Travel Mug

[marki]

No pun intended ?

Well maybe ..... But how many of you have been the victim of a "Mugging" had things stolen inflight while sleeping, or been victim to pickpocketing while overseas?

This is the place to spill the beans about your experience and maybe how you felt and dealt with the trauma or realisation once you found out.

I am a travel mug many times over but I am getting better at spotting these people from a crowd as they do have different agendas. Why else would you carry an empty plastic bag ? ( the empty bag conceals the action of the other hand keeping it out of sight of prying eyes).

Please share ......

The first time it happened to me was on a tram in Warsaw,
My beautiful scarf stood out, being preoccupied reading I did not notice the jerking scarf and when I did an accomplice stared me down. Taken aback it did not take long for them to accomplish the job of robbing me.
I miss that scarf ! Psychological tactics are refined ...

 

[marki]

Ok ok you can talk about your favourite travel mug ( if you have one)

Especially if it happened at pickpocket Central, "Rome" is it ? Or where do you think pick pocket capital of the World is ?

 

[awkwardpaws]

Ok ok you can talk about your favourite travel mug ( if you have one)

Especially if it happened at pickpocket Central, "Rome" is it ? Or where do you think pick pocket capital of the World is ?

IMHO, Barcelona. Spotted attempted pickpocketing in the open (and broad daylight) at Parc Guell but the victim's bag had nothing valuable so the pickpocket-er walked away. Afterwards, some people approached the almost victim to tell her to pay closer attention to her bag.

Also have heard horror stories at Barcelona trains etc

 

[Pushka]

In HoChiMinh. A cyclo driver drove towards me standing in the median strip and as he passed his passenger slashed off my bag.

 

[love_the_life]

I think I posted this in a TR but we were flying SYD to BKK and it appeared that the guy in 1A had rifled the bag in the overhead locker that belonged to the passenger in 1C. We were in row 2, immediately behind but it took some time to work out what seemed to have gone on. The young couple across the aisle from each other, were filling out incident reports separately, the CSM spoke to them for a long time and when the doors opened at BKK, security were waiting. I do remember seeing the back on the floor with contents strew around but as it was pretty dark (shades down) it could have been the owner rattling after stuff. Apparently not! Just awful for the young couple.

 

[marki]

I think I posted this in a TR but we were flying SYD to BKK and it appeared that the guy in 1A had rifled the bag in the overhead locker that belonged to the passenger in 1C. We were in row 2, immediately behind but it took some time to work out what seemed to have gone on. The young couple across the aisle from each other, were filling out incident reports separately, the CSM spoke to them for a long time and when the doors opened at BKK, security were waiting. I do remember seeing the back on the floor with contents strew around but as it was pretty dark (shades down) it could have been the owner rattling after stuff. Apparently not! Just awful for the young couple.

I wonder there are any devices ( locks aside) to prevent such behaviour and sleep in peace on long haul flights!

 

[Foreigner]

Don't ever let your guard down


Edit:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/outsmarting-pickpockets

 

[RooFlyer]

Only one incident, maybe 20 years ago. In Nairobi, walking back to hotel along crowed street. I happened to look around and saw 3 youths dashing towards me, weaving between people. I immediately thrust my hands and pocket camera into my pockets and braced for the worst. Many hands rummaging other pockets etc but they came up empty and people around started abusing them & they ran off. Nice people asked if I was OK etc.

Both then and now-days always highly aware of pickpockets etc when travelling; never carry any more than needed on the particular outing, and its in a front pocket (including camera!) - rest in hotel safe. Overnight on a plane, wallet, passport and camera kept with me (in J helps, having more space).

 

[JohnK]

Mobile phone taken out of my trouser pocket on a songthaew in Pattaya.

Suspect it was the katoey and his friend playing musical chairs during the short trip. Funny thing is I was on the way to buying new phone as this phone was getting old. Another funny thing is they would have locked the sim as it was password protected and Telstra only from memory. Another funny thing is that it's not easy to get things out of my pocket when I am sitting down.

 

[marki]

Don't ever let your guard down


Edit:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/outsmarting-pickpockets

How you going to relax and sleep on a 14-16 hour flight? While others are attempting to get into their luggage it sort of desensitises you!

 

[Foreigner]

Not sure how prevalent is stealing onboard airplanes.

Unfortunately your valuables cannot be guaranteed to be safe. The thieves may be fellow travellers or even crew.

Some tips here:

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/airline-on-board-theft/

I like in particular the tip to keep cash/valuables well-hidden within carry-on luggage.

Carry-on upside down? Maybe. Keep bag closest to your seat if possible.

I'll take a 14hr flight in Y in June. Will be interesting watching people onboard.

 

[JohnK]

How you going to relax and sleep on a 14-16 hour flight? While others are attempting to get into their luggage it sort of desensitises you!

Don't leave valuables in carryon.

Wallet, passport, phone, keys etc should be on person at all times.

 

[SuePa]

Many years ago at a busy South American bus station, Brazil, I think, my 2 travel companions and I were standing in a semi-circle with our backpacks and daypacks at out feet. One man walked to my side to ask about a bus time and another man asked a similar question at the other end of our line. In seconds, my travel companion's daypack was whisked away and the thieves disappeared. He lost gifts he'd bought for family and rolls of undeveloped film, which was upsetting, but not vital. I (selfishly) was very pleased it hadn't been my daypack as my moneybelt with money, travellers cheques, tickets and passport were all in there! Since then, I have always worn my money belt - even when it is hot and sticky!

 

[awkwardpaws]

Since then, I have always worn my money belt - even when it is hot and sticky!

This reminds me - what does everyone think of money belts? Clearly would be handy in this situation, but do people generally use it?

 

[marki]

Not sure how prevalent is stealing onboard airplanes.

Unfortunately your valuables cannot be guaranteed to be safe. The thieves may be fellow travellers or even crew.

Some tips here:

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/airline-on-board-theft/

I like in particular the tip to keep cash/valuables well-hidden within carry-on luggage.

Carry-on upside down? Maybe. Keep bag closest to your seat if possible.

I'll take a 14hr flight in Y in June. Will be interesting watching people onboard.

Thanks for link was good reading .... I never thought staff i.e. Flight attendants would actually do that! Also the passenger coming back from a judge Judy video show as a complainant was caught stealing OMG .....

 

[marki]

Don't leave valuables in carryon.

Wallet, passport, phone, keys etc should be on person at all times.

I have not been doing it all the time but I will from now on.

 

[Austman]

Another thing to consider is placing your carry-on in the overhead locker across the aisle from you. It's often more easily seen when you are seated than if it's in the locker directly above you.

 

[marki]

Another thing to consider is placing your carry-on in the overhead locker across the aisle from you. It's often more easily seen when you are seated than if it's in the locker directly above you.

That was covered in the link by Foreigner above. Funny enough I self taught myself this one, I do get strange looks though from people who are territorial like that's my space mate.

 

[Austman]

That was covered in the link by Foreigner above.

Oh yes, so it was!

After 20 years of constant corporate travel I've become a bit tired of the corporate warnings (our ones about which hotel rooms to pick were hilarious).

Common sense is probably the best advice. And although it does happen, I've to date never had luggage robbed in a hotel room, an airport lounge or on an aircraft.

But I have been robbed in other circumstances.

So I'd have to say, in general, it's a fairly low risk and when combined with some common sense it's even a lower risk.

 

[juddles]

Don't ever let your guard down


Edit:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/outsmarting-pickpockets

That is actually a rare and decent article! Puts great perspective on things.