Wallet Stolen in Granada - Lessons Learned

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.
I know that people will tell you the perfect tricks not to get pickpocketed, but eventually you can only minimize the risk by not having much to steal with you.
I think that 300 in cash was a bit too much - I rarely carry more than 50 or 100. Credit cards are insured, so no big deal, just some hassle.
I'm usually quite careless (to a limited degree!), but I guess I just look like there is too little to gain for pickpockets.

All of your suggestions are good. We also both carry a different credit card.

I haven't carried a purse in Europe for years after a very little bag I was using was stolen. For some reason, that was the first morning I had put my credit card in my front pants pocket instead of my purse. All they got was 25 euros,a copy of my passport, a lipstick, and some tic-tacs.

My husband uses a cloth, zipper pocket with 2 loops that go on his belt and then you flip it inside your pants.

I haven't had any problem putting some cash, a credit card, a passport copy in my pockets.

I'm glad you didn't let it ruin your trip.

Keep your purse/bag on your lap, never at your feet. I just recently heard of someone who looped their bag around their ankle and the thief cut the strap and got away.

Yes, I agree that I had too much cash. I rarely carry so much, but had heard that many of the small restaurants don't take credit cards. In addition, we had checked out of our hotel and the luggage was not being stowed in a secure location so I had it all with me.

Yes thanks for the warning.

I split cc/debit card/cash in at least three different ways so most any thief can get away at a time is 1/3 of the fund/cards if they could.

And yes, I use a money belt, so I don't have to be aware of surrounding all the time and still be protected even when I get distracted.

Someone got into my daypack in Barcelona, but I was prepared. All it had were guidebooks, maps, a bottle of water, an umbrella, and a sweater. He took nothing but left me a calling card consisting of open daypack zippers. Someone tried to lift my wallet from my front pants pocket in London. I caught him just as his hand reached into my pocket. Even if he succeeded, all he would gotten was a decoy wallet with nothing of value in it.

I always my purse within my eyesight, either on my lap, or on the chair next me,which I rarely do, with the strap wrapped around the chair or to something else that makes it difficult to just take it and run.

But mainly, it stays on my lap, since it's usually worn across my chest anyway, it's the easiest thing.

Sorry that happened to you, but you certainly seemed to have the best attitude about it and the only thing I would add is trust your instinct, if you feel someone is not right, as you and your husband did, assume you are right and be on the offensive.

thanks for this, sferguso.

fortunately [and I'm touching wood here] I've been lucky so far. but we're off to Krakow in 10 days time, and I'll use your thread to remind me to be vigilant. anyway, i wouldn't want to carry a handbag as it would only aggravate my bad shoulder, right?

thanks again,

regards, ann

My wife and I were eating at a cafe in Barcelona last summer and I had our backpack with all our valuables about 3 inches away from my feet. Two men in their early twenties came by and sat a couple tables away. They didn't look really honest or really dishonest. Anyway the restaurant proprietor did not serve them and shooed them away. Clearly they were after our backpack and if it weren't for the vigilance of the proprietor they may have got it.

Eric

Sorry for your loss. but you committed one of the cardinal sins - NEVER let go of your purse in public. (Within eyesight isn't good enough, it can be grabbed in an instant - you have to have control of it at all times - esp in buffet breakfast rooms in hotels.)

And I don;t care if this is Granada or the US. I saw a kid run buy and grab a woman's purse off the chair next to her in an expensive outdoor cafe in ultra-exclusive Greenwich CT.

When eating either keep the purse in your lap, or, if it's too large, place it between your feet with the strap wrapped around your ankle or knee. And if anyone but the waiter comes near you, pick it up and keep it on your lap.

And you don;t need a money belt. I've never used anything but a regular purse and in more than 70 trips have never had a problem. BUT I'm a native New Yorker and there are things that are obvious/second nature to me of which other people don;t seem to be aware.

sferguso, sorry for your loss but admire your spirit! Been in Spain a few times (love it!) but on each trip have witnessed or heard of similar incidents suffered by fellow travelers.

Your detailed description of your unfortunate event is a reminder to us all. Thank you.

In retrospect, I guess you were actually lucky to have lost so little, compared to what you had in your bag. Still, sorry for your bad experience, but admire your attitude!
Never carry your passport.
Carry a photocopy, not the actual document.

