Our passports were stolen in Paris

How do you know they were Romanian, did they show you their passports? Are you using that term to be PC about another group(many of whom are not from Romania, although about 25 pct in Europe are, the people are called Roma not Romanians, and I think sometimes Romanie or Roms). Maybe they were Romanians, though, I just wondered how you knew. Why were you looking for tip change in a store, anyway? You don't tip store clerks. Well, it's too bad, I would hate that happening to me, but think you should not lay wallets on counters, again.

That sure was nice for the store clerk to give you 20 euro, wowee. Really nice. Glad you had a good time, anyway, and didn't let this ruin your memories.

As far as I know, if you reported a passport lost/stolen, it is now completely invalid.

cyndyq, sorry that happened to you. Can you provide more details about the theft? Where were your passports stored? And your wallets? Was your entire purse stolen? Did you have everything (passports, cash, ATM cards, credit cards) store in the same bag? If it was a small store, how did the thieves get out? Did they do something to distract you? Did someone see them take your purse?

The caution is to always, ALWAYS have a money belt or security device that goes under your clothing and leave nothing valuable in any day pack or bag. this is all too common in large tourist cities. Be very careful when going thru metro turnstiles.

Yes, I am wondering about the nationality of the thieves myself.

Passports are always safer left in the room of a reputable hotel, even in plain sight on the table.

Oh, by the way, I had a U.S. passport stolen 13 years ago, and I still get pulled aside to the interrogation room in U.S. airports, wasting an extra 30 minutes. Apparently the U.S. authorities do not have confidence in the new passport that they issued to me. And victims become suspects.

I agree, the best approach is to NEVER take your passports and other valuable documents with you. I know other people disagree, but it would have to be a very disreputable hotel that would make me think twice about leaving my passport. And I would hope not to be staying in that kind of establishment.

Oh goodness. What's so awful is that I DO know how careful to be. It was just a slip of a moment - I felt like if I had it with me, it would be safe. It was surreal to say the least . . . I will have to give very high praise to the people who helped us fincancially. There are a lot of very fine people, and they were there for us!
They were a Romanian Gang, according to the Manager of the juice store, based on his viewing of the security camera video. The police documented it, as well. I don't know if they were able to see the tape or even if they recognized who did it, or what. And yes, I was silly. I had a wallet with my passports, AX card and my ATM bank card all in one place. In my hot little hands, except for the one moment I left it on the counter, snuggled up to my body to turn left and dig deep into my very "safe" travel bag. Normally I would have (and always have before) left my passports in the hotel safe. I read SOMEWHERE that you must have them with you, and since I had my 13 yr old granddaughter with me I wanted to be as correct as one could be. I will always have a COPY of my passport with me and I will never have all of my forms of payment in one place. NEVER It was just a very very big learning experience. I've published before and am thinking of writing the whole thing up. It was . . . interesting, and quite the experience. As for as tipping . . . it was a juice bar, and they had a tip cup . . . We were followed in by the 4 of them and according to the tape, the wallet was slid off to the right of me while I was looking into my left side pocket the three by the door walked out and the girl who took the wallet walked out by the time I pulled the change from my bag and faced back forward to the counter. The wallet was gone and so were the 4 of them. I distracted my own self This happened on Bastille Day and we missed the fireworks. I spent the first day at the Embassy (the 15th) the day I turned 60. And when we went to dinner that night it was wonderful. And then they didn't accept American Express. Like I've said, the story is long . . . I just mainly wanted to know if once I retrieve the passports (which I am going to do) would they just be keepsakes, or if they could be used instead of getting the new passports that I have already paid for. Also, besides Expedia search, anyone know where you can find the very best last minute fares???????? cyndyq

Your old passports have been invalidated. If anyone tries to use them they will come up as "stolen" or "invalid" on the computers so they are basically useless except as souviners. I can't recall if you have to get new ones or if the temporary process you went thought at the Embassy gets your new one in progress.


Having known people who have gone through this mess... that's why I wear a money belt or use the safe. It's not the "loss" it's the "loss of two days"

Just be glad it all worked out.

As for last minute airfare. I have been watching Paris and not seen anything great lately...

thank you all I am new to this website. Only Forum I've been on. Paris was great. It was wonderful. Yeah, the 2 and a half lost days were pretty bad . . . Wouldn't want to repeat them

cyndyq, thanks for sharing your details. I appreciate you posting this, as this is always a good reminder for everyone, including veteran travelers, that thefts can happen in a split second when one let his/her guard down.

There have been many discussions on many threads before, with some posters claim that they NEVER let their guard down and therefore they have no need for any extra precautions.

The moral of your experience is:
1) Never take passports with you unless they are absolutely necessary
2) Never put all your "eggs" in one basket (which is what I've been doing for years... only enough cash for the day is in my real wallet. ATM & CC cards are placed separately in secure inside pockets of my purse. Extra cash in moneybelt. So unless someone snatches my entire purse PLUS my moneybelt, I won't be left penniless).

Absolutely. I never thought it would happen to ME. I've traveled a lot. Thought I was very careful
We learn by the error of our own ways.

Has anybody here ever had their passport stolen at a hotel, whether it was in a safe or not? Anywhere in the world?

My own personal experience is one of "decreasing paranoia" -- the first day, I don't trust anybody, the second day I relax a little, the 3rd day I relax a little more, etc. By then, I don't mind leaving all of my possessions in full view at the hotel -- and nothing has ever happened at the hotel, even though I have been to more than 60 countries.

