Whenever you travel on a commercial airline flight, or by train and bus, you have to go through either an airport, bus station, or train station. This may presents problems for unsuspecting people who are on vacation or holiday because these places are where pickpockets and thieves like to operate. There are a lot of things you can do to avoid becoming a victim when on vacations and holidays. Here are a number of them.
Don’t wear jewelry or an expensive looking watch as that is an invitation to be robbed.
Wear a money belt under you shirt or blouse to help foil pickpockets as well as muggers. It is a good idea to put your things in a Ziploc type bag and then put the bag in your money belt. The reason for this is that the money belt and the items in it will get soaked from your perspiration, especially in hot climates, and this will help keep them dry. Do not open your money belt in public to take out credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks.
It might be worth it before you leave on a holiday or vacation to sew a few pockets on the inside of your slacks, skirts, or underclothing where you can stash some spare cash when you are out and about for the day. If you are carrying credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks on your person, you should divide them up and put them in different pockets. Then, if a pickpocket is successful, he or she won’t steal everything. It also makes sense to use a safety pin to make each pocket opening smaller so that a pickpocket will have difficulty pulling anything out of your pockets without you being aware of it.
If a lot of children gather around you in the street and cause a commotion, you are probably being targeted by pickpockets who are using the children to divert your attention. If two of the locals engage in a yelling and shoving match near you, they may be a distraction for pickpockets. Another way to distract you is to have someone collapse in front of you. When you lean over to help them, the pickpocket will strike. A different variation involves two thieves working together, one gently dropping some ketchup, mustard, or ice cream on one of your shoulders and then distracting you by pointing to the mess and helping you wipe it off. The other pickpocket then will go into action.
Pickpockets prefer to target men with their wallets temptingly exposed in their back pockets, as well as obese people because they are less likely to feel their pockets being picked. You must be especially vigilant in airports, bus and railroad stations and watch your luggage, camera, and laptop like a hawk as they can disappear in second. Keep in mind that pickpockets love tourists, especially when they are in large crowds.
Be vigilant when you are wearing a backpack. Thieves may slash the bottom of it, spilling all the contents onto the street where he and his accomplices grab your possessions and run away in different directions.
Usually muggings happen at night and not in the bustling part of the city. If you are accosted by an armed robber, don’t argue or resist. Give them what they want and be thankful you don’t get hurt. What they take from you can always be replaced and just isn’t worth risking your life over.
After we read Bob Arno’s book on how people can avoid cons, thefts, and street scams, we felt that it would be a valuable book for anyone who goes on vacation, or travels for business, to also read. It is chuck full of information and photos that show you how many scams work. There is no limit as to what criminals can conspire to think of to rip-off and steal from unsuspecting tourists.
Bob is one of the world’s best experts on identity theft, scams, and cons. If you are interested in learning how to protect yourself when on holidays and vacations as well as at home, you may want to read his book, “Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling”. You may be able to find it at your local library.
He has been interviewed on MSNBC, CNN, ABC’s 20/20, The Travel Channel, The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, and has articles written about him in The New York Times, USA Today, National Geographic Traveler, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine.
His book is full of humor, true stories, as well as many photos of street scam artists and pickpockets in action. In our opinion, his book is great resource, and a must-read for anyone who would like to know how to protect themselves and their family when traveling, as well as in their own home town.
a relaxing and fun vacation, visit Travel Tips Guide for more information.
categories: scams,pickpockets,identity theft,car thefts,cons,muggings,crimes,travel,vacations,holidays,trips,tourists,tourists,traveling
