. As Queen Elsa says in the musical Frozen, “Let it go, let it go.”
So what can you do to be less of a target?
Before you even leave home, let me mention the “Important Document” file again. Do not leave home without it. A copy somewhere with 24/7 accessibility. If you have the electronic savvy, save a copy in the cloud with 24/7 access as well. If you are older than 30, like me, get an eight-year-old. They can access any electronic device known to man from anywhere—millions of little MacGyvers.
Save your passport, flight confirmations and ticket numbers, train, car, car-service confirmations/vouchers.
Copies of prescriptions (drugs and glasses), contacts, and any other information you would lose if your phone disappears.
Do you have the emergency contact numbers for all debit and credit cards? (NOT the 800 number. It is no good outside the U.S.A.).
Take photos of everything you are packing before it goes in the suitcase/ purse/wallet.
Also, take a picture of the suitcase. WHAT??? Picture this: a less-than-happy airline lost-luggage employee, where English is not their first language. Its 3 AM, and your Malibu Barbie roller case is missing. Got a picture? Now, do you get the picture? This tip also works for foreign police officers and hotel clerks. A photo really can say 1000 words, in multiple languages.
Make an additional copy of your passport and take two (2) passport size photos with you.
It will take 10 minutes to do – It can save you days if you have to use it.
Note:
I copy ALL the cards I have in my wallet once a year. These include Triple A.A.A. and any other clubs (hotel, car rentals, etc.). It makes replacing them much easier when you have all the information (and proof you had them) in one place.
Will these steps make you safe? No, but they can make a traumatic incident easier to bare. I am also a believer that if you have it, you will not need it.
ELECTRONICS.
Once again, what will you need while traveling? Do not take electronics you “might” use. Check your homeowner’s insurance to see if they cover your expensive electronics if they go missing abroad. If not, see if they offer theft insurance. Do you need that extra tablet and the $1000 lens? As I said, Americans have the best prizes for thieves.
WHOA, BACK UP.
One of the most tragic losses I hear about when a camera goes missing is not about the camera. It’s about the pictures that were on them. Before leaving home, make sure ALL photos on your phone, camera, tablet (anything that takes photos) are somewhere else. Put them on a computer back home AND on a portable hard drive or other storage systems.
I did not want to see the bride’s 400 photos from the reception. Or the endless pictures of other guests’ first child. Thanks to a thief, no one ever saw them again. Neither lady was backing up their photos. Is it safe to say YOU would NEVER do this?
I had an extremely nasty virus get through my firewalls a few years back. Like Pacman, it ate every Word, Excel, and Photo insight. There were several thousand files and as many photos. Without a backup file, it would have been ugly. In other words, you are not 100% safe at home. Back up, do another backup, then back up your files and photos again. Memories are our most important “things.”
While traveling, back up your photos or any other files daily. Or more often if you have the technical ability. When you leave a town, your opportunity to retake/replace images leaves also. Most new cameras can hook up to a portable hard drive. Most phones can have photos back up in the cloud. I know some people who put a new memory card in their camera at the beginning of the day. They leave all the rest safely under lock at their hotel.
LUGGAGE.
Pack and carry only your bags.
Don’t offer to, or agree to carry anyone else’s bag or package of any size. Sounds like common sense, right? And yet, what do I hear while passing airport security? “I don’t know where that came… I was just helping the nice person”. If you are in a strange setting, you should be safe rather than pleasant.
NEVER Leave your Bags.
In a lobby, restaurant, station, airport, not even in an airline lounge. If you don’t have someone traveling with you to watch it, take it with you.
Leave your Louis V.
Want to splash a big round red target on you and your luggage? Dress to the nines and travel with the most expensive luggage. You want everyone to notice you, right? The thieves are.
(BACK TO TOP)
One Bag is Easier to Watch Than Two.
Only take what you need. Leave the bling at home. You do not need to travel with a Rolex, your great grandmother’s pearls, or her rings… leave the royal jewels at home. Cash, jewelry, electronics, heirlooms are rarely under insurance coverage. If you do not wish to part from them, do not depart with them.
Marking Your Territory.
If, after all this, you are still going to check a bag, use ties with different colors on all zippers.
- They may deter the person who wants to strike fast.
- They set your black suitcase apart from the other 240 identical black bags.
- If there has been tampering, you will know immediately. (the reason for multiple colors is so they cannot replace them as quickly as black or white). If you suspect any tampering, DO NOT TOUCH the bag but call security immediately. You’re going to have a story to tell friends by the time it’s over. This inconvenience is so much better than the alternative if someone has been tampering with your luggage.
Illegal Substances.