Out on the street is another matter. Terrible things happen out on the street.

cyndyq,
For best airfares use the kayak.com search engine and their email alert system. I'm glad that you offered corroborating evidence that it was a Romanian gang or some people here would be calling you a racist. The venue for the attack is a bit unusual since the pickpockets normally work the tourist scenes. They must have been following you. Sorry for your inconvenience and expense. It is a good lesson for all of us.

I have not heard of a stolen at a hotel, but... there are days when you are moving and can't leave things at the hotel. (My friend's theft occured on arrival day on the way TO the hotel for example)

Sorry you had this experience, cyndyq. It could happen to anyone. I also try to be very careful in general, whether at home or traveling, and have so far been lucky. I have had momentary lapses where a few minutes later I realize I had briefly not been paying attention.

Now that you know Fodors, how about a trip report, even if brief, about your hotel, meals, activities. I am a real fan of trip reports, and would enjoy reading about your trip, especially as you had your granddaughter with you.

I dont go out without the moneybelt.If I dont feel comfortable leaving the passport in the room, I just put inside the M.belt.

I just keep enough money for the day and one credit card handy,everything also goes inside the belt.

Also I always photocopy the passport in case the police stop me or I need it for other reasons,I keep it inside my purse.

My son was robbed in the Paris Metro,luckily he just had the change for the day..

We reported the incident to the police station that is located in the station..

I love this site! And I'm sure I will visit ofter because like you all I love to travel. I do have some great info and will be back. I have a 4p appointment TTYL cyndyq

I never go out on the street in Europe without my passport. That is my ID. I protect it. I keep it separate from my wallet and I keep some small cash in it just in case. Not only do I photocopy my passport I also copy the front and back of each of my credit cards, and bring duplicates in my luggage. Some scumball makes a hit on me nearly every time I am in Europe. It was a woman in London last time. The score so far is me 1000, baddies 0.

Why not just scan everything and keep it in cyberspace?

Spaarne, how many times have you had to use your passport to identify yourself other than to a bank or other official identity-checkers? Do the police stop you often and require you to identify yourself?

I NEVER EVER carry my passport with me whilst I am out touring. I leave it in the hotel safe.

Even if someone did break into your room safe, why would they take your passport?? Most theives just want things like cash, ipod, camera, jewellery.

Thin

kerouac,
I don't know how many times. I happens rarely but it happens. I just feel naked if I don't have my passport with me. Police never stop me, but I stop them to ask directions now and then. The B&Bs and hostels I've stayed in don't even have safes. The last time I used a safe was on an overnight ferry where I shared a room with 3 other guys and stashed my cameras, but not my passport. As Cries says, why would they steal my passport?

Has anybody here ever had their passport stolen at a hotel, whether it was in a safe or not? Anywhere in the world?'"

NEVER carry my passport with me In over 35 years of traveling it has never been stolen. I don't even leave it in the hotel safe.
For on street ID ( not that anyone has ever asked) I have my DL.

We had a lot of stuff happen to us on our trip to Paris, but not stolen passports (which I carry on me at all times).

Sorry this happened to you!

The one thing I would like to say is that it is great advice to always be aware, but it is virtually impossible to do! Especially the older I get! LOL

danon,
You have one year more of international travel than I and my passport has never been stolen either. Remember those good old days when the hotels required you to leave it with them? Then they would put it in a pigeon hole next to the front desk until you asked for it. Any passer-by could have had a handful of passports in an instant. I needed mine often in those days for collecting poste restante mail and for cashing travelers checks. I still keep my passport with me even though I'm using email and ATMs now.

Same for room keys hanging within reach in the old two star hotels. I still go to hotels like that and I've never had a problem.

When my camera died in Madrid Spain on the third day of my three-week vacation, I went to FNAC to buy a replacement. I had to use my VISA credit card and I was asked for my passport to pay for it. Fortunately I had it stashed in my Hidden Pocket that was pinned to the inside of my waistband and I could pull it out and replace it discretely.

I have always either used a money belt and now the hidden pocket to deep store the credit cards, my flight and hotel info (printed very small and on both sides of one letter-size page) and extra Euros...basically everything I would need to get back home.

If I need to go to an ATM, usually inside a bank lobby, I take out the card but then after getting the cash, I stash everything back into the hidden pocket.

So sorry about the loss of your wallet and passport - thank you for posting for those people who say that they never let their guard down and don't need a moneybelt because they never use one in their city at home. They also don't have to worry about traveling thousands of miles from a foreign country to get back to their home.

Re the cancelled passport, when my husband had to replace his passport that we thought had fallen out of his motorcycle jacket who knows where - he was told that if we did find it, that it had been cancelled and not to use it.

Pickpockets and thieves usually watch a potential victim before striking. If they see you digging in a money belt, they quickly move on. If they see you digging in a purse, pockets, or using a wallet, you get tagged.

I think going back is the best idea I've heard. Almost worth the inconvenience if you get an extra trip out of the experience.

"..If they see you digging in a money belt.."

well, that should never happen!

I don't like to be separated from my PP either, so it goes into my leg stash. I'm also afraid I'll go off and leave it in the hotel when I depart for home!

"If they see me digging in my money belt" ... they will have to be in a bathroom stall with me. Seriously I have to almost Strip to get to the thing so I don't do that in public (I know you are all very grateful!)

We always keep our passports with us - that way we know where they are at all times. That way we don;t go back to a hotel sae 3 days later and find them missing.

And agree - why were you tipping someone in a store - and why put down a wallet or purse? You NEVER let go of any valuable.

And did the Romanians identify themselves as such?

You loss is very unfortunate - but if you're always on guard it won't happen (and no need to money belts or strange pouches or money pinned to your clothes).