The same thing has happened to friends in New Orleans and to many people in the Back Bay in Boston, where a respectable looking man and woman did the same thing in cafes for a week or two a couple of years ago until they moved on to another city. You have a great attitude ("stuff happens") and everyone has given good suggestions for minimizing losses.

Haven't read all the replies but here is some other experience.
If you are travelling with a spouse, split the credit cards you are carrying--don't carry the same ones.
800 numbers do not work --at least in Europe. You need the collect call number.
You can get an overnight replacement card (in Europe), or at least in two days. Demand it. It can happen.
Before leaving inform your bank of your dates so THEY don't cut you off for "unusual activity".
I carry credit cards in a secure zippered pants pocket.

The exact same thing happened to me in Boston, several years ago. So it's not just Europe.

I'm a great fan of money belts. They release you from the necessity of being constantly vigilant and on the defensive, which I find tiring and depressing, especially when jetlagged and in a strange city where they don't speak your language.

Crime is so bad in Spain now, my father in law SLEEPS with his money belt on. No joke

Thanks for the reminder. I think the tips you already listed pretty much cover the things I do. Purse either stays on my person (if it's a tiny one), in my lap or right on the table. Cash & charge cards are split, not all with you, or in the same place.

Oh I do have one other thing to add... I normally don't use a typical wallet when I travel. Only a zippered coin purse for my cash.

Since he didn't take your whole purse it would not have made any difference if you had looped it around anything. He reached in and efficiently took exactly what he wanted.

I keep my purse on my lap and take it with me to the ladies room or whenever I leave the table. I have learned the hard way that people get distracted and are not always thinking about my purse which is left in their care.

My friend found her purse unzipped and the thief rummaged through all her things in a large purse, took out only the money from her wallet and left the wallet, all in a few seconds, while it was on her shoulder! They are good at what they do!!

Sorry this happened to you.

I've been giving this a lot of thought because of our upcoming trip to Barcelona. I have one question for the women who say they don't carry purses while traveling. How do you carry your camera?

Thanks.

So far no sanctimonious posters telling you how foolish you were. We're improving. It's nice to read some civil responses as well as helpful tips. I can relate to your situation because I've been around numerous folks that have also been pickpocketed or scammed. My wife doesn't allow me to carry money, so I can only comment on events I've seen.

It's easy to say what not to do to someone else and I have been guilty of it myself, but until something like this happens, you are never quite ready for it. You can clutch your wallet to your chest for 24 hours a day over 7 day of vacation, but at some moment on the 8th day you drop your arms for one second, and poof...it's gone. That's all it takes. The clever thief can always come up with some sort of ploy to divert your attention. In truth, it's more often a case of bad luck than carelessness on the victim's part. All you can really do is minimize your chances of being ripped off by using a money belt and by using credit cards instead of money.

I can't imagine traveling without a purse or some kind of tote bag, so am interested to hear the replies to CAPH52's question above. Where do you put your stuff?

I didn't carry a purse on my last trip, but it was November so I had a travel coat that has a lot of zippered/secure pockets - most on the inside of the coat. I carried my ID, a credit card, a little cash, a small comb, a lipstick and my reading glasses in the various inside pockets. This left my outside pockets (which zipped) for my camera and tissues. My camera strap was almost always looped around my wrist. When traveling in a warmer climate, I use a messenger bag since I don't have the coat with all the pockets.

I carry a cross body Travelon bag that has a zippered flap that flips completely over the purse. It's a bit of a pain for me to get into, but it also makes it almost impossible for anyone else to try to get into the bag. Nothing is completely foolproof, but I recommend this type of bag for travelling.

Just came back from Barcelona.

I carried a hidden wallet that loops through my belt and a small purse with a bit of loose change for metro tickets and small purchases. Worked perfectly. I left my ID and most of my money back at the hotel safe.

Here's the wallet:

http://www.best4travellers.com/products/de/Sicherheit/Sicherheitsguertel/Geheime-Einschub-Brieftasche.html

Thanks!

I asked this not only because of the camera (small guide book, tissues, etc.) but because in June in Barcelona, I expect to be wearing capris. And none of my capris have pockets.

I have a cloth purse that I bought at Monoprix that zips and then has a flap that goes over the zipper all the way to the bottom of the front of the purse and snaps. As long as I tuck it snugly under my arm so that the strap can't be cut, it would be pretty damn difficult for someone to get into.

I also like the fact that, because it's cloth, it's easily scrunched up and stuck in my carry on.