If you are “not smart” enough to try to sneak them through, you deserve the consequences. Make sure you know what is/isn’t illegal. That fruit, native art, primitive weapon, something you picked off a tree… The person you buy it from will always say it’s safe. If in doubt, get a (better) second opinion.
Backpacks / Day-Packs.
These bags are great, as long as you do not put ANY valuables in them. And you wear them across your front. It may not look chic, but you stand a better chance of getting home safe with everything.
If you are sitting in a café, loop it around the arm of a chair or under one leg. This move is going to slow down (therefore probably prevent) the snatch and dash. If you are going to a bar/nightclub, you DO NOT need a bag or pack. Leave it at the hotel; it’s a problem waiting to happen.
Purses.
These are not a good idea because you’re going to sling it over your shoulder. Why not just sling it into the middle of St Marks Square, at the height of Carnivale? Slipping it over your head and shoulder will keep it safe, right? They will drag you until the strap breaks or gets cut… so no, not that much safer.
I.T.’S NOT SAFE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE!!!
That’s not true. You should see as much of this beautiful world as you can but as a traveler, not a target. Be aware, be discrete, and don’t be dumb. You will have a great time. Now that we have taken the pre-trip steps for a safe adventure let’s step outside.
Common Sense – Don’t leave home without it.
Would you go down a dark, deserted alley in your home town? Then WHY would you do it in Paris?
Would you follow a stranger at your local mall into a back room away from where the people are? Then why would you even think about doing it in Hong Kong?
Hopefully, your answer is NO to both of these questions. We are starting with a general level of knowing what’s right or wrong, and a sense of self-preservation. Let’s build on that.
Would you leave a hundred-dollar bill on the edge of a table in a restaurant? How about on a seat at a station or a public counter? Of course not, that’s not safe. Treat passports, phones, sunglasses, tickets, wallets, the same as that hundred-dollar bill. I don’t want you to staple things to your body, but start to treat them like a body part.
Leave Laptops and any other expensive gear (lens, hard drives, etc.) safe in your hotel room. Collect photos, journal entries, etc. during the day and then transfer to laptops or hard drives when you return. The hotels I use (and will talk about) are 3-star and above. To date, I have no problems with things disappearing from my room.
CAN I BUY SAFETY?
Money Belt.
Get one. You wear this under your pants. It is a small, zippered pouch with an elastic strap that goes around your waist, like a, well, belt. This purchase will be the best money you ever spend on safety and security.
Glasses/sunglasses straps.
Put them on a strap around your neck. One less thing to carry (fumble with), and you will not set these glasses down somewhere.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Phone.
If it is not in use, it is in your pocket. Never leave it out on a table or next to you on a chair. “I was only looking away for a moment.”
Camera.
When you’re not using it, you secure it in a small case. The case has a strap you wrap around an arm, yours, or the chairs. Another option is under the foot of the chair.
Safes.
More and more hotels in the 4-5 star range seem to have safes. I toss passports, tickets, and cash in them. Also, a separate A.T.M. or credit card just in case my daily one goes missing. If in doubt, use the safe. It’s one more level of security and peace of mind. If you are a budget traveler and your lodging does not have a safe, there are other options. Check out websites for inexpensive travel like backpacking for safety tips.
Likewise, if you don’t use the safe, or there isn’t one available, don’t tempt fate. Everything goes out of sight. Put essential papers/tickets in an inner pocket of your suitcase. Laptops and other electronics go under some clothing in a drawer. Don’t advertise. Of course, don’t get so creative you forgot where you put the passports (or worse) leave them.
A packing list/checklist is an excellent idea, so you don’t have to remember everything you bring. List every single thing down to the tweezers. Go through the list as you pack. Once you are sure, everything is in your suitcase, recheck the room and bathroom. Did you buy anything that’s not on the list? Add it. I hear many more stories about things left behind than I do something “walking” from rooms.
Be safe, pack an extra helping of common sense.
Whether you stay in a palace or on a train platform, if it “seems” like a bad idea, IT IS.
Thieves are going for the low hanging fruit. You don’t need to build a wall, but don’t make it easy. This advice may sound harsh, but you need to make your stuff less attractive/ accessible than someone else’s. By zipping your bag, it’s going to be less appealing than one gaping open at the top.
So you’re taking precautions. Now what?
Diversion, redirection, sleight of hand – these are all used by magicians and thieves.
Diversion / Redirection.
Pushing, jostling, bumping crowds in an airport, station, subway, or piazza. For a pickpocket, this is like fishing in a barrel of hungry trout. While the group is creating the diversion, the thief can concentrate on the extraction of your wallet/purse. ANY time you are in a crowded situation, you should be on high alert. AND GET OUT OF THE CROWD QUICKLY.
