I don鈥檛 give much thought to petty crime when I travel abroad. I鈥檓 well aware that it happens: I鈥檝e been preaching about the importance of wearing a moneybelt for decades. And for decades 鈥� probably about a total of 4,000 days of travel 鈥� I鈥檝e never been hit by a thief. Well, my happy streak finally ended: I was pick-pocketed in Paris this summer.
It was my own fault: I wasn鈥檛 wearing my moneybelt 鈥� a small pouch worn at the waist under your clothes. I lost my driver鈥檚 licence, credit cards and some cash. I went back to my hotel, referred to the 鈥渋n case of emergency鈥� advice in my Paris guidebook and set about cancelling my credit cards. My experience just goes to show that, sooner or later, if you鈥檙e not on guard, wearing a moneybelt 鈥� or at least keeping everything properly zipped and buttoned 鈥� you鈥檒l likely be a victim.
Thieves target tourists 鈥� not because the thieves are mean, but because they鈥檙e smart. We鈥檙e the ones with the good stuff in our purses and wallets. But don鈥檛 let the fear of groping grifters keep you from travelling. Besides wearing a moneybelt, here are some other tips for keeping your valuables safe:
Be prepared
Before you go, take steps to minimize your potential loss. Make copies or take photos of key documents, back up your digital data and password-protect your devices. Consider getting theft insurance for expensive electronics (your homeowner鈥檚 insurance might already cover them). Leave your fancy bling at home. Luxurious luggage lures thieves: They鈥檒l choose the most impressive suitcase in the pile 鈥� never mine.
Leave valuables behind
Expensive gear, such as your laptop, is much safer in your room than with you in a day bag on the streets. But don鈥檛 tempt sticky-fingered staff by leaving a camera or tablet in plain view 鈥� tuck your enticing items in a safe or at least well out of sight.
Limit access and stay vigilant
Thieves want to quickly separate you from your valuables, so even a minor obstacle can be an effective deterrent. If you鈥檙e sitting down to eat or rest, loop your day-bag strap around your arm, leg or chair leg. A cable tie, paper clip or key ring can help keep your bag zipped up tight. The point isn鈥檛 to make your bag impenetrable, but harder to get into than the next guy鈥檚.
Some thieves can even be so bold as to snatch something right out of your hands. For instance, if you鈥檙e holding up your phone to take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, a thief can grab it and run 鈥� and he can navigate his escape route far better than you can. Be aware of who鈥檚 around you.
Avoid crowds and commotions
Thieves know where the crowds are 鈥� and where the tourists are 鈥� and they are very, very deft at their work. A petite bump and a slight nudge getting off the M茅tro in Paris and 鈥� wallet gone.
Be on guard in train stations, especially upon arrival, when you might be overburdened by luggage and overwhelmed by a new location. Take turns watching the bags with your travel partner. Don鈥檛 absentmindedly set down a bag; stay in physical contact with your stuff. On the train, be hyper-alert at stops, when thieves can dash on and off 鈥� with your bag. Be especially careful on packed buses or subways.
Often, artful-dodger teams create a disturbance 鈥� a fight, a messy spill, a jostle or a stumble 鈥� to distract their victims. Crowds anywhere, but especially on public transit and at tourist sights, provide bad guys with plenty of targets, opportunities and easy escape routes.
Don鈥檛 be deceived
The sneakiest pickpockets look like well-dressed businesspeople. Some pose as tourists, with daypacks, cameras and even a Rick Steves guidebook. You鈥檒l meet a lot of people with beautiful eyes, beautiful children and sad stories 鈥� but many beggars are pickpockets. Don鈥檛 be fooled by impressive uniforms, femmes fatales or hard-luck stories.
If pickpockets strike, getting everything straightened out can take a while. If you do get robbed, file a police report; you鈥檒l need it to file an insurance claim, and it can help in replacing your passport or credit cards.
Cancel both credit and debit cards. Suspend your mobile service (if you have a security app, use your hotel鈥檚 computer to enable the 鈥渓ocate, lock and wipe鈥� feature before you cancel service altogether). Above all, be flexible and patient.
Nearly all crimes suffered by tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Be aware of the pitfalls of travelling, but relax and have fun. It might not help at the time, but if you are a victim, remember that your loss will make for a good story when you get home. As a friend of mine says: 鈥淲hen it comes to travel, Tragedy + Time = Comedy.鈥�
Rick Steves (ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at [email protected] and follow his blog on Facebook.