Please everbody, stress that this is a pretty unusual circumstance, having a passport stolen, I mean. Not unheard of, but unusual. There is enough misinformation already about thieves, pickpockets, and other bad characters roaming the streets of Paris, just waiting to make every unsuspecting visitor a victim.
Just a reminder that it does not happen as often as rumor would have it.
I need backup here.

No it could happen to the OP in Atlanta if she did the same thing.

As a matter of fact it has happened SEVERAL times at my local grocery store recently.

However, I find the money belt or safe a better solution then the "never put down your purse" clutch of death. (which won't stop a determined thief. one of the nice ladies at the grocery had it RIPPED out of her hands last week!)

It was a few years ago that I almost had my pocket picked in Paris. I was standing on a crowded metro going to Montmare when I felt a finger on my butt, feeling my back pockets for my wallet I guess. I actually had a money belt type wallet on with my daily allowance. My actual wallet only had about $5 worth of euros.

When I got to my stop I was prevented from leaving by a gypsy type looking guy who bent down in front of me and the train doors. He pretended to have dropped something and he grabbed my ankles to pick up my feet from the floor,like he was looking for something under my shoes. For a second I thought the train doors were going to close and he was preventing me from getting off with my family and then I realized these guys were trying to rob me!

I suspect that the guy feeling my butt was trying to slice the belt hoop of my money belt off my belt and the gypsy looking guy was going to grab it as it fell down my pants leg. Frotunately these guys were amatures and they got nil from me. My back pocket buttons were undone but my wallet was still there. Fortunately they didn't get off the train with us.

Same trip we were standing in front of our hotel near the Eifel Tower. We were waiting for our driver that was going to take us to Giverny. All of a sudden this guy comes running up towards us with a backpack in arms and behind him one fat gendarme chasing. Apparently he stole the backpack. As he passed us he heaved the pack into the bushes. The police never did catch him. About 10 min later after the police left the thief was back searching the bushes for the pack. Of course I had already pointed out to the gendarmes that the pack was in the bushes.

You do have to be careful in your travels or become part of the statistics.

"Should I carry my passport with me at all times?" is a question that appears regularly on this forum. Opinion is always divided on the issue, but one of the reasons for carrying it on one's person seems to be that the passport might be stolen from a hotel room. Kerouac has asked the question again in a post above, but, in this and all previous posts, it seems clear that NO ONE has reported having their passport stolen from a hotel room.

I remember reading in a travel magazine about a couple on vacation in the Caribbean, who had valuables stolen from their hotel room safe. The police said hotel rooms were easy to get into (with so many hotel employees having access), and room safes not that much harder.

So whereas maybe nobody in the small sampling of Fodors' contributors has had this experience personally, it has happened.

How awful for you!

I had my handbag stolen in Milan airport by two South American women, part of a gang that had been working Italian airports that year. I had NO id, no credit cards and just a little cash. The Canadian embassy in Milan issued me a new passport within a day, despite the fact I had no id - they did it on the word of our local office MD who verified she knew me. This was pre-9/11 - heaven knows what would happen now. Since then, I always carry a separate VISA and Cash card in my carry-on luggage. Its also recommended that you photocopy your passport and keep that elsewhere (notarized, if possible).

A friend in South Africa had her passport stolen a few years back and found out some time later that she had married a Somali gentleman!

Perhaps you should err on the side of caution and contact one of the credit bureaus re their fraud prevention services.

Regards .. Ger

I want to thank you for sharing your (horrendous) experience here. Quite courageous, as you can tell by the many sardonic responses...

I, personally, cringe at the advice to "just be aware of your surroundings", especially to first-time visitors to Europe who may never have even experienced a big city away from their home town.

It is just so easy to get distracted, forget to be watchful, and do something you immediately realize was careless and foolish.

When my niece was headed to Scotland for a semester abroad, I sent her a list of tips with the intent of keeping her safe but not to scare her...but, sure enough, one of her friends had her passport lifted in Barcelona.

When it comes to passports, every precaution is in order, versus having to get it replaced!

>You loss is very unfortunate - but if you're always on guard it won't happen (and no need to money belts or strange pouches or money pinned to your clothes).<

Oh, really? I once witnessed a band of children fleece an older couple in Florence. Those snappers got everything--watch, wallet, opened the woman's handbag and took out things inside. These kids were trained and it all happened in a matter of seconds.

What do you do when a Vespa whizzes past and the driver grabs your purse??

Thin

Even apart from the scenarios Thin just described, I know personally that I am not on guard all the time. I simply do not have that level of concentration, and I doubt very many people do, apart from Secret Service Agents.

My passport was stolen in a hotel in Spain (Lloret de Mar).

My co-worker's purse including passport, money, cell phone etc. was stolen in the breakfast room of a hotel in Prague. According to the police it turned out the hotel staff was involved with the gang that stole it.

Ah... the breakfast room but not the hotel room!

One of my colleague's friends had all of her money ($6000 in cash!) and her passport stolen in the breakfast room of the Hilton Vienna a couple of months ago. She left her purse on the chair when she went to the buffet. The Hilton provided a free ride to the American embassy for her. How nice.

I've yet to hear a story about valuables taken from a money belt. Hint..hint

That's because they mug you when you are fumbling with it. You would not believe the number of people that I have seen undressing at the cash register in front of the world.

So many people think that they will find a discreet place to get their money out before they need to pay for something, and then they see that thing they just have to buy right this instant! Like a can of Coke.

Undressing to get into your money belt???????? lol

I have heard people who don't wear money belts say, "They are uncomfortable" lol

I'm starting to get an image of why they say money belts are uncomfortable, and believe me, it's the IMAGE that's uncomfortable.

