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Travel tips: What to do if you lose phone, passports
These four travel tips will help in case you find yourself without a phone, ID, passport or credit card while traveling.
Problem Solved
- Pickpockets are a growing problem for travelers.
- The U.S. embassy in Paris reports that about 2,000 Americans report their passports stolen every year.
- The best way to avoid being a victim of petty theft is to not look like a victim.
On a recent trip to Paris, John Smaistrla was just a bump away from becoming a pickpocket victim.
“I was in the back car of the Métro Line 3, which was rocking pretty good at each turn,” he remembered.
That’s when Smaistrla, a civil engineer from Houston, noticed another passenger bumping up against him. He didn’t think anything of it until he got off the train and saw that the zippers in his pants pocket were halfway down.
The thief had just missed his wallet.
Petty crimes like pickpocketing are a growing problem for travelers. The U.S. embassy in Paris reports that about 2,000 Americans report their passports stolen every year, many as the result of pickpockets operating in areas frequented by tourists.
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“Pickpockets assume that tourists carry lots of cash and that they are sufficiently preoccupied with their unfamiliar surroundings to be vulnerable,” the embassy notes on its site.
“Tourists are easy targets for scammers, pickpockets and thieves,” said Harding Bush, associate director of security operations at Global Rescue, a provider of risk management services. And although there are no reliable statistics on crime against tourists, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that the problem is getting worse.
A recent Global Rescue survey found that travelers use a variety of techniques to protect their valuables. Men favored splitting their cards, IDs and cash to prevent losing everything, while a majority of women favored a crossbody purse or bag. Men also generally preferred using zippered pockets.
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The secret to pickpocket prevention: zippered pockets
How did Smaistrla evade the Paris pickpocket? He was wearing a pair of shorts made especially for travelers by a company called Clothing Arts. They feature triple-secure pockets with zippers and buttons.
“The thief was only able to get past the first two levels of security,” he said.
That’s not to say pickpockets can’t get into your zippered pockets. William Muller, a restaurant manager from Miami, said several sharply dressed Gypsies swiped his wallet from his raincoat on a train in Madrid.
“I don’t know how they were able to extract my wallet from the zippered pocket,” he said. “But they are most excellent pickpockets.”
Since then, he’s also found more robust zippered and buttoned pants and jackets that make stealing his valuables almost impossible. But it was a hard lesson learned – a simple zipper isn’t enough of a deterrent.
Why is pickpocketing a problem now?
Why does everyone want to get inside your pocket? Part of the reason is that you’re making it so easy. I lived in Europe this summer and watched tourists crowding into the popular places. I couldn’t believe that people were putting their wallets into their back pockets – or, as security expert Kevin Coffey calls it, their “sucker pocket” – where any halfway-able pocket-picker can lift it.
But that’s not the only problem. “Many criminals now target phones instead of wallets,” said Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, a digital executive protection company that protects high-net-worth individuals. “In most cases, the criminals will target someone after watching them enter their passcode on the phone, so they can access the device.”
His advice: Always shield your hands when you type in your passcode. Better yet, use biometric sign-ins instead. But remember: They want your phone.
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How to avoid pickpockets and stay safe on your next trip
Before I go any further, a warning: There’s no way to ensure 100 percent security when you’re traveling. But there are prudent steps you can take now to get close to it.
- Do your homework: Read up on the sites you plan to visit and the type of scams to watch for, said John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet. “Some of them are quite elaborate,” he added. The best pickpockets wait for the right moment to strike – a crowded bus, a monument where everyone is likely to be distracted, or a place where tourists are drinking alcohol. “Watch your alcohol intake,” warned Gobbels.
- Lock it down: Patricia Hernandez, an independent travel agent and an expert travel advisor with TeachMe.To, just heard from one of her clients who had his wallet swiped on the Paris Metro. She’s doubled down on recommending robust antitheft gear such as cross-body purses, money belts and pickpocket-proof bags. “Also,” she said, “be aware of your surroundings.”
- Avoid the places pickpockets go: Pickpockets thrive in crowded spaces where tourists go. And their favorite maneuver is a distraction, like bumping into someone or spilling coffee. “Distraction crime is a leading reason travelers are losing time and money abroad,” said Carrie Pasquarello, CEO of Global Secure Resources, a travel security firm. “Proper preparation and knowledge can mitigate potential risks.” And by proper preparation, she means avoiding the places where all the pickpockets go and staying away from the crowds where they ply their dark trade.
The best pickpocket advice: Become invisible to the criminals
But perhaps the best way to avoid being a victim of petty theft is to not look like a victim. Don’t walk around town looking clueless, staring at the attractions and speaking loudly in English, which makes you an easy mark.
“Try to dress in a way that does not make you stand out as a tourist,” said Katalin Parti, a cybercrime expert at Virginia Tech. “Avoid flashy jewelry, expensive accessories, and clothes that are too different from the local style.”
That’s one of the most difficult things for visitors to do, especially when they’re abroad. Leave the comfortable but blingy sneakers at home. Keep the flashy, logoed sweatshirt and the MAGA cap (if you have one) in the closet, and try to blend in with everyone else.
I avoid bright colors – actually, my entire wardrobe is black – and I have a few pairs of Clothing Arts pants. I never keep valuables in my back pocket, but if I do, there’s a button, a zipper and an extra pocket that the pickpocket has to get through. But mostly, I stay away from the touristy areas.
Every purse-snatching, ever pickpocketing, begins with a victim being sized up. Maybe they’re talking American English loudly with their companions. Maybe they’re wearing baggy jeans or carrying a big camera. If you want to protect yourself, get rid of all that.
In other words, stop looking like such a tourist.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.
