Help -- wallet stolen, no cash, no credits cards
Dec 8th, 2015, 05:59 PM
#21
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So glad you found a solution, DonTopaz, and kudos to MmePerdu for her timely and helpful advice!
FWIW, to other readers of this thread, overnight emergency deliveries are not always overnight: AMEX once promised to overnight a new card to me in Paris; it arrived nearly 40 hours later.
But it did arrive! 
FWIW, to other readers of this thread, overnight emergency deliveries are not always overnight: AMEX once promised to overnight a new card to me in Paris; it arrived nearly 40 hours later.
But it did arrive!
Dec 9th, 2015, 12:28 AM
#24
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Update: Now sitting in Cathay Pacific lounge waiting for the flight to Hong Kong. AMEX says they've confirmed that Santa Claus will be waiting for me with a sack of money at the HK airport. Not sure where I'll put the $$$ without a wallet. But still.
I'll provide full details on the theft/lessons after I get to HK and can use a laptop instead of iPad.
I'll provide full details on the theft/lessons after I get to HK and can use a laptop instead of iPad.
Dec 9th, 2015, 07:35 AM
#26
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Glad it worked out for you. Maybe you can buy a "man pure" at the Hong Kong airport. I hear they're big in Asia. Stuff all your money in there and then you can put it cross-body style in front of you and it will be easier to keep an eye on it. Good luck!
Dec 9th, 2015, 07:45 AM
#28
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I use a money belt for my credit cards, passport and big money when I travel. I've never lost anything that I've kept in my money belt.
In Barcelona, my sister gave me her ATM card and passport to put in my money belt one evening before we went to dinner. At the restaurant, a clever thief masquerading as a waiter stole her purse, but all he got was her camera.
So glad your situation has improved. It was pretty scary reading about your situations.
In Barcelona, my sister gave me her ATM card and passport to put in my money belt one evening before we went to dinner. At the restaurant, a clever thief masquerading as a waiter stole her purse, but all he got was her camera.
So glad your situation has improved. It was pretty scary reading about your situations.
Dec 9th, 2015, 09:37 AM
#29
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I had my purse stolen in Barcelona airport when I was traveling alone. I called my sister in California and she had my name added to her credit card. That company called my hotel and guaranteed my stay and authorized the hotel to give me cash to pay the taxi when I arrived and other expenses until I sorted out my problems. I lost my passport and everything. It was pretty unnerving. This might help someone.
Dec 9th, 2015, 02:30 PM
#30
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So glad this worked out. I have to admit when I saw the title of the thread I thought it was going to be a warning against those scammers who send you emails saying that they are stranded somewhere without any money - but you actually were! Must've been very unnerving.
Buy a murse as soon as you can, keep it close to your body, and carry on.
Good travels!
Buy a murse as soon as you can, keep it close to your body, and carry on.
Good travels!
Dec 9th, 2015, 10:57 PM
#32
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So here's how it happened (99% certainty): I was boarding the high-speed train from Lyon to Paris, with a seat on the upper level in a first-class car. When boarding the train, the stairway to the upper level is a spiral-type staircase, going clockwise if you're going up.
As usual when a train arrives to pick up passengers (this train originates in Marseille), there's a crowd of people getting on. There was a guy in front of me on the stairs, and he seemed to stop as he was going up. As I tried to go up the stairs with my suitcase, the suitcase got stuck on something or other. I leaned over to the right to free my suitcase -- that tool a few seconds -- and some other guy behind me was seemingly trying to help with this. But what I'm sure happened is that the guy behind me was actually stepping on the suitcase wheels. When I bent over to try to free the suitcase, the first guy (the one ahead of me on the stairs) plucked the wallet from the now-exposed left-front pocket of my jeans. These guys were off the train long before it left the Lyon station, and I couldn't even file a police report until hours later.
I was a perfect target: an old guy (68) traveling alone, and these guys were pros. I didn't stand a chance.
I'm an experienced traveler, but this time that experience worked against me as much as it often works for me. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and I surely got complacent. Not so much about preventing the theft, but about taking precautions so that would allow me to keep my head above water in the event of, say, having a wallet stolen. I've always kept my US$ separate from my local currency when staying in a hotel (the US$ go into the room safe), but that doesn't help when I'm between hotels. From now on, the US$ plus a credit card go into the same safe bag that I always keep with me and that has a copy of my passport.
