As a traveller, you could always be at risk of having your goods, personal items, including cash and jewellery, and even your personal and financial data, such as identity details and credit card details, stolen. It doesn’t matter whether you are travelling solo or for the first time, or you are an experience traveller or travelling with friends and family, you could always become a victim of some theft.
Becoming a victim of theft does not necessarily mean that you are sloppy or careless. Experience apart, technology has also made fraudsters up their game, and thefts and robberies targeting travellers have now become common across the world.
So, here are a few ways in which you can keep yourself safe and also lessen the financial blow should you fall victim to such unfortunate incident.
Travel Insurance: Having a travel insurance should be at the top of your list. In adding to providing cover in case of any medical emergency, trip or airline cancellation, and baggage loss, among others, it can also help you in case of any theft of personal items, such as passport, or others. You just need to include a rider or add-on to your regular travel insurance policy to avail of this benefit.
Money Belt: Keeping money in your hand or wallet can be problematic, since it can easily be snatched without the person’s knowledge, especially in busy places, which is usually frequent by snatchers and pickpockets. A money belt, ideally one worn under a shirt or jacket, will help you keep your cash, wallet, jewellery, and most importantly, your passport safe from snatching or pickpocketing at crowded places.
GPS Tracking Device: Electronics are readily lost or stolen. Thus, it is critical to maintain track of the position of each electronic item so that it can be monitored using your or your co-traveller’s smartphone.
Small tracking devices are available for luggage, allowing their whereabouts to be readily traced and retrieved, thus avoiding the loss of critical personal information, such as job data, phone numbers, photographs, and so on.
RFID-Blocking Wallets: You can also consider using RFID-blocking wallets during your travel. They prevent the illegal electronic scanning of your wallets, including your credit cards and other identity documents containing personal information, thus lowering the danger of identity theft.