Where the he!! are these people wearing money belts??? lol........ sorry - fell on the floor laughing.

I doubt seriously that anyone said the thieves were Romanians. People from Romania are not identifiable from other Europeans, especially eastern Europeans, on a video tape. The person in the store probably said Romany- a group blamed for a lot of crime in Europe, justifiably or not. This has resulted in various discriminatory actions against the Roma people, including apartment buildings that won't rent to them, etc.

Chiming in as one who has a) never had a passport stolen from a HOTEL room and b) never heard a verifiable hotel room theft of a passport reported (until it was mentioned in this thread and I think we have ascertained that it was the BREAKFAST room).

But I don't carry a purse or a moneybelt...nor do I undress at the cash register to go diving for some sort of hidden stash. I have a pocket in my jeans/slacks and keep only minimal cash and one debit card and one credit card tucked into a very small inside pocket that I have stitched inside THAT outer pocket...I use my change as I go.

Never been successully 'picked' with this simple tactic.

<<I had to use my VISA credit card and I was asked for my passport to pay for it.>>

I've used the photocopy of my passport several times when asked for my passport when making a purchase or filling ot forms for the VAT refund. It's always been accepted. Your photo and passport number is what they need.

Kerouac,

Why did your friend have $6,000 in cash in her purse?

Luisah - I remember Kerouac saying (in another post)that it was small potatoes for her.
I thought about it a lot. I guess carrying $100 is small potatoes for me but HUGE money for most people in Zimbabwe.
All rellevant really!

I sometimes wear a moneybelt, but I always have enough cash for the day in my wallet so there's no need to dig into my moneybelt for cash during the day. I also carry my ATM card and Credit card in separate inside pockets in my day bag, so I don't need to dig into my money belt for those either.

What's inside my moneybelt? The rest of cash, spare ATM card, spare credit card.

LJ - just for the record: My co-workers purse, passport etc. were stolen from the breakfast room. My passport was stolen from the hotel room. It was a not so good two star hotel in Spain. No other unpleasant experiences with theft in hotel rooms since then.

Personally, I use no additional precautions when I travel. I use the same behavior as I do every day here in NYC.

I'm wondering why you are going to Paris to collect a cancelled passport and presumably cancelled credit/ATM cards.
It seems an expensive trip to collect what is largely worthless now. I know some people will leap at any excuse to go to Paris but this seems a bit extreme to me.

Why would you have to go back to Paris to retrieve your belongings? Why can't you just send them money to mail them?

My experience using Visa CC in Spain was same as TIMSMOM. I showed a copy of my passport often mentioned as sufficient in this forum. The store clerk asked her supervisor and said, "Sorry, a copy is no good; show me a real passport."


Amount was too small for VAT, but too much to accept without an ID.

Ingo: I am sorry for your loss...that must have been very distressing...I did not mean to imply that I did not believe you, I just didn't understand your posting!

Others: Cyndyq is going to some government/police dep't branch in the US? or BACK to Paris from the US? or maybe she is still in France? all this is very murky...but surely the bottom line is that passport thefts from hotel room/safes in hotel rooms are rare indeed-far rarer than the chance of getting pick-pocketed IF you carry the thing around with you... maybe with Spain as an exception (seems odd to me, but first to admit I don't know Spain)?

Not only that I don't have a money belt ( I'd rather wear a chastity belt), I carry a purse with one CC and about 100E around. Other CCs , passport and some money are in my bag in the hotel room. I must say though, I have never stayed in a
2 star hotel. Never had my purse stolen either.

I have two things that I make me feel safe while I travel:

1. A wallet with a loop that I slip through my belt and stuff the rest down the front of my pants.

2. A small coin wallet in my purse that is easy to get to. I carry my daily budget there.

3. Passports, tickets and extra money are left in the safe.

Ky, are you trying to talk cyndyq out of her trip back to Paris? For me this is what makes the whole episode worthwhile. Sort of like the time our car got photographed by a speeding camera in France just as we were being passed by a motorcycle. I said I would gladly go back to fight the ticket. Alas, it never came.

I'll never forget the group of tourists I saw at CDG, waiting for luggage, who wore their money belts around the outside of their clothing. I wonder how their trip went.

danon, never been a college student tight on money? Or did you stay in hostels back then? Btw, I didn't try to make a point by mentioning it was a 2star hotel. I'd expect that people who work in 2star hotels are no thieves, as I would expect in a 5star hotel.

LJ, I realised my post was a bit confusing. LOL Just wanted to clarify.

Two words: Safety pins

I don't carry my passport with me. I leave it in the hotel ... in a safe if there is one, but if not, I still leave it stashed out of sight in my room. I carry a photocopy, and I also have another scanned copy, as well as scanned credit card info, including their international phone numbers to call in case of theft or loss, in an email to myself that I don't open.

I don't use a money belt. I have a small shoulder bag, that I carry across my chest, and a zipper compartment inside, which is always safety pinned shut. That's where I keep the one credit card I carry at a time, as well as extra cash. I carry a small amount of cash in a front pocket or in an easily accessed pocket inside my bag. I don't use a credit card for small incidental purchases.

I guess a skilled pick-pocket could manage to get to my valuables, but fumbling with a safety pin would give me some warning I would imagine.

Have traveled many times across Europe, Central America, and South America, and I have not been robbed.

(Well, on second thought, that overpriced meal in Santiago de Compostela a few weeks ago might count as robbery ...)

<<The store clerk asked her supervisor and said, "Sorry, a copy is no good; show me a real passport.">>

I wish this had happened to me in a few shops when impulse buying won. If I'd had to return to the hotel for my passport I would've skipped the purchases.