Stay clear of commotions.
These are often stagings to get your mind off of being alert (redirection.) Anytime something “suddenly” gets your attention, circle the wagons. It may be a fight, a lady falling in front of you, a “lost” child, even a loud noise. All they need is you to look away for just a second. That’s why it’s so essential to secure EVERYTHING. The thieves don’t play fair.
Trains, Subways, and Buses.
You are already a target. While you are fumbling with luggage, looking around, reading maps, your mind is anywhere except on your current surroundings.
(BACK TO TOP)
Do not let luggage out of your hand. When you sit down, try to find a seat against a wall. This way, no one is behind you.
Sit in a less traveled aisle and not on end with your suitcase “dangling” like bait. Once again, make it less appealing than someone else’s.
When on the train, subway or bus, do not stand/sit right next to a door. Grabbing bags as the doors are closing is a favorite trick. Often they stand on the platform and reach in at the last moment, snatching a backpack, purse, or even a wallet from someone standing.
Turnstiles.
Believe it or not, these are also a great place to grab a bag or a wallet. Once you pass through and the metal arm locks, thieves know they have an advantage. They will be halfway down the street before you figure out how to get back through.
Any pickpocket knows how to identify a locker key or claim ticket. Guard these with your life, or at least with a money belt.
SLIGHT OF HAND.
A.T.M.S. – There is a whole cast of cons who lurk around A.T.M.s.
- Never use an A.T.M. in a deserted area, with or without someone.
- Be on high alert the entire time you are using it.
- If possible, use an A.T.M. connected to a bank.
- Use it when the bank is open, in case there are any real or human-made troubles with the machine.
- Visit the A.T.M. with someone who can watch your back.
Approaching the A.T.M.
Check for people loitering.
If possible, watch somebody else use the machine before you. Did that person have any problems, or, out of nowhere, new B.F.F.s appear?
If you have a bag, it should be on your friend’s arm. Remember what we know about straps. Even better, you have no bags/packages to distract you.
Look the A.T.M. over BEFORE inserting your card. Does any part look like it doesn’t belong? Especially around the card reader. If in doubt, ask inside the bank.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER write your P.I.N. on your card. (Yes, unfortunately, this does need saying).
Don’t keep your pin in your wallet. If you lose the portfolio, the crook now has both the card and the code. If you can’t remember your pin, before leaving home, have the bank change it to the one you can.
While at the A.T.M.
Cover the display while entering the pin. Thieves use binoculars, spy-cams, many different ways to get your P.I.N. If someone is standing “too close” to you, ask them (nicely) to move back.
THE BANK DOES NOT HAVE EMPLOYEES STANDING BY THE ATM TO HELP YOU.
If your card does not go into the machine once, go to security level orange. If it doesn’t twice, go to level red, retrieve your card and leave this A.T.M. Chances are there is some tampering going on.
If you have put your card in, but after entering your P.I.N., nothing happens, go to level orange. NEVER-EVER re-enter your pin.
Ignore any instructions on a piece of paper taped to the machine. “Out of order” is an exception.
Try to retrieve your card. If not, get your travel partner to go inside and advise a bank employee. NEVER leave an A.T.M. with your card still in it if you can help it.
Once you put in your P.I.N. until you hit “No more transactions” or “exit,” your bank account is WIDE open. “Be aware of your surroundings.” (say that five more times)
I have had people try to grab my money while it is dispensing. “Be aware of your surroundings.”
If your cash does not come out or seems to get caught, DO NOT let someone else “help” you. These people are helping themselves to your money. DO NOT leave the machine. Once again, no bank employees are outside to help you. I don’t care what they said. Have your travel partner go inside and report the problem. Don’t forget a receipt. Make sure you have your card. Make extra sure the A.T.M. closes your account to any further transactions.
After the Transaction.
You are still a target. Secure the money. Do a quick count that it is all there, and then put EVERYTHING in your money belt immediately. A public sidewalk is the last place to be counting, reorganizing cash.
Out of nowhere, people appear asking for a donation, to sell you something, trying to redirect your attention. They are NOT above using children or dogs and don’t for a minute think theft is a man-only profession. Some of the best thieves are women because you don’t suspect them.
This situation is a GREAT reason not to carry debit cards on you unless you are going to the A.T.M. directly. Out of the safe, into your money belt, straight to the A.T.M., immediately back in the safe. NOT via the flea market or a café. Debit cards are more like real money than credit cards. Once the money leaves your account, it’s not coming back until after a lengthy investigation by the bank.
