stolen passport and computer
 

Just had my computer bag taken while at the metro. I know I will not get anything back. But I am wondering if I should now be concerned with identity theft. Has anyone gone thru this?

The metro where? Paris? DC? NYC? it probably doesn't really matter anymore. If I were you, I would immediately change passwords on anything where your sign-on is "automatic. " BUT -- how do we know this is really you? Am I giving a thief ideas on how to mess up your internet IDs?

Contact your embassy immediately, assuming you are not at home. Get the passport issue taken care of first.

Then contact your bank. You'll need to be sure you don't freeze your assets so that you are left without access to funds.

And don't tell us you have a laptop that lets you IN without a password when you first power it up.

No it has not happened to me. However, I am always aware of this possibility. There are two areas: 1. identity theft 2. loss of irreplaceable items.

1. I never allow web browser to store username/password. I set the browser option to clear user data history, cookies, etc at exit. Always choose "this is a public computer" option when asked by bank websites.
2. Important documents are duplicated on SD card and also backed up on nonshared Google Docs.
3. Photos are also backed up onto a SD card every night.
4. Confidential documents are kept in encrypted directory. I use McAfee Vaults.
5. Most important travel docs are also backed up on my Android phone with encryption for ones with confidential info. A photocopy of my passport is an encrypted PDF file stored on my computer, email attachment mailed to myself, and on my phone.

WHERE did you get robbed? That's a pretty critical piece of information, methinks.

Well, the OP says, "- at the Metro", so we can assume he is in Paris, don't you think?

Sorry. It was Barcelona as the train was unloading about eleven PM. Sudden flood of people. and the bag was gone. Going to the embassy when it opens in the AM. Yhey closed at 1 today.

Sorry you had your bag stolen and now have to spend time getting a passport and new credit cards.

Was the bag in your hand or did you set it down alongside you? I'm just wondering how crafty the thieves are.

Credi cards were in my backpack which i had on. Computer, cash, passsport were in the computer bag which I stupidly had just set at my feet for a moment rest. I know..bad moment.

They're very fast.

I could not believe it. I tried to catch up with him and did the yelling and screaming, nut I could not get through the crowd where he had disappeared.

Well you have larned a god life lesson. If you expect to keep your belongings yuo must be much more careful with them. Sadly, there aer theives everywhere - and they spot the careless in a moment.

And never keep valuables in a backpack - they're so easy to slit open - and how can you tell what's happening behind you?

Barcelona AGAIN!!
Sorry for your loss.

There's going to be more of this I hate to say. Things are getting bad and these items are worth a fortune with no consequences if they are even caught red handed.

Lap tops can be immobilized as DD found out when her's was stolen.."icloud", I believe, is the app. Worked for her..

I had passport stolen in Paris a number of years ago and was able to get a new one in about 1 hour at embassy. However, I did have xerox copy. Go ahead and get passport pic taken and bring it with you to embassey

If he's in Barcelona, the embassy is in Madrid. Not quite so easy.

There is a U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona which can issue passports in emergency situations like this. The turnaround time, according to their website, is a few hours provided the OP has the necessary documentation.

See: http://barcelona.usconsulate.gov/cit...passports.html

I've scanned our passports and "yellow cards" and keep them in a file on Dropbox. We also keep a paper copy in separate locations.

Yeah. There are people who make it their job to watch for your unguarded moments. ( and this could have happened in any "metro" )

Thanks everyone for your support. I am alone here right now and this makes me feel very alone. so thanks for responding.

Your misfortune has given everyone some good conversation about just how careful we must be when traveling. I'm sure the Embassy will be a big help.

@ uhoh_busted: did you scan just the number part of your passport into Dropbox or the picture and number? Is their security that good?

Maybe the #1 thing to do is "don't beat yourself up" over this thing. Everyone on this board has had bad luck like you and everyone on this board has done things that in retrospect we damn sure wish we hadn't done. Hey, you are in touch with family, friends, and this board. You are traveling solo, but you're not alone. There are some real pros that check this board so lay your questions on them.

Just look forward to this: when you do get your replacement passport it will say "issued in Barcelona, Spain". That's a conversation starter!

It just dawned on me: They got your computer but we're still connected. Internet cafes? Do they still exist?

sorry to hear about the theft. not saying this as a consolation- my purse was snatched in madrid a few years ago, in the business district of orense. i was 3 steps away from the rental car we were picking up.

like the other posters say, don't beat yourself up. these thieves are damn good at what they do. ( lots of practice ? ) they're quick and can execute in a matter of seconds. in other instances, once they've picked on someone, could be due to anything i.e. you look like a wealthy tourist, you look careless and unguarded therefore an easy prey, you're carrying a bag/package that looked like it's containing something of great value, etc- the odds are they will successfully execute the thievery. i think they call that "casing" in crime-speak.

i hope you're able to get a new passport quickly so you can get back to the business of having a great time in barcelona.

chereamycat: sorry this happened to you. It can be very devastating. Please take the good advice offered above and move on as quickly as possible.

I just posted this a few days ago about the safety tips that the Barcelona Yellow Pages has on its website:

http://www.barcelonayellow.com/bcn-t...elona-top-tips

Hope it will help other travelers. The same kind of precautions go for almost all travel.

c-cat- I can't say I have any advice or tips for you beyond what has been shared above. I just wanted to let you know that I really feel for you. Feel a little sick, really, just thinking about it. Anyway, your hard lesson has been a lesson for us all. I will be taking steps prior to my next trip keeping this in mind. Best of luck.

again, thanks everyone. Hostel computers and internet have helped me reach out.

Oh my gosh that Barcelona Pickpocket article was so good! too late for me but maybe not for others.

I wonder if people ever return computers or journals..

I am not a Mac guy, but they do have a tracking feature that, when turned on, can tell you exactly where your lost or stolen Mac happens to be.

There was a rather thrilling account a year or more ago on another (non-Fodor's) forum in which a guy blogged in real time as he tracked down his Mac and went to a bar to retrieve it from the person who was sitting at the bar happily using it.

Not perhaps the best way to live to a ripe old age, but the whole thing took place in a "good" neighborhood in NYC, and he wisely said something to the perp like "I guess you found my Mac!" giving the perp the opportunity to say something like, "Oh, yeah, I was just trying to find your email so I could return it."

Of course, this guy was not a professional computer thief, just an opporunist.

chereamycat,

When this has all come to a happy ending, I hope will tell us all what worked and what didn't, tips we can all use in the future, and your new web site address "what to do when....."

Seriously, you have insights that the whole board would like to have.