I hope it'll be a good choice for Barcelona. Though I'm thinking I might just get a money belt for my cash and credit cards.

Ha the way we prepare for travel it is like we are heading for a war zone but I do have to say that cloth purses can be knifed open and emptied while you are carrying it snugly. Keep all that is valuable in a money pouch.

On one of my friend's day tours a young lady had her purse knifed open and didn't even realize it until it suddenly felt lighter.

My husband and I have traveled throughout the U.S. for over 30 years and throughout Europe for over 20 years. We have been fortunate enough to have never been the victims of a pickpocket. We both use money belts for most of our cash, credit/bank cards, and ID. I always carry a purse as well. Over the years, I have carried a variety of purses, small and large. I usually select a cross body style that has either a zipper or a large flap over the top. I always choose one that has zippered interior compartments as well. My husband and I both carry point and shoot cameras—mine is usually on a strap around my neck or in my purse. My husband puts his in his pocket. I make copies of our ID, credit card info, bank phone numbers, etc. I try to be aware of my surroundings, particularly in crowded situations. I try to look confident not fearful.

All of that being said, I am not naive enough to believe that I could not fall victim to a pickpocket. It only takes a minute of being distracted—something that can easily happen when you are traveling and trying to observe all the wonders of places that you may visit only once in a lifetime. I have had 3 friends (two women and a man) who have been pickpocketed (the women in France, the man in Portugal).

My best advice is to take precautions but don't be so fearful of being pickpocketed that your fear makes you a target. Enjoy your trip. Most people will return from their trips safe and sound with all of their possessions still in hand.

Not that this helps for upcoming warm weather trips, but when we were just in Germany and Austria this December, I found that I barely had to carry a purse due to the handy inside pockets in my Lands End wool coat. I was able to put my small wallet containing a few credit cards, cash, and a lipstick in there with no problems. I could even fit brochures and things like that that I picked up along the way (I kept my passport in the safe back in the hotel room). I found it quite liberating, actually.

sferguso, I'm very sorry you had this experience. But I really appreciate your posting about it. There have been some very helpful responses on this thread!

Thank you to those of you who've given such great advice!

Jenblase how about sharing a link or photo of that Lansend jacke? I'd be interested in one.

sferguso, I am so sorry this happened to you. Thank you for posting, it's a good reminder to be cautious, vigilant about our belongings. We have not experienced this (dare I say, yet?) and with that comes a comfort level that can be dangerous. Look forward to reading your report!

I think that the best general advice I've heard is not to carry a wallet -- the item that quick-fingered thieves are most likely to grab. Divide cash and credit cards among two or three pants/jacket pockets or zippered pockets inside a purse. Or, in cool weather, wear a tiny flat purse cross-body under your coat.

I bought a wrist pocket for going to the gym. It works well so I don't have to use a locker--I leave my purse at home. Here is a website for one--I bought the small one--slips on the wrist with a zippered pocket large enough to hold credit cards and some money. There are many online shops selling these. I have one made of fleece and another of something lighter and stretchy purchased through another online store. Worn under a long sleeve shirt it isn't easy to notice and would be extremely difficult for someone to access. I don't think it's large enough for a passport, though. I also bought a pair of socks (can't remember where) that has a zipper pocket. I also bought the reversible fleece hood from the website below, and will try it out next month.

http://www.sprigsville.com/home.html

This is a true shame but a story you hear again and again. Americans (like me), British, and Australians come from countries where pick-pocketing and purse-lifting is a true rarity. Street murders are more common. So we're not as vigilant as we should be in these countries where petty theft is much more common than violent crime (which, in many ways, is a blessing).

One can get really creative with the things they can to to guard against such thefts while enjoying scenery, a meal, or a tour. You mentioned wrapping the bag strap around your foot or under the foot of your chair. I use a rock-climbers' "Carabiner" to connect two ends of my (across-the-body) bag-strap around the arm of my chair when seated outside. They're easy to use and remove the ease of bag-lifting by thieves.

Again, sorry to hear of your experience but it's good that you share it with everyone so they can learn how to better protect themselves. People should also know that these petty thefts clearly exist throughout Europe but are by no means common. These things may happen to 1% (or less) of the total number of people traveling to X-City.

Still, I hope your visit to beautiful Granada wasn't a total downer.

Saludos, GranadaMan @ you-know-where!