I've used my cc in France, Prague, Italy, Morocco and Egypt without producing my passport. My last experience was in a jewelry shop in Santiago. When I said I didn't have my passport with me (and I'd forgotten to take the copy) the clerk asked for a driver's license, which I didn't have either. Then she said "Put your phone number on the charge slip." Then the sale went through.

Nowadays it seems that every time I use my Visa card I am asked for picture ID--it seems coincidental that this practise has started since the new Chip cards have come out. I haven't yet refused to show them my (outdated)learners licence --I don't drive--so I don't know what will happen if I refuse to show them somethng.

Spain is the only country that I have visited that often asks for additional identification when I use a credit card.

Oh, that's not true -- it has happened to me in both Florida and California as well.

(It should be mentioned that my Monoprix says that identification is required if you charge more than 200€ on your card, but that is unlikely to happen when I am buying groceries.)

Only once about ten years ago, on a very crowded tram in Lisbon, was I threated in this way. Like an idiot, I was standing on the tram holding a copy of Fodor's Portugal. Might as well have had an American flag tattooed on my forehead. It was crowded, we were standing, but I realized that suddenly the guy behind me was pushing me - a full body push. My cash was in the front pocket of my pants - I don't carry a purse. As the tram was stopping I sensed that he wasn't going to let me get off the tram and my husband was ahead of me. I half turned, shoved my elbow into his stomach (yes, I did aim lower) as hard as I could and very loudly yelled "get the fu....away from me!" When we got off, a man who had seen the whole thing said it was pickpockets, but we lost nothing. And, no, I didn't give a rats if I looked like an ugly American.

I carry a neck pouch and have never been bothered. I've been to China, Russia, Egypt, and Europe several times. Has anyone had their neck pouch picked? The closest I have come to anyone in my party being bothered, my traveling companion (cousin) had the man behind her stick in hand in her pocket on the funnicular in May of this year. She slapped his hand. She didn't tell me about it until we were on the ground. I would have screamed so loud everyone in France would have heard me.
Carolyn in Texas

My DH & I were in Naples in May, had a great day on the Hop on buses. We got on a crowded bus in the Port area the bus had only gone one stop & DHs wallet which was down inside his shirt was stolen. he had realized it had gone before the bus had started from the stop where the thieves had got off I was off the bus 1st but no sign of them.i can only guess a car was following the bus. I also think that they had followed us fron a cafe where my husband payed from his wallet. I think that one of the staff told them where it was.!DH had a large amount of cash in it plus CCs. yes I know we should not have had a lot of cash but the Apartment owner had to be paid in cash the next day.
I am sure one of them tried to pick my pocket also. , When we got to the Police station the policeman said "you have lost something it is bad in Naples". We just filled out the forms & they gave us the Phone nos for Visa etc.didn't ask for a description!! I have a moneybelt,but DH did not he thought it cumbersome!! We always have copies of CCs & passports. thank goodness that I had my Netbook which has Skype. so I was able to phone & cancel CCs as US 800 #s do not work outside of US & that would have been very expensive using the hotel phone. We have traveled extensivly for 60 years this is is a first. I also carry a whistle on a cord in my purse. I found out that most homeowners insurance cover theft including cash while on vaction etc. unfortunately we had a lerger deductable Jean

Sorry lerger should be larger

Heh, does my old heart good to see this topic pop up again.

I always leave my passport in the hotel safe and I also never put in in the same pouch as any valuables I'm leaving it in the safe. The odds of anyone going for JUST your passport are slim--petty thieves are looking for valuables they can sell or for cold, hard cash. Most are not international forgers. In 99.9% of cases, when people have their passports stolen it's because they were in with other attractive valuables--such as a purse or wallet where a thief believes money is held.

Well, PegS, that's something to think about, too. I usually put my pp cc's and extra cash in either a plasic zippy or extra wallet so I won't leave something behind. You do make a good point and you've got me thinking. Put the cash and cc's in the zippy, close it and push the pp to the back of the safe and hope it's not noticed?

I just returned from France, with no problems, luckily. I had a neck pouch while in CDG and the Metro ride into Paris. I spent a lot of time on Fodor's seeking advice and reading many posts. I used zip ties on all my baggage zippers. And velcro ties on my day bag which was slung acrossed my chest. But no amount of awareness or precautionary measures can help when more than one individual tags you as a mark.

I carried my DL with me for identification. I never carried my passport with me unless I was thinking of getting close to another country's border.

I would have walked out of the shop that denies a copy of your passport. Did they look at the picture? It should look like you, eh? You obviously speak like the country your passport says you are from. Again they would have lost a big sale from me (since the VAT execption is for over 175E.

We had items stolen from a hotel room in Prague 4 years ago. It was a 3 star hotel. There were no safes in the rooms. We locked things in the luggage. The thieves were let into the room by the maids/staff and they ripped apart the zippers on the luggage. All they got from us was costume jewelry and cell phones that wouldn't work in Europe. Others staying in our hotel had all their cameras and photos on flash drives stolen. We did have travel insurance and in order to put in a claim had to have a police report. So at 11:00 PM, when we discovered the theft off we went with a local cop to the precinct to wait for the translator to come so we could file and get a copy of a report.We were reimbursed for the loss from the travel insurance after a fight. We didn't lose anything valuable but it was the hassle of the whole incident that ticked me off.