Kudos to the AmEx emergency people. When I got to Hong Kong, the instructions they gave (for picking up a sizable chunk of cash at the airport) were perfect. And the hotel was well-prepared for me to check in without a credit card. Too bad there's no cure for a traveler who feels a great deal more vulnerable than he did 48 hours ago.
As usual when a train arrives to pick up passengers (this train originates in Marseille), there's a crowd of people getting on. There was a guy in front of me on the stairs, and he seemed to stop as he was going up. As I tried to go up the stairs with my suitcase, the suitcase got stuck on something or other. I leaned over to the right to free my suitcase -- that tool a few seconds -- and some other guy behind me was seemingly trying to help with this. But what I'm sure happened is that the guy behind me was actually stepping on the suitcase wheels. When I bent over to try to free the suitcase, the first guy (the one ahead of me on the stairs) plucked the wallet from the now-exposed left-front pocket of my jeans. These guys were off the train long before it left the Lyon station, and I couldn't even file a police report until hours later.
I was a perfect target: an old guy (68) traveling alone, and these guys were pros. I didn't stand a chance.
I'm an experienced traveler, but this time that experience worked against me as much as it often works for me. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and I surely got complacent. Not so much about preventing the theft, but about taking precautions so that would allow me to keep my head above water in the event of, say, having a wallet stolen. I've always kept my US$ separate from my local currency when staying in a hotel (the US$ go into the room safe), but that doesn't help when I'm between hotels. From now on, the US$ plus a credit card go into the same safe bag that I always keep with me and that has a copy of my passport.
Kudos to the AmEx emergency people. When I got to Hong Kong, the instructions they gave (for picking up a sizable chunk of cash at the airport) were perfect. And the hotel was well-prepared for me to check in without a credit card. Too bad there's no cure for a traveler who feels a great deal more vulnerable than he did 48 hours ago.
Dec 9th, 2015, 11:23 PM
#33
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Thanks for sharing the details, DonTopaz. It does sound like you got caught by a pair of pros. I am very glad that things worked out for you in a way that let you keep traveling, even if with a more vulnerable sense than before.
I'm not asking your logic (though you are, of course, free to respond), but your experience is, to me, a rather clear argument for keeping as much as one can in an under-clothes passport pouch -- at least one credit card, at least one ATM card, some paper currency, copies of key documents, etc. I'm sure various travelers have their reasons for not taking advantage of this option; I'm not sure I understand their perspectives. I take comfort in the knowledge that I have taken such a simple step to give myself at least a little bit of room to navigate under untoward circumstances.
I don't offer my comments as a way of criticism -- I've certainly learned my share of lessons the hard way! Just a reminder that there are things we can do to minimize our risks.... Still, there is one thing you say that I feel compelled to challenge: You said "an old guy (68)...." Seems to me that either the number is too low, or the adjective inappropriate. ;-)
Best wishes for many rewarding and stress-free moments during the rest of your travels, DonTopaz! And thanks again for sharing what happened.
I am very glad that things worked out for you in a way that let you keep traveling, even if with a more vulnerable sense than before.I'm not asking your logic (though you are, of course, free to respond), but your experience is, to me, a rather clear argument for keeping as much as one can in an under-clothes passport pouch -- at least one credit card, at least one ATM card, some paper currency, copies of key documents, etc. I'm sure various travelers have their reasons for not taking advantage of this option; I'm not sure I understand their perspectives. I take comfort in the knowledge that I have taken such a simple step to give myself at least a little bit of room to navigate under untoward circumstances.
I don't offer my comments as a way of criticism -- I've certainly learned my share of lessons the hard way! Just a reminder that there are things we can do to minimize our risks.... Still, there is one thing you say that I feel compelled to challenge: You said "an old guy (68)...." Seems to me that either the number is too low, or the adjective inappropriate. ;-)
Best wishes for many rewarding and stress-free moments during the rest of your travels, DonTopaz! And thanks again for sharing what happened.
