David Reeve

Below is a list of Do’s and Don’ts that are very relevant and worth reminding your visitors who are in relaxed mode whilst on holiday and therefore very vulnerable.

I’ve laboured the point greatly recently but please be careful at the local Airports where thieves seem to have a free reign.

     Robbers, Pick Pockets and Bag Thieves 

1. Always be particularly alert in crowd situations, shops or in public places where tourists congregate such as railway stations, markets and the like, these are the thieves paradise. Be suspicious of people moving against the flow of a crowd, invading your space or unnecessarily jostling you.

2. Keep bags tight to the body, don’t leave on a trolley. Always have the flap on the inside against the body and keep a hand on the bag where possible. Zips closed. Preferably keep cards/cash in a less accessible place. Is it necessary to keep your house keys with items with your name and address on?

3. For men, is the back pocket of your trousers the best place to keep your wallet? The most convenient maybe but easy to get at. On holiday when often large amounts of cash are carried consider a money belt. Not always the most comfortable but one of the safest ways.

4. Don’t be a ‘loads of money’ character displaying large wads of currency to all and sundry and if you’re prone to getting drunk carry only what you can afford to lose.

5. Do not get isolated particularly late at night, there is safety in numbers.

6. Make sure you keep a record of your credit card no’s and the telephone cancellation no’s.

7. Be careful on the beach never to leave your property unattended.

8. Don’t carry unnecessary valuables, credit cards, keys, jewellery etc in the bag if you have the opportunity to leave them somewhere safe.

9. Do not hang bags on the back of a chair in a restaurant, put them between your feet or somewhere under your control not that of the would be thief!  

10. Be extra vigilant at night when more street robberies/bag snatches occur. Try not to get isolated, keep to well lit streets, keep on the outside of the pavement away from doorways and ally-ways and be careful of people who stop you to ‘ask something’ particularly if there’s more than one. A small personal alarm can be a very good deterrent and is easily carried in a handbag.

• Criminals insert card readers into ATM machines (cash dispensers) to read your card details when you try to withdraw money. If the card slot looks unusually big and more of an appendage rather than integral part of the machine don’t use it and phone the bank 24 hr line. They also put cameras into the cladding above the key board so it’s advisable to shield the no's you are entering with the other hand.
• Another ruse is to cause your card to stick in theimachine and then offer assistance which always requires them knowing your pin number. NEVER EVER give your pin number or passwords to anyone who contacts you. If they were legitimate they would have your details already.

All the above are of course common sense but unfortunately when we’re out enjoying ourselves or on holiday they often go by the board. Keep your eyes open. Who’s hanging aimlessly around the car park? Who’s more interested in looking at what you’re doing than the display stands. Who’s invading your space?