Anti theft items
Going on Classic Italy tour in September--14 day tour. Has anyone or does anyone feel the need to carry an anti-theft purse or anti-theft backpack? I will use a cross body purse, and my husband will carry a backpack on days we feel we will need one, but wondering if getting anti-theft items are necessary. I appreciate any input.
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I carry a small cross body Pacsafe bag with locking zippers, steel mesh in the fabric layers and a steel cable in the straps. You can find a variety of styles and brands of anti-theft bags at Amazon, Travel Smith, Magellan, etc. My husband uses either a money belt (sort of a flat fanny pack worn under clothing) or travel pants as Ashved described with secured pockets.
We also use the room safe whenever possible and only carry the minimum with us on daily touring.
In general we try to minimize what we carry except that we have multiple accts - different credit cards and debit cards from different credit unions. That may seem redundant but not so much after my brother in law had his wallet lifted on a Paris train. A group of men got on board and started acting very aggressive. Turned out it was a distraction and someone got his wallet. They immediately (and expensively) called back to the US to cancel his credit card and debit card. Because they share an acct they were left without a credit card at the start of a 2 week trip. Thankfully, their debit cards had different numbers so my sister's would still work so they could get money.
Should you follow the anti-theft guidance? Kind of depends on how risk averse you are.
Another caution, unless you intend to do some serious shopping, leave most of your cash and extra credit cards in the hotel safe. Neither my wife nor I use any special purse or wallet, but we carry what we take on walking tours close to our bodies, and constantly stay aware of our surroundings. We have never had a problem (I never had a problem in over 20 years in the Navy visiting some pretty sketchy ports all over the world.) In fact, we have never even been approached by anyone that appeared to be a thief. If we see someone checking us out from a distance, we engage them by staring directly in their eyes and letting them know we are aware of their presence.
I know it has happened, there have been stories posted here, but in over 10 tours, none of our fellow Tauck travelers ever had anything stolen, either. On one recent trip one lady reported cash being stolen, but it turned out she left an envelope with all her cash tucked in a book she was reading- the book and cash were still in her cabin. That being said, noted travel writer and videographer, Rick Steves who has covered this topic numerous times over the years, was himself a victim in 2017 in Paris. You can read about it here.
Let me also add a comment about the wallets, purses, and passport folders with special RFID shielding. They are one step away from a scam. Those selling these products rely on the typical customer not knowing how RFID technology works. While technically possible to read RFID cards (not normal chip or strip credit cards which CANNOT be read remotely!), it is VERY difficult and requires special equipment to collect the info. The equipment, which is often a specially equipped laptop, must be very close (less than 5') to your RFID device and can only collect the info when your device is being used (at a gas pump, cash register, passport reader, etc.). Also, the thief must have additional sophisticated equipment at home to extract and decode the info. Then it requires the thief use your info- to open an account in your name to get goods or money. This is too complicated, too much effort, and too expensive for the typical thief- it is more the subject of spy novels.
Being aware of your surroundings is a good lesson, but these thieves, who are often in gangs are super good at their game. They often pose as other tourists, taking pictures with each other etc etc. we have had a couple of runs with gypsies in Paris, they did not outwit us, and know people who have been robbed, including a man who tried to stop thieves taking his wife’s bag, they punched him unconscious and broke lots of bones in his face. Someone else we know of had her bag taken in the Louvre when she put it down for a second, the police were very unsympathetic saying if she put it down, what did she expect would happen.
In Italy, Rome, I was nearly knocked off my feet when a gang of fake handbag sellers were being chased by thieves and I know people who have been robbed or had their credit card skimmed. Years ago a friend had his hand burned with a cigarette end , they would not let go of it and tried to rob him, I could go on. I have been to Rome twice and have no yen to go again but would go to other Italian regions in a heartbeat. You are not immune but it is less likely.
Try not to look like a rich American, I am never ceased to be amazed by the amount of flashy jewelry people wear. I confess we both wore our decent watches on our last tour in Iceland but it is not usual for us. We have been known to not even wear our wedding rings.
Oh btw, on a recent Tauck tour to Milan, Italy I also was walking on the Main Street of our hotel in the fairly early morning when I was approached by another gypsy woman who tried to grab ahold of my shirt pocket and I had to physically push her away. She was persistent though with others walking on the street then. Our hotel manager said that it was a problem, but not much than anyone can really do about it. Sigh.
The gypsies in Paris will have a kid approach you and ask if you lost this “gold” ring. They then show you a clunky gold colored band. Just keep walking and tell them to bug (insert your own colorful word) off. They will leave you alone. Don’t engage in conversation as you never know where their partner(s) are.