Tips to avoid being a target to thieves while traveling
1- Try to stay in busy, populated areas. Know your location. Robberies often occur when travelers get separated from a group or they unintentionally find themselves in a location that is off the beaten track of the average traveler.
2- When in a group or crowded area, always be aware of your surroundings. Luggage, laptops, purses, even wallets inside of your clothing can be literally walked off with if you are distracted. Sometimes the distraction is intentional by a thief, or they will be watching a crowd for someone to let their guard down. Do not casually hang items on the backs of chairs or seats. A weary traveler is an easy target.
3- Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and clothing that shouts money. Thieves have a keen eye and may target your luggage based on your outward appearance.
4- Surprisingly, people often become so carefree when traveling, they will let their guard down in ways they would never do otherwise. I have often heard someone casually ask of what appears to be a fellow traveler, if they would watch their bags for a minute while they run to the restroom, buy a magazine, make a phone call, or any number of things. Then when I realize that the two are not traveling together, that they do not even know each other, I am amazed that more robberies do not occur than already do. Just because someone is in an airport, bus terminal, or train station, do not assume he or she is traveling. Many thieves hang out in these spots waiting for just such a scenario.
5- Never walk away from your luggage leaving it unattended. Not only could a thief steal it, someone could place something inside of your luggage.
6- Use all safety precautions available when in a hotel. Make sure locks are in place, use the peephole when someone knocks, and do not announce loudly, or at all, your room number when in a public spot of the hotel. Take advantage of a hotel's safety deposit box or safe and avoid keeping valuables in your room. A room safe should never be used in place of a main hotel safe.
7- Book rooms off the main floor if you are concerned with walk-in-off-the-street- robberies.
8- If traveling outside of the country you should make duplicate copies of important travel paperwork including your passport. Keep one set with you in a separate spot from the originals and leave a set at home in the care of someone you can trust.
9- Keep money, traveler's checks, etc., in more than one location. If you are robbed, you have a chance of still having some funds available. Never pre-sign any traveler's checks either, as it may compromise them being refunded in cases of theft.
10- Be alert with all credit card transactions. Make sure you receive your card back, not someone else's, and that all fields on a credit transaction are filled in, especially the final total.
Traveling can increase your risk of being the target of a thief, but by following these safety precautions and using common sense, you can often avoid the pitfalls of being robbed when you should be concentrating on relaxation.
