Street Smart Tips For Location Independent Professionals Plus How To Avoid A Common Trick: Part 3
Photo by Auntie P
Concluding this series on Safety & Security, which includes my previous post about how to keep your stuff safe whilst you travel and Greg’s post on how to keep yourself safe in a foreign country, in this post I’ll be sharing the story of how I was robbed by a group of 10 year old girls and how you can prevent the same from happening to you.
I’ll also be sharing a few other street smart tips on keeping yourself safe whilst gadding around the world as a location independent professional.
First up, here’s the story…
Get wise to this common trick which fooled me…
If kids or anyone else ever come up to you begging or holding out a piece of paper/cardboard or something else in front of them, push it away immediately and secure your belongings. This is just a distraction so their nifty little fingers can get at your valuables.
This is how I was robbed…a group of young girls crowded round me asking for money and holding out a piece of paper in front of them, asking me to read it. I tried to push them away but they kept swarming round me and pawing at me, asking me to read this sign and surrounding me, despite the best efforts of my girlfriends to help push them away.
After a couple of minutes I felt a small tugging on the security money pouch I was wearing (but hadn’t had time to tuck away properly - duh!). I looked down and as I did the kids scarpered having clearly been rumbled. I noticed the zip was open about an inch and was convinced they couldn’t have taken much from such a small opening. They’d actually snaffled around $200.
Another thief tried it on me again whilst I was having a coffee with a friend in London; our mobile phones were on the table and some guy came up to our table and held a piece of cardboard over the table in front of our faces and told us to read it. Wise to his trick, I immediately shoved it away and grabbed our stuff off the table and he skulked away.
It’s a common tactic and one you’re not aware of unless it’s happened to you or someone you know. Be warned!
Keep your eyes and ear peeled
If you’re new to a city and haven’t quite got the measure of the different neighbourhoods, then keep your wits about you as you’re walking around. You can usually tell whether you’ve unwittingly wandered into a different area by the type of people walking around, the state of the buildings and shop fronts on the streets.
If you don’t notice any other tourists and you do see more threatening looking people around, then walk confidently in the direction you came (unless you know a quicker way out already) without getting your map out and head back to a safer, more touristy/populated area.
Blend in - or at least try not to stand out
If you are trying to blend in with locals - or at least stand out less - then on your first day in a place, notice how the locals dress and dress accordingly. Dead giveaways include:
- Wearing sandals with white socks
- Wearing trainers/sneakers
- Wearing a bum-bag/fanny pack (unless you’re in the US perhaps)
- Carrying a camera around your neck
- Having a tourist map sticking out of your pocket
- Wearing shorts & t-shirts when everyone else is dressed for business
Avoid public demonstrations and marches
As exciting as it may seem to join a public march or demonstration, if you’re in unfamiliar territory and a foreign land, then it’s best to avoid these. Whilst peaceful demonstrations may be the norm in your country, you don’t know that this will be the case in a foreign country and your visa may also be at risk if you are caught taking part in political demonstrations. It’s just not worth the risk for that little bit of excitement and camaraderie you might experience.
Avoid broadcasting your lack of local knowledge
Unless you’re in a touristy area where everyone else is doing the same, then just be careful about getting your map out and trying to figure out where you are. The same goes for standing in the middle of the road and pointing vigorously to specific points of interest in the distance.
Always know your escape route
As you’re walking around unfamiliar areas, especially in the dark, take note of specific landmarks, buildings and amenities. If you ever feel threatened, it’s useful to know a ‘friendly’ place you can duck into (the nearest shop, bar, cafe, gas station, mini mart or restaurant) as soon as you can to either call for help or wait until the threat has passed.
Leave your valuables at ‘home’
Depending upon where you are, you may want to consider always leaving your laptop, jewellery, watches or other expensive items at home rather than carting them around with you. Whilst some people have had bad experiences of laptops and valuables being stolen whilst left in a room/apartment, being robbed of an item directly from your person can be a far more unpleasant experience. Plus, you’re increasing the chance of something else happening (like dropping it or losing it) whilst you’re out and about.
The most effective advice is this…if you ever *feel* threatened, but you’re not quite sure why, then follow your instincts and get out of the situation you’re in as quickly as possible.
We have instincts for a reason…trust them!
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Comments
Hi Maria - it’s funny (or not) how easy it is to just wander unwittingly somewhere a little dodgy only to find yourself in one of the slummiest parts of town! I think one’s defences are often lowered by the excitement and curiosity of being somewhere new…fortunately there are still some places in the world where this won’t get you mugged/beaten/killed/shot at!
Everyday we learn how to fight or fly away from the tricks of life. You have an excellent, well written public safety post.Thanks for this.
Adults sure, but how many of us would be nervous about a small group of children? Wow, food for thought
@Wangbu - you’re welcome!
@jimdmcd - I know…it certainly catches you unawares and puts you off guard when it’s a group of kids. Lesson learned for me though!
Thanks for that tip Lea. While I always try to be vary and follow my gut, I never knew this cardboard trick and as it seems it isn’t just limited to less industrial countries either since it happened in London (nearly) too.
Good to know for sure. I also know another tip.
When you pass through airport security never ever go through the checkpoint together. One partner should always go ahead, clear the “buzz door” and look out for all the valuables while the other waits to put them onto the machine until he/she is safely through.
You’ll be amazed how easy it would be to steal someones handbag, laptop or whatever with all the backlog of people that are held up because they keep their watches on, coins in the pockets or have metal in their shoes.
Thanks for the tip Monika - I said to Jonathan recently (whilst coming through an airport) how easy it would be for someone to just pick up your laptop or other valuables from security and walk off with them…I think a reader had this done to them, if I remember rightly…
Shows just how dishonest some people are.
Great tips, Lea! Keeping your eyes and ears peeled is crucial. My traveling companions and I accidentally wandered a little *too* far off the beaten path in Ensenada, Mexico once. Passing the free medical clinic is what finally tipped us off - not a good feeling!
Fortunately we wandered back to the tourist district without a problem, but we should have paid more attention to our surroundings.