DH had a backpack with him on a business trip that was doubling as his briefcase so he had his laptop, camera, passport, etc in it. In the security line in the barcelona airport at 6am, he put the backpack on the floor next to him to remove his sport coat and in an instant, it was gone. with only a couple of airport personnel around and perhaps a tourist or two, the police determined it was an inside job. He was able to board his flight to Frankfurt and the police/customs people there helped him get a through security, etc. Very upsetting to lose it all. He also makes a practice of keeping his wallet in a front pocket - makes it tough for pickpockets and has been told that its also better for his back! When we travel together, one person is at an ATM, the other stands back to back and watches. Thefts occur worldwide, its just more upsetting when you're on vacation and want to be a good tourist and guest of the country.

the only time i needed my passport in paris was when i had to go to the us embassy.

horrible encounter

glad it all got smoothed out

We always carry our passports in our moneybelts. If there was a universal law requiring you to carry your passport, many people on this board would still insist it was not meant for them. Laws do not applyto them! Their way is always the correct way. All rooms have safes and passports are not needed for identification! Of course it's ok to put your wallet in your back pocket because you have it buttoned! You have been traveling for 100 years and never a victim! You people spend too much time on this board. Bored!

Is this the place where I say that I have lost or been divested of 5 passports?

1. In Australia, I did something with my French passport. My main memory is telling myself "don't put your passport there or you're going to lose it."
2. In Los Angeles, both U.S. and French passports stolen out of the trunk of my car along with most of my possessions on Melrose, a very fashionable and 'safe' part of town.
3. In Johannesburg, both passports stolen in a mugging involving numerous young men with butcher knives.

So, what do you do in cases like that?

In the first case, I went to the French consulate in Sydney, and they said, "you still have your American passport and you are transiting through Los Angeles? Just go back to France and take care of it there!" And that was indeed a simple solution, because in those days, it was very easy to get a new French passport as long as you had a 'lost or stolen' certificate.

In the second case, I still had my French ID card, which is all that is required to enter France. Anyway, it was Thanksgiving weekend, it happened on Friday, and every single office that I tried to contact was closed for 4 days. (People who criticize other countries for having offices closed when they should theoretically be open since it is not technically a holiday should meditate this occurrence.)

As for South Africa, I called the U.S. consulate and all I got was an answering machine. (Once again it was holiday season, a couple of days before Christmas but not yet a real holiday.) So I called the French consulate and got a somewhat irritated woman on her mobile phone. She was the duty officer and was doing Christmas shopping with her young daughter in a shopping mall. Nevertheless, she told me to take a taxi to her place (she had to pay, because I had no money left), and she actually invited me to spend the night in her house, which was expressly forbidden by the rules, but it suited both of us (no need to take me to a nearby hotel and pay for my room). And she cooked a fantastic meal, not that I was in much of a mood to really appreciate it.

The next morning, she got my laissez-passer for France by contacting my office which had photocopies of my identity papers and faxed them, and I was on the flight home as scheduled (since all of this happened on the very last day of my vacation). The last thing left to do was to send a check to the consulate to reimburse the money that had been advanced to me.

Anyway, this is just to say that really awful things can happen on a trip, but everything is relative, and as long as you are not injured, it really doesn't matter.

Unfortunately, I am still not allowed to enter the U.S. without problems, even though I have been 'good' for the last 14 years. What are those people thinking?

kerouac -- that's the problem, those people are NOT thinking! They're just "doing something" to reassure the kowtowed public.

Hi paujgalman, hi cyndyc, the same exactly technique was used by a gang I could have sworn
they were Rumanias in Madrid 's metro. They did stole too some money and cards.
They even smiled to us when I guessed they were stealing from my husband blocking our way when we were boarding the metro .
I over heard one word which made me feel that they were Rumanians. I am sorry suspecting that they were Rumanians,
or should we be politically correct. In essence the nationality does not matter. I am sure they were not Spaniards.
In the EU there are no frontiers . We are going shortly to Europe and the phamtom of that ugly Sunday morning comes back. It seems they love holidays.
By the way we have been in Rumania and loved it.. No problems there.
I am sorry about your bad experiences. One second, one distration and it is too late.

A friend wears a T-shirt with a pocket underneath his regular shirt. I wear a pouch on a strap hung from my neck and stored under my shirt. Travel or fisherman vests include zipper inside pockets. Pickpocketing is a business albeit illegal. Successful operators target a mark long before they strike. They watch ATMs, they watch money changers and AX offices. Italian travellers are now reporting thefts at roadside coffee bars. A mark is surrounded by 'other tourists' and nicked. Some bandits are well dressed and speak English.

I suppose I have been very lucky, because I have never been pickpocketed and/or had anything stolen from me during five trips to Paris.

And I have never been asked for ID when using my MasterCard, which I use for almost everything while on vacation.

I always carry a purse in Paris, just as I do at home. Just like the hundreds of Parisian women I see walking, shopping, riding the Metro, and dining in the city every day.

As far as carrying my passport with me - I never do. It's always left in the apartment that I have rented (I prefer apartments to hotels). I do carry my California Driver's License with me, but I never have been asked for it. I assume that if I was ever involved in any type of incident in Paris, I could easily be indentified through the D.L. And if a store won't take my CC because I don't have my passport to identify myself - well, there's always another store around the corner, right?

cindyq, I'm sorry that you had this bad experience, and I am glad that you managed to have a good trip despite the theft.

Cindyq, you have a great attitude about trip setbacks. We had a passport stolen on a trip in Greece and it turned out to be one of the more interesting trips we have had; with a visit to the police station and US embassy.

I was buying train tickets at the automated machines in Rome and Venice train stations over the past three weeks. On four occasions a woman carrying a baby would reach in and show me where to insert my credit card, retrieve the ticket etc. This was with me telling these ladies to get away from me. They were either looking for a tip for their help or more likely trying to distract me so that someone else could grab my wallet. They were very aggressive.

