One of the biggest worries for travelers is pickpockets. Just imagine, you’re out of your element, there are a million strange people around and you are not paying attention to your stuff, you are focused on the beautiful scenery and you suddenly realize your wallet is gone! It’s a terrible feeling and a situation that is largely avoidable. Let’s talk about a few ways to protect your stuff.
Protecting yourself from thieves starts before you leave you home. The best way to protect your stuff is to leave it at home! It’s tempting when you travel to bring your best jewelry, your best gadgets, your best everything. Don’t do it! Wear your cheap jewelry, your old watch, etc. Face it, despite your best efforts you are not going to look like a local, on top of that if you look like you’re carrying expensive stuff you are putting a big target on your back. Thieves won’t be able to resist. Here is a good measure of what you should or should not bring; if you can’t live without it, don’t bring it.
So once you have decided what to bring, what should you do with it to make sure no one else gets it? Most pickpockets are opportunists. They look for situations when your attention is on things other than what is in your pocket. We will be visiting many awe-inspiring places and your attention should be on the scenery but what about your stuff?
While I was in Barcelona a group of students that were on the same tour as me had piled their bags together on the beach and a couple of kids were sitting next to them while the rest played soccer. It seemed like a great idea but after a while the kids by the bags got into a conversation and some even laid down to nap. One girl got tired of playing soccer with her new IPhone in her pocket, she set it on top of the bags in plain sight and went back to the game assuming that since people were close that it was safe. A few minutes later the kids next to the bags heard a “whoosh” and by the time they noticed the phone was gone the thief had disappeared into the crowd. Take in the scenery but keep your stuff out of sight.
Something to watch for while traveling are the tourist traps. They call them that for a reason. Often times thieves will work in teams, one will create a diversion by performing some really impressive act to get you to stop and stare while another thief or two works the crowd. It is very tempting to join the crowd but the best thing to do is take a good look as you walk on by. Other thieves are more blatant. While in Paris I was walking a few steps behind a few students on the street and a couple of ladies with clipboards stopped them. They said that they were collecting donations to help handicapped kids, they handed the kids the clipboard and wanted them to write down their names and make a donation. One kid pulled out his wallet and started looking for a bill right in front of the ladies (a BIG no no! Always turn away and have a friend cover you before you open up your wallet/purse!). Next thing I know one of the ladies was reaching into the kids’ wallet and pulling out a €40 bill! I walked up, snatched it back from her, and we took off. Be wary of folks who walk up to you with a map, ask you for help, bump into you, touch you, etc. They don’t want your help they want your stuff.
While we are talking about handicapped kids it needs to be said that often times people will intentionally mutilate themselves or their kids so as to look more pitiful while begging on the street. It is very tempting to let your emotions overcome your decisions. Just make sure you know that by giving them cash you may be supporting this type of behavior.
The next common way in which thieves will get to your stuff is when you are making transitions, especially on the subway and other public transportation. Major cities are crowded and there is a lot of bumping and mixing around. You are often disoriented in new surroundings. Thieves look for these chances to get close. While in London on a subway train our group was seated and at the next stop a guy got on with a coat draped over his arm. Our tour guide picked up on him immediately. The guy started moving around the train and he was just acting “shifty”. The guide actually confronted the guy and forced him off the train on the next stop. The guide then explained that the coat over the arm is a dead giveaway; they do it so that they can snatch something of yours and cover it up quickly.
Make sure that in crowded situations like subways, crowded escalators and stairways, ticket lines, etc. you put your stuff in your bag, zip it up, and keep it in front of you, even if it’s a backpack. Not only is this safer for you but also for all the other people around. You don’t want to whack anybody with your overstuffed backpack when you turn around! When you sit down on the train, at a restaurant or on the street, put you bag on your feet and lace your legs through the straps. Don’t hang it on the back of the chair, you make it too easy!
People always ask me about things like money pouches, hidden wallets, secret pockets, etc. These can be very effective if used properly. The problem with them is getting access to them. If you need cash you don’t want to have to remove clothing just to pay for a trinket. Keep a bit of cash in your pocket even if you use a secret pouch. Also, a fellow teacher traveler told me a horror story of a kid who’s bus stopped at a rest stop in Switzerland. He set his “pouch” with all his money and passport in it down in the bathroom. He didn’t remember it was there until he reached the German border a few hours later. There is no one fool proof way to protect your stuff so be alert and be diverse.
Keeping people away from your important things can be an easy matter with some careful planning. Here are some more quick tips to help you out:
Make a copy or two of your passport and keep them in separate bags. This can greatly speed up the process if your passport is lost or stolen.
Many of the hotel rooms have safes and most hotels have a safe behind the front desk. Use them! Don’t assume that because it’s in your bag in your hotel room that your passport, ipod, extra cash/ etc. is off limits.
Some travelers carry a “dummy wallet” with a few spent gift cards and a small amount of cash in it. That way if they are ever confronted by someone, they can pull out the dummy and keep the real stuff safe.
I’ve traveled a lot and so far haven’t had anything major go missing but that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. There is always a certain amount of risk when you step out your door. Just remember what Albert Einstein said, “A ship is always safe at shore – but that is NOT what it was built for.”
