Your passport has disappeared, or your only credit card, or maybe your wallet with all your money… In any case, it’s lost money, an expensive and nameless galley to get home and a trip that stops dead in its tracks.

You don’t want such a thing to happen to you? Neither do I! So here are a few tips to avoid being robbed on a trip!

Tip 1) Ultimate technique for losing nothing: Having nothing to lose!

Before we focus on secret pockets, super-strong padlocks and other methods to secure your precious belongings, let me remind you of the obvious:

Avoid carrying valuable, expensive, flashy or fragile items. Not only will nothing happen to them if they stay at home, but you won’t have to travel with the fear of losing them, breaking them or having them stolen while travelling!

Because let’s remember: The best thing about travelling is freedom! If your brain is trapped by the fear of having your I Phone 10 stolen at every street corner, then there’s no point in travelling!

The less you have on you, the freer your head will be, and the lighter your bag will be, making you even freer. This will allow you to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Tip 2) Discretion is the best anti-theft!

Are you still leaving with a few valuables? A phone, a computer… The best way to avoid being robbed while travelling is to avoid attracting attention!

• Avoid taking your valuables out in public places,
• Avoid walking around with jewellery, gold watches and designer clothes,
• Avoid paying for your coffee by taking out bundles of bills.

Tip 3) Separate your money

In spite of this, every good traveller should know that one day he will be robbed on a trip (or lose something). Being resigned to this obvious fact allows him to prepare as much as possible in order to minimize the consequences.

Separate your money into small sums placed in your bag, in your second bag, in your pockets, in your wallet, in your secret pocket… Thus, the day you will be robbed while travelling, you will only lose a part of your money.

Similarly, if you have several blue cards, as well as several pieces of identification, store them in different places!

If you are travelling as a couple, you can divide your money, papers and CB between the two of you!

Tip n°4) Your bag is not a safe place

There will inevitably be times when you will lose sight of your bag (on the roof of a bus, in a hotel without a locker, on the plane when you put it in the hold, in a crowd even though you are carrying it on your back…).

It could be searched or even disappear completely. Do not store all your money or your passport in it!

Padlocks and pacsafe are double-edged

Closing your bag with a padlock or pacsafe will obviously slow down the progress of potential thieves.

BUT! It will also attract attention! It’s like putting up a sign that says “Attention, valuables, do not steal! “on your bag.

Discretion is the best anti-theft technique! That’s why I’m not a fan of pacsafes (I don’t have anything of great value in my bag and I’m not very afraid of theft). And when I close my padlock bag, I systematically hide the padlock inside.

Tip 5) On the other hand, a pouch hidden under your clothes is a safe hiding place, as long as it remains hidden at all times.

A secret pocket discreetly hidden under your clothes is a safe hiding place. It’s unlikely to be stolen on a trip, or lost until you touch it.

You should therefore store important items in it, but which you rarely need (passport, emergency blue card, emergency money…) and never take it out in the street. This is to avoid letting people around you know that you are hiding something valuable under your clothes, and also to avoid forgetting it somewhere.

Your secret pouch should only know two places: under your clothes and in a closed locker with your own padlock.

Make sure you buy a pouch with sufficiently strong seams.

Tip 6) A wallet is vulnerable

You can be sure that one day your wallet will be stolen on your trip. This small object full of money, carelessly tucked away in your jeans pocket, is bound to attract lust. That’s why you should always be ready to say goodbye!

Avoid storing all your money, credit cards, identity papers in this place! In fact, just put some money in there and, at the limit, a credit card if you have another spare one.

Use your wallet as a decoy

But your wallet, small and vulnerable, can become a decoy, to divert attention from your big bills and credit card. Let me explain: When you go out, have a small wallet with a small amount of money in small bills. Keep the larger bills and your blue card in another pocket.

That way, if a pickpocket decides to pick your pocket, he’ll probably take the wallet and pass by the rest. If you are mugged in the street, give it to them right away. Your assailant (who is as stressed as you are) will probably be happy with it. That way the rest is saved.

Tip 7) Be careful what comes out of your bag, but also what goes in!

Do you know the mule technique used by drug couriers to smuggle drugs out of a country?

A person places drugs in a backpacker’s backpack without knowing it, waits for the backpacker to return home or cross a border, and then picks up the drugs on the other side.

This person may be an acquaintance, or even a “good friend” of yours, who asks you to carry an object (that conceals drugs) or medication (that is actually drugs) for him or her.

The drug courier may also be a complete stranger, who will spot you at the airport, discreetly place the drugs in your bag, and then steal your bag upon arrival to retrieve his or her merchandise.

So watch out! Before going through customs at the airport or border, check your bag, keep it in sight, and don’t accept to carry anything for others.

Tip 8) Lockers in hostels, not always 100% safe!

I have received testimonials from travellers who have had things stolen from them, even though they are locked in lockers at the hostel. It was the hostel itself that provided the locks to close the lockers… It’s likely that a member of the staff wanted to make some extra money.

Conclusion, always use your own padlock to close your locker!

By the way, stay vigilant in the hostels! We tend to relax, thinking we’re in the company of travellers like you and me. But many thefts are committed in hostels by the travellers themselves!

Tip n°9) Rather credit card or species?

A second credit card in case

A credit card is easily lost or stolen. If you have two credit cards, leave one in a safe place. You can walk around with the other one, pay with it and withdraw small amounts of money. This way, you will lose little if you get robbed.

But don’t forget:

• Never let a waiter or salesman leave with your credit card,
• Check your bank account regularly to quickly identify possible fraudulent actions,
• Be very discreet when entering your PIN code, if an unscrupulous person sees it, they may try to steal your credit card to hit the jackpot,
• Pay attention to your withdrawal limits,
• Keep in your wallet the number to call to stop your credit card in case of loss or theft.

Only one credit card

On the other hand, if you only have one credit card, you can’t afford to lose it! Prefer to pay in cash. Leave your card in a safe place and only take it out to withdraw cash in large enough quantities to last a few days.

I prefer to work with cash, because I have a better idea of how much money I’ve spent than when I pay with a credit card.

Tip 10) Never let your guard down

Always keep in mind that one day you’re going to lose something or have something stolen.

But don’t be paranoid about it! Turn these tips into automatisms so that you are always ready without thinking too much about it.