One system is to have your bag between your feet, with the strap would around your leg. However, that does not prevent somebody from cutting the strap, or causing a distraction, such as one person falling over you spilling water, whilst another makes off with the bag when you stand up.
Phones and Table Tops
Watch out for having a mobile phone on the table top. Strangers come up, put a newspaper down on your phone, engage you in conversation, pick up the phone and go.
As soon as anybody approaches you to talk, move your phone off the table. Better still, don't put it down. Keep it in your hand or in a pocket.
Inaccessible Zip Pulls
Consider having an inaccessible pocket. For example, sew an inner bag inside your pocket, so the person trying to reach your phone would have to find and undo a second zip. have the zip pull behind a ribbon sewn down on three sides.
Exposed Jacket Pockets
Do not leave a phone inside a jacket on the back of your chair. When you find it has gone, you have no idea when it went or who could have taken it.
Possible Precautions
Keep your phone on your body, rather than in a jacket which you remove.
Checking In Coats
Empty your pockets of wallet, phone, doorkeys, bus passes, sentimental objects, before handing in the coat to check-in. Photograph yourself in the coat earlier in the day, so if you lose your cloakroom ticket you can show the colour and style of jacket to the attendant, and prove the item is yours.
I prefer to keep my coat with me. No risk of forgetting and going home without it.
If you choose banquette seating against a wall, less chance of a passer-by being able to reach it.
As soon as somebody sits down at an adjacent table, move the item away from them. Otherwise they might put their coat down on top of your bag.
Singapore Theft
I had my cross-body bag taken in Singapore. A slash-proof bag is no help when somebody takes your whole bag. it was a classic theft, I realised afterwards. Somebody, an old man, bumped me from the right. I looked behind and two tall younger men in conversation were marching away behind me. At the time I thought I must have left my bag on the bus. But I felt light as they lifted it. the image of the old man and the two passers-by remained in my memory and re-surfaced when I read about this distraction technique later.
Stay close together. If you are a couple, walk together. Don't separate, the man a few paces in front of the woman, or running forward to look at a shop window, or take a photo.
Spain Theft
Years ago a grab theft happened to my parents in Spain. The two men were walking ahead. the two ladies were walking behind. The thief ran past the men towards the ladies. he grabbed a handbag and ran on. By the time the men heard the women shout and ran back, the thief was well ahead and had disappeared around a corner.
Czech Republic Theft
We were in Prague for New Year one year. We were targets of two thefts. The first was from our parked car.
We had just parked when a girl approached and offered to help us and translate. She accompanied us around a museum and went for lunch with us - during which she went off to make a phone call. We later suspected she was telling accomplices that she was keeping us busy.
We got back to find our car window broken as well as items taken. We spent most of the rest of the holiday going back to police stations to make reports and meet translators and to the garage to order parts and on the phone to insurance companies - all impeded by office closures over the New Year.
We went off for a meal at a restaurant. My husband's jacket was on the back of the chair. No wallet in it. However, his new sunglasses were taken.
As they say, better safe than sorry.
Safe travelling.
Useful Websites
clothingarts.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Phones and Table Tops
Watch out for having a mobile phone on the table top. Strangers come up, put a newspaper down on your phone, engage you in conversation, pick up the phone and go.
As soon as anybody approaches you to talk, move your phone off the table. Better still, don't put it down. Keep it in your hand or in a pocket.
Inaccessible Zip Pulls
Consider having an inaccessible pocket. For example, sew an inner bag inside your pocket, so the person trying to reach your phone would have to find and undo a second zip. have the zip pull behind a ribbon sewn down on three sides.
Exposed Jacket Pockets
Do not leave a phone inside a jacket on the back of your chair. When you find it has gone, you have no idea when it went or who could have taken it.
Possible Precautions
Keep your phone on your body, rather than in a jacket which you remove.
Checking In Coats
Empty your pockets of wallet, phone, doorkeys, bus passes, sentimental objects, before handing in the coat to check-in. Photograph yourself in the coat earlier in the day, so if you lose your cloakroom ticket you can show the colour and style of jacket to the attendant, and prove the item is yours.
I prefer to keep my coat with me. No risk of forgetting and going home without it.
If you choose banquette seating