Dec 10th, 2015, 01:00 AM
#35
My husband had a very similar experience boarding a train in Naples toward Pompeii. People stopped right in front of him, lots of pushing and shoving to get on the train, people disappeared, so did wallet from front pocket.
Since I was with him and had backup credit cards, he wasn't left without resources as you were. But he did feel extremely vulnerable and blamed himself. Hope you can get past those feelings and enjoy the rest of your journey.
Since I was with him and had backup credit cards, he wasn't left without resources as you were. But he did feel extremely vulnerable and blamed himself. Hope you can get past those feelings and enjoy the rest of your journey.
Dec 10th, 2015, 01:16 AM
#36
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I lost my change purse on train from Paris to Lyon.. it only had about 80 euros in it.. nothing else.. it was money for our taxi and food on train etc.. Only discovered I had lost it when I our taxi arrived at hotel in Lyon.. luckily my daughter was able to pay taxi ( I did however have more money and passports and credit cards in money belt.. I would have just hated to have to pull that out in public)
That same exact visit my dads friend was also pickpocketed in the Lyon Station.. just about to board train to Paris.. my dad and his wife rushed down ( they were staying longer in Lyon) and handed them about 250 euros they had with them and another friend, just to tide them over till they got organized in Paris) They were permitted to board a later train after making report.
Train stations.. geesh.. lol
That same exact visit my dads friend was also pickpocketed in the Lyon Station.. just about to board train to Paris.. my dad and his wife rushed down ( they were staying longer in Lyon) and handed them about 250 euros they had with them and another friend, just to tide them over till they got organized in Paris) They were permitted to board a later train after making report.
Train stations.. geesh.. lol
Dec 10th, 2015, 02:42 AM
#37
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Glad you resolved it in the end. Similar to your experience a friend of mine, a seasoned traveller, was a victim to the 'sandwich ' method of picking pockets last year. While the 'passenger' in front deliberately delays you the one behind bumps off you wallet.Eventually, as in your case, the hotel helped him out with money transfers.
Dec 10th, 2015, 03:03 AM
#38
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A propos good storage for wallets, etc.
Guys -- google 511 Tactical. This clothing is designed for military and law-enforcement personnel, but a number of the front-buttoned shirts are very good for travelers as well. They have "hidden document pockets" on the front that are Velcro-secured. Ignore all of the where-to-hide-your-gun info; just look at where you can hide your passport, wallet, train, and plane tickets! No, we do not work for them, nor do we get kickbacks, but a friend showed them to my husband years ago and he has been wearing them for travel ever since
They are not real cheap but they look nice and they hold up well; I just looked at their website and they have flannel, chambray, and plaids, in addition to many solid colors, long and short sleeves, in different weight fabrics. We had tried several of the money-belt type apparatuses but this is much easier and more convenient. They also have women's clothing; I haven't seen anything I would wear, but it is really good for men. Certainly not proof against a mugger, but I think a pickpocket would not find them easy to access.
Mrs. ImaginaryJazz
Guys -- google 511 Tactical. This clothing is designed for military and law-enforcement personnel, but a number of the front-buttoned shirts are very good for travelers as well. They have "hidden document pockets" on the front that are Velcro-secured. Ignore all of the where-to-hide-your-gun info; just look at where you can hide your passport, wallet, train, and plane tickets! No, we do not work for them, nor do we get kickbacks, but a friend showed them to my husband years ago and he has been wearing them for travel ever since
They are not real cheap but they look nice and they hold up well; I just looked at their website and they have flannel, chambray, and plaids, in addition to many solid colors, long and short sleeves, in different weight fabrics. We had tried several of the money-belt type apparatuses but this is much easier and more convenient. They also have women's clothing; I haven't seen anything I would wear, but it is really good for men. Certainly not proof against a mugger, but I think a pickpocket would not find them easy to access.
Mrs. ImaginaryJazz
Dec 10th, 2015, 04:06 AM
#39
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This is why I like traveling in cold weather and with a European coat. Most European brands provide an interior zipped or buttoned pocket for wallets. With my wallet inside the closed pocket, the coat itself zipped up, and my bag worn cross-body, pick-pocketing is a tougher gig (at least while I'm outside). I wish more American coat brands provided interior wallet pockets. They're esp rare in women's coats.