Wo! Well I DID go back to Paris and took one of my best friends with me. She didn't really think she wanted to go (but didn't want me going by myself) All in all, it was wonderful and she enjoyed the trip more than she ever imagined she would or could. The weather was absolutely breathtaking (Sep 19-24) I just feel like a lucky girl getting the chance to go back! I got my wallet, along with all of my cancelled credit cards, the no longer valid passport, the already replaced driver license, etc. . . It made something inside of me happy to hold it all (once again) in my hot little hands. This time I, of course, did not carry my passport around with me. And I did not carry all of my credit cards with me, or all of my money and ways to get it . . . with me. It ws just a very hard lesson learned. This was the first time I had been on any type of chat/forum... I happened on to fodors not too long after my July trip and exposed the major error of my ways to a bunch of savvy travelers (I always thought I was one . . . a savvy traveler. ) Bottom line - we all make mistakes but I did get to do summer AND fall in Paris and that in itself was too cool to me. I loved it. I find that I totally love this site with all of the travel info and opinions that come with it. I smile here. Stuff happens. Ya know?! cyndyq

You went back, that's great. I told my husband I'd love to go back and fight the speeding ticket we thought we'd get from a traffic camera in France, but the ticket never came.

Sounds like your cloud had a silver lining.

I was in Paris the last two weeks, on my umpteenth trip, and had my camera nicked the first week. Totally my fault because I got lazy about a cardinal rule: NEVER put anything more than tissue in an outside pocket! I'd been using the camera so many times during the day that I put it in my trenchcoat pocket for quick access. Two stops on a city bus and it was gone. Stupid, lazy mistake and I knew better.

I carry my passport around mostly because internet cafes require it.

Cyndyq - contratulatons, not only for your recovery but for another trip to Paris. Wonderful for you!

What's with some people's sympathy for Romanians? Apparently the police thought the crooks weren't Africans, or Chinese. Perhaps too dark and swarthy to be Danish. Would the sympathizers have been content had the police referred to the crooks as Balkanesian? Would a 12-generation DNA family tree have been ample enough for the sympathizers?
True, they might have been Bulgarians, or Albanians, or even perhaps Moldovans. But if the last 4 pickpockets the police HAD apprehended just so happened to be Romanian, are the police SO bad for suspecting the next might also be Romanian?

Some people strive too hard to be "fair", and in the process fail to be objective. Such persons should ask themselves two questions: 1)What amount and type of proof WOULD have been sufficient to merit the descriptor, "Romanians"?; 2)Why do I merit the police passing on such information to me?

In a similar vein, I recently separated my money from my CCs and carry two small cases so that I never have both out at the same time. Not just for traveling but always. It dawned on me that when I am using a CC, I am not using money and it is more prudent to carry them in different cases so as to minimize the chance of losing all one's money *and* CCs in one fell swoop!

cyndyq - Thanks for sharing your story. One always risks being criticized on this board for "coming clean" with respect to mishaps when travelling. It is usually easier to offer advice after the fact. I am glad you were able to recover your senses quickly and especially glad you gave Paris another chance.

tC

Well, Shuler is the only other traveler besides myself that I have ever heard of who uses what I would call a wallet, leather, about 8x4 inches that has a loop to put your belt thru and you deploy it into your crotch. When I pay I give in to the inevitable and reach in there to drag out my wallet, immediately replace it, receive my change or whatever drag it out again, put the change or whatever back into the wallet and stuff it back into the crotchal area. I figure if the "Roma" are going to try for it I will notice and take steps to protect myself.

As someone who flies internationally everyweek for a major airline, I have to add my two cents. I use to be one of those people who always left my passport in the hotel safe along with my other valuables. However, after the attack in Mumbai,India last year I am now carrying my passport with me . Friends who were in Mumbai who were there during the bombings but out of the hotel have told me that it was a major pain not having any identification on them to get home.
I do, however always wear a money belt when walking around foreign cities and always split stuff in my purse.

Dutyfree, I can understand your concern, and that must have been traumatic for your friends. But isn't it more likely to lose your passport on your person due to theft or just plain loss, than to lose your passport because the hotel you are staying in experiences a terrorist attack?

dutyfree, I'm interested in the kind of money belt you wear.
I have the kind that loops into the belt and tucks into the pants (bulky, but I think a bit safer than a waist belt). Any suggestions on which money belts (hopefully waterproof) are the best for carrying passports?

My husband switched from the around-the-waist money belt to the kind that loops through the belt and slips under the slacks. Bought it through Travelsmith, but I'm sure they're available other places. I wear my money belt with the pouch in the small of my back and I never even think about it.

We've had this discussion on here so many times, but I still fail to see the logic in those who say they don't need a money belt, just "be cautious." Well, a money belt allows me the freedom to be less cautious and more attuned to the beautiful architecture, gardens, etc. The last thing I want to do on vacation is be stressed out or constantly on guard.
To say (as someone did earlier) that they take no more precaution in a foreign country than they do at home is not, IMHO, a good idea. It's much more hassle to replace missing cards, and deal with enjoying your trip without them, when you are in a foreign country.

Finally, my DH and I do one more thing: We carry two different credit cards and he carries both of one while I carry both of the other. That way if one of us gets nicked we still have "good" cards to continue our journey.

A good friend of mine has a family member who is a CIA agent in Paris and says US passports are worth $10K on the black market there. Thieves are much more interested in the US passport than the cash.

