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Every trip means there is a smaller or greater risk. The most important thing is to minimize this risk as best as you can. Of course, it’s good to use common sense every day, but in order to avoid unpleasant situations try implementing verified methods for counteracting possible events of thefts and robberies. If you want to know how to make your holidays enjoyable without some unwanted issues, then you have come to the right place!

What does this article include?

  1. How to minimize the risk of getting robbed?
  2. What should you remember when you visit popular spots?
  3. What suspicious behavior should you watch out for?
  4. What should you do when you have been robbed?

Many thefts are happening due to our lack of attention. What mistakes do we make and how to avoid them? We have collected a bunch of useful methods, which will increase your chances of a successful journey, take a look:

Carrying the cash

  • ❌ Do not put all your cash in the wallet.
  • ✔️ Carry the cash in a few different places instead of one to lower the chances of losing all the money.
  • ❕ If you need to take cash with you, it’s best to hide it in places that are not obvious such as a handkerchief pack or in a special belt’s pocket. Also, you can leave some of the money in your room in books or cosmetic bags.

Securing your baggage

  • ❌ Do not put valuables in backpack pockets in which they are easy to access.
  • ✔️ Put valuables only in the inside pockets of your backpack.

Pockets in your clothing

  • ❌ Avoid using back pockets in your trousers - obtaining access to them is very easy.
  • ✔️ Keep all the valuable and small items in the inside pocket of your clothing, it is even better to put them in the zipped pockets.

Withdrawing the money from ATMs

  • ❌ Do not withdraw the money from the cash machines located in the city. centers or in other populated areas to avoid giving access to your credit card.
  • ✔️ Withdraw the money from the ATMs located near the banks and cantors.
  • ❕ Before withdrawing money, always make sure that the cash machine is secure. It should not have any overlays in a place where you insert your credit card. Also, remember to cover the keyboard while you are typing your pin. Lastly, it is good to check the information about any commissions. If you want to read more about the safe money withdrawing then click here.

When visiting not only popular areas but also the ones that you cannot avoid such as hotels or a car, we should put in use some practical habits. Those habits, except for helping us feel safer, will save us from potential problems.

💡 Beach

  • Take only the necessary things - leave valuables in your room. If you need to carry them with you then limit those items only to vital elements such as documents or a phone. In this case, you can purchase a waterproof bag to put them into.  
  • Do not leave your baggage unattended.
  • If you already have taken valuables with you, you can ask lifeguards to store them or keep them in lockers in locker rooms.

💡 Mountain trails

  • Do not walk all by yourself, always keep yourself close to other groups.

💡 Car

  • Do not leave things in your car in plain sight, put them in the glove compartment or in the trunk where you can provide them with cover. It applies to items and electronic devices too, such as sunglasses, GPS, or car cameras. 

💡 City

  • Avoid crowded areas, especially when the distance between other people is small.
  • Keep the backpack in plain sight, you can hold it in front of you.
  • In crowded places, you can put your hand on a phone or wallet in your pockets.
  • Things like a camera or purse - wrap the straps around your hand.
  • Do not show publicly your valuables such as money, electronics or credit cards and do not show where you hide them.
  • If you are making a stop, put your backpack under the table in front of you or place it between your legs. You can also wrap the straps around your hand or leg.
  • Implement the principle of limited trust - watch out for individuals bothering you on the street very persistently or painstakingly trying to help you. 
  • Do not enter empty streets, especially at night.

💡 Hotel 

  • Do not leave valuable items in plain sight.
  • You can buy a special lock for a suitcase or purchase a suitcase with a built-in lock with code. Use it whenever you leave the room.
  • If possible, take advantage of the safe located in your room but keep in mind who has access to your room.
  • You can leave the keys to your room at the reception desk.

💡 Holiday house

  • Cover the blinds and close the windows before you leave.

⚠️ Thieve tactics

  • Mock crowd - a popular phenomenon in which pickpockets purposely create a mock crowd around the person they want to rob. What is typical is that they often glance at each other. This tactic is used frequently in means of public transport.
  • Turmoil - artificially created events with a purpose to distract a targeted person and make them not pay attention to what is happening around them.
  • Scooter - this method is more about speed than being discreet. Robbers, usually in pairs, are moving with a motorcycle or scooter and tearing off bags and purses.
  • Little thing for a small amount of money - it is bothering tourists and convincing them to buy something small and not important to help the person who sells it. Theft takes place right after the tourist takes out the wallet.
  • Beach - passerby sellers bother people on the beach and try to sell them food while their not obvious companion searches bags, purses and backpacks unnoticeably.
  • Policemen - disguised as police officers, scammers are forcing tourists to run a routine control and while searching them, policemen take tourist’s money.

1. Block your card

If you have lost your credit card, immediately block it by calling your credit card provider.

 

2. Call the police

It is a necessary step, despite the fact that chances of catching a thief might be relatively small. If this unfortunate event took place at your hotel, you should inform the staff or the people in charge of running the resort. It is essential to create a protocol which will include a list of all stolen items.

 

3. Block your ID card/passport

You can do this by calling your bank.

 

4. Contact the embassy 

If you have lost your passport or all the money to handle further expenses on your vacation, then you need to call the embassy of your country. The previously made protocol will be useful in order for the consul to give you a new, temporary passport or ID card. Consul will also help you to get in touch with your relatives and family members if you are in need of money or, in some extreme emergencies, he can give you a loan for you to buy a return ticket.

 

What to do next?

If the robbery took place where you have rented a room/house, you can apply for compensation from owners. This works similarly in case of lost baggage at the airport, but in this case, you need to contact the airline which provided you with their service.

What can you do to improve your safety before the trip?

Write down important information about law enforcement and government organizations:

  • Police, ambulance, fire brigade - 112 (universal number)
  • Bank helpline - call your credit card issuer to block your card
  • Number and address of your country’s embassy
  • Insurance company number
  • Travel agency number

Other ways to improve your trip

We have prepared a comprehensive list of articles which will help you during your trip:

  • Lower the costs of your trip - here are 16 ways to both prevent you from spending too much money and allow you to enjoy your time on holidays. See how to do this in this article.
  • See how to travel during the pandemics - 8 ways on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 while travelling. Check what can you do and what you should avoid.