Let’s talk about pickpockets
Guess who just got a new phone? Me!!
My travel partner, who shall remain “nameless”, got absentminded and left his phone in his back jeans pocket on a packed bus. Since we are on a family plan and needed to upgrade anyway, now I have a fancy new iPhone that cost more than my first car!
So, let’s review best practices!
Some of these are specific to the Apple ecosystem, but you get the general idea.
Double check that you know your important passwords for the worst case scenario. Your iCloud password, the password to the email that your iCloud is attached to, etc.
For your password recovery emails, do you have your travel partner set up as one of them? Will that person have access to email, text, calls? What about someone at home you will be able to reach?
iPhone specific: on your phone, go to Settings and tap your name. Tap Sign-In & Security. Ensure you will have access to the email account(s) listed at the top, and that you know the passwords for those accounts. Scroll down to Recovery Contracts. Set it up with a couple of people you A) trust and B) will have access to while traveling.
Do you have a secondary device with you on the same iCloud account? For example, if my phone gets stolen, I can immediately wipe it from my mini iPad that travels with me.
Do you use a PIN code to access your phone and your integrated payment systems like Apple Pay? Switch it to Face ID for the duration of your trip. You don’t know who saw you put in your PIN before they nabbed your phone.
Email yourself a photo of your passport pages (the ones with your personal info and your photo) AND a photo of your visa stamp from arrival.
Avoid all-in-one wallets that house your cards, passport, and phone. That style gives you only one point of failure. If someone steals my phone, I only want them to have my phone. I don’t also want them to have my money and passport.
Consider investing in options like PacSafe bags and ScotteVest garments.
Carry your bag on your front, and zipped up. Take a look at the locals around you. Odds are that it is very common to see front-carry bags and incredibly rare to see a cellphone half hanging out of a butt pocket.
After you visit the ATM (likely in the airport) break as many of the big bills as you can. If we both want a candy bar, we are doing it in two separate transactions to break our bills down.
Separate your money. I have a “public money” spot for small bills and one card, and a “private money” spot for my reserves and emergency card. I can ensure I am in a private spot, like a restroom, to transfer money from my private stash to the public one.
Listen, in many places just being a certain skin tone will make you stand out, so we have to be realistic. Dress like a normal person and don’t wave your fancy items around, but know that you likely are very easily seen to be a tourist, and just try to make yourself a hard target.
Trackers, RFID-blocking wallets, and theft alarms can safeguard your items. That said, thieves are smart and prepared. Ultimately, prevention is easier than recovery.
Stay smart, and travel safe!