(She relayed this story to me as I was helping my daughter pack for a semester abroad program in Aix. I ran out & got her a money belt...)

Had my pocket picked in a bus station in Mendoza, Argentina....my cash and passport disappeared. Beautiful timing on the part of the thieves...they nailed me just as I got on the bus to Buenos Aires. I didn't discover the theft until I was seated and the bus had departed. My CCs and ATM card were in a different pocket, so those were spared. Trust me, it was a long, angry, brooding twelve-hour bus ride to BA!

The US Embassy in BA gave me a Limited-validity (one year from time of issue) passport. This took only a couple of hours...very efficient and helpful, those people were. To date, I've had no trouble exiting or entering the US with this document.

So if my American passport would fetch $10,000, do you know a buyer with the ready cash so I can go ahead and book my next vacation?

I would love to know where the $10k figure comes from. New passports from modern countries are relatively worthless if they are stolen. If they still fetch $10k, that just means that the US has put any efficient security systems on their passports.

Of course, we have already had tons of examples of the CIA information being totally incorrect. WMD, anybody?

read: has NOT put

$10k? LOL.

yeahhh It was great. getting to go back seeing the fall leaves and the different season . . . I really do love being in Paris. I love New York too.
"They" didn't want our passports . . . both were right there with the rest of my invalid stuff. The US dollars and the euros were the only missing items.
and Nikki If that ticket ever arrives . . . well, you've just GOT to go back and make "things" right!

"We carry two different credit cards and he carries both of one while I carry both of the other."

Sorry, I am trying to figure this out... does it mean, you have 4 cards? you have 2 and husband has 2? 4 cards in one family, do you pay 4 annual fees?

Lots of people have more cards than that. My beau and I each have a corporate card issued by our employer (no charge). And we each have (from before we were together) an AmEx, a Visa and a MC. the only ones that charge are AmEx - the others come free from the bank (but I believe you have to have a certain amount of business there or they do charge fees).

We don;t take all when we travel, just an AmEx and one other card each as well as a debit card to our respective checking accounts (different banks) - in case there is a problem getting cash with one.

And I sympathize with people not used to large cities - it must be disorienting to be in a different atmosphere than you're used to - as well as in a foreign country/different language etc. But I still believe that personal vigilance is your best bet. I've had 2 friends "lose" things in Erope - both admittedly their own fault. And if you read the above - most are situations that could be prevented:

You avoid having a bag pulled off your shoulder by a Vespa rider by keeping the bag next to the wall,, not the street

You avoid losing things in a breakfast room by keeping your bag with you - never leave it on a table or seat

You avoid falling victim to a scam by just walking straight ahead and ignoring importunate strangers - no matter what they say or do (pretend they're not there and just keep walking - if they try to get in front of you - say NO very loudly and give them an elbow if necessary (But this is all routine to someone who rides the Broadway local on a regular basis). I think a lot of people get in trouble be feeling that they need to be "nice". You don;t owe the world "nice" - self-protection is more important.

There are SO many responses here but I'll add my little story as well. Many many years ago i was in Prague with my brother, husband and mother(84yrs. old). My mother and I bought a few trinkets at an outdoor market stand. When we stopped at the next vendor and reached into our purses (closed) to get our wallets - they were GONE! We were in total disbelief that without our having a clue, we'd been robbed. My husband then recalled the scene at the 1st vendor where two young women were standing directly behind us and one kind up bumped into one of us..my mother and I had not even noticed. The good news was that my mother and I were both savvy travelers so what was in our wallets was practically NO money, no credit cards, and certainly no passports. All of the above were either in zipped waist belts or in the safe at the hotel - I also only carry small amounts of money as I use my CC for most purchases and keep extra money and another cc also locked in the hotel safe or locked in my suitcase...hotel help do not steal whole suitcases!
The bottom line was that I had to congratulate the two young women for a job superbly done - probably wouldn't have felt so proud of them if I'd had a serious loss. BTW - we travel to Europe - mostly Italy at least twice a year and the pick-pocketing in Prague was the only time that has even happened to either me or my husband. My husband, actually carries his cc/money and sometimes passport in a pouch that fits into the front of his pants..it's on a loop on his belt. He would never carry a wallet in his pocket even though he has to reach down his pants to pay for dinner!

Dayenu, I think it means each person carries both cards from the *same* acct.( his and hers) Otherwise, if each carried only the cards w/his or her own name on it, then if one of them was robbed, both accts would need to be cancelled, and they would be left w/o a functioning acct. Did I clarify or make it worse?

So that would be 2 total accts, 4 cards, but only 2 annual fees.

I do not pay annual fees on any credit card accounts. I always travel with two that are in my name only, and my husband has two in his name only. I also have two ATM cards to different accounts in my own name. I keep one credit card and one ATM card in my wallet, and leave the rest in the hotel or apartment.

If we had two cards from the same account and my card was stolen, we would call and the account would be frozen, making my husband's card useless.

<<Thieves are much more interested in the US passport than the cash.>>

The title of the original post is misleading. The poster's WALLET was stolen and the passports happened to be in it. The thieves ditched everything except the cash. They had no interest in the passports, which were in the possession of the police .

Why would a U.S. passport be worth 10k when it would be canceled as soon as the owner reports it missing?

cyndyq: Thank you for reporting - and glad you were able to retrieve all your belongings!

We were in Paris those dates also and agree that the weather just could not have been more spectacular!

We went to Monet's Home and Gardens in Giverny on a Monday and had the place almost all to ourselves as not many know it's open Mondays now. The weather was glorious and the gardens were spectacular. The water lilies were in bloom - white, pink, dark pink - just awesome!