Travel Safety Tips

I’m BeSeeingTheWorldYo. I’ve traveled around the globe without encountering a safety issue or theft. Yet, after spending two weeks in Europe, I was pickpocketed on the bus in San Francisco, my home city. Jet-lagged and sleepy, I opted to take the bus home during rush hour instead of my usual bike ride. I was listening to Christmas music with my noise-canceling headphones because who wants to hear the sounds of the bus and people talking? Shortly after returning home, my bank alerted me of fraud on my debi card. I realized my (relatively new) Michael Kors passport wallet with my cards was gone. Thankfully, I had been smart enough to pull my passport out before heading to work. However, the thieves managed to swipe $400 on the cards at the local transport station, loading up prepaid cards, most likely, and my Global Entry ID. 

My biggest takeaway from that story is to be AWARE. Whether in your home city or exploring new destinations, staying alert is critical. Oh, and zipping your pockets/purses/bags. My guard is always up when traveling, which is probably why I haven’t had any encounters like my San Francisco pickpocketing while abroad. But it’s not just luck. So here’s how I do it. 

Let’s be clear. Being aware means having your eyes and ears open. Avoid wearing noise-canceling headphones when you are out-and-about. Wait to put them in until you are situated on the transportation vehicle. Pay attention to your surroundings. Who’s walking nearby? Are there lights on or other people around?

Know the schemes! Here are some examples I learned about during my sabbatical in Latin America:

1. Someone “accidentally” spilling on you (e.g., ketchup or coffee). Then people come and try to help you clean it up while they take and/or offer to hold your bag.
2. Some taxi drivers will put your bags in the trunk, then extort you for extra money to get them back. If possible, keep your bags with you in the back or try using shared ride services like Uber/Lyft.
3. Pickpocketing: Simply keeping your pockets or purses unzipped can allow these con artists to easily reach in and take your goods. This happened to a friend of mine at a bar on an island, where two guys appeared to be flirting with her. So be careful!
4. Grab-and-go: Keeping your bags and purses next to you unsecured allows people to simply come grab them and run. This can happen at train stations or park benches.

My take on theft-proof purses: I don’t see the necessity. But if it makes you feel better, go for it.

Okay, this is sad, but I want to share something that stuck with me from my high school self-defense classes. Our society typically won’t come to the rescue of cries for help. So, instead, they recommended you yell “FIRE.” That’s right—people are more likely to come watch a building burn down than rescue someone under attack.