Everyone wants the perfect holiday when they are going abroad but unfortunately, things do go wrong. These can range from getting sick, having bed bugs, having flights delayed, or being pickpocketed. Getting pickpocketed is a surefire way to ruin your holiday, so how to avoid getting pickpocketed?
There are several ways to avoid getting pickpocketed this starts with not wearing or showing off valuable stuff like phones or jewelry. This just makes you a target. You do need to be alert and assertive and not looking like a tourist reduces the likelihood of being pickpocketed considerably.
In this post, we will go through tips on what to do to avoid getting pickpocketed. Let’s get started!
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Tips To Avoid Getting Pickpocketed
No one wants to be pickpocketed but unfortunately, these things do happen. There are several things that can help to prevent you from being targeted by pickpockets.
There are several tips for a tourist to avoid being pickpocketed, these are as follows.
Beware Of The Common Pickpocket Scams
There are many pickpocketing tricks that you should be beware of. The most common tactic used by pickpockets is the bump and lift.
If you feel someone makes physical contact with you with a bump, quickly check your belongings. Another popular scam is called the clean-up. It happens when for example someone spills something (a glass of coffee) on you.
Then, they will offer help to clean it up and while they are doing so, they take something from your pocket. That is why if that happens (someone spilling something), don’t let him or her help to clean up.
You should also be careful with people who act like they require help. For example, when someone is approaching you, bringing a map, and asking you to read the map for directions, he may be just pretending.
The actual intention is to take something out of your bag or pocket while you are helping him with the map. The action can be performed by more than one person.
For instance, one person may ask you to take a photo and his friend can take your wallet or belongings while you are taking the photo.
How To Prevent Pickpocketing?
You cannot stop someone from being a pickpocket. It is even considered a profession. But you can do something to prevent being a victim of a pickpocket.
First of all, try not to look like a tourist. Most of the time, pickpockets don’t randomly choose their victims. You are likely to get pickpocketed if you are spotted bringing an expensive camera and a branded bag.
Research some information and learn about the locals and try to dress up like them instead of standing out as a tourist. The point is to avoid flashiness and having a fancy appearance.
Don’t wear jewelry and an expensive watch because these attract pickpockets.
Furthermore, avoid using a large map because it tells people that you are a tourist. You can plan ahead your travel so you won’t need a map.
How To Keep Your Valuables?
The most common things that pickpockets take from their victims are money and phones. Imagine how miserable your travel will be when you lose all of your money and credit cards away from home with no one you know.
There are many ways to protect your money while traveling. One of the safest ways is to use a sweatband with a pocket going around your leg.
Alternatively, you can wear a specialized backpack made with a pickpocketing-proof design. Not only does it have some safety features, but it is also large enough to keep all of your belongings.
What To Do If You Do Get Pickpocketed?
There’s a chance you’ll still get pickpocketed even been the most careful person. So what do you do if it happens to you?
- Report it to the local police and take a copy of the police report.
- Inform your bank and credit card company.
- Make a copy of your passport and ID before you leave home and store it online so that you will be able to access it from abroad. Useful if your passport or ID gets stolen.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, there are a number of ways to avoid getting pickpocketed this starts with not wearing or showing off valuable stuff like phones or jewelry. This just makes you a target. You do need to be alert and assertive and not looking like a tourist reduces the likelihood of being pickpocketed considerably.
And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on the tips on what to do to avoid getting pickpocketed was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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