Don’t use debit cards for purchases for the same reason. With credit cards, you can flag fraudulent charges BEFORE you pay your credit card bill. With debit, the money is missing until you can prove innocence.
Debit / Credit Card Safety 101.
- Try to watch the waiter/ shop clerk process the card. Try not to let it out of your site.
- Check that it is YOUR card that the waiter is returning the moment it’s back in your hand. Not a look-alike.
- Always get a receipt and LOOK at it. Don’t just shove it in your pocket. Is that the correct amount on it?
- Save all receipts you acquire from out-of-town locations for at least one billing cycle.
If any card goes missing, call the non-800 number immediately. It is in the Important Documents file back in your room. This step is your first call unless there is a physical injury. This call is collect so that you can do it from anywhere. You can be held responsible for any charges the thief makes if you don’t report it promptly.
I do all the precautions, and I still lose my bag – Now what?
The first thing to do is to take a deep breath. You are safe, and it could have happened to anyone. Your life and your trip are not over.
Take ANOTHER deep breath and start contacting all your bank/credit card companies immediately. If you are dealing with a large bank, most can overnight you a new card (for a fee). Another option is to wire money. Smaller banks may not.
The same applies to major credit cards (for a fee). Depending on where you are, it could take a few days.
Western Union has more than 500,000 locations worldwide if you need to transfer money (for a fee.)
If your passport is missing, this is your next MAJOR priority. You cannot leave the country without one. You will probably need it for I.D. if someone is wiring your money. A driver’s license may not be enough in some countries.
Hopefully, you can continue to stay at the same hotel. One way or another, you probably need to arrange additional lodging. You may not be able to secure it without a passport, but at least find where there is a room available. Keep breathing; You are safe.
A visit to the Embassy or Consulate.
For U.S. citizens, you will need to appear in person at the embassy or consulate. In some places, you may be able to make an appointment. Others, you have to go and wait, and wait, during the hours they are open.
If you still have your copy of your passport and passport photos, you will want to take them. This step will speed up the confirmation of your identity.
If you have access to the internet and a printer, pre-print the forms you will need and fill them out. Once again, guard your information. You will find the forms, and other useful information, at the U.S. Department of State website. Or on the embassy website. “Type U.S. Embassy in ____” (the country you are in).
NOTE – During this time, you will be dealing with your most important information. Do not rely on the “security” of the WiFi at a place that also doubles as a Laundromat. Most deluxe hotels have some type of business center with either secure WiFi or (better) FAX machines. Don’t increase your problems by being haphazard with your information. At smaller hotels, ask to speak to the Front Office Manager (or owner if a B&B) and explain your situation. They may have a FAX machine you can use.
The embassy or consulate can help you reach your emergency contacts, file a police report, and answer other questions. This precaution is enormous if you don’t speak the local language.
Call A Cop.
Next step, file a police report. WHY?
- This report lets the police know there is a problem.
- I have had happy reuniting with my wallet (sans money) but with a driver’s license and all cards still intact. It’s probably not the bag or purse the thief wants; it’s the contents. (This is why you have a picture of your luggage, purse, and wallet in your money belt).
- If you plan on filing an insurance claim, you will need a police report.
If you are in a location that does not have an embassy or consulate, and the first train to a place that does is tomorrow, go to the Police Station. They may have additional information on services available to help travelers in need.
WHAT THEN?
Rental Cars/keys – If you lose either, let the rental agency know right away. Depending on your location, a replacement key or vehicle may take a few days. The cost is not going to be pretty. Keep breathing; you’re safe.
Start replacing other documents. If you set up an “Important Documents” File, it may be as simple as just re-printing them. Once again, be aware of where you are printing them and don’t leave them where someone can see them. Or worse, grab them.
It is probably going to take a few days to make everything right. Before your hotel check-out day, check on future availability. If the consulate is in another town, you want to start looking for accommodations there as soon as possible. Keep breathing; you’re safe.
Start finding “things,” but only what you NEED. Look at cheap department stores and buy some store brand shirts; you can replace the expensive stuff later. A cheap pair of tennis shoes until you get home. (Ferragamos are no less in Italy, so don’t lose your boots on purpose). Unless you are a professional photographer, you do not need to replace the expensive camera and all five zoom lens. Do get a disposable camera, so you have some photos. Cell phones – get a cheap one you will use and leave. Don’t forget something to carry your new purchases. Sometimes a local street market may have a suitcase or bags.
Keep breathing, you’re alive, and you’re safe. You can replace most of what you lose. Once you have done all the necessary steps, get back to your trip while you’re waiting. This “event” may turn out to be your best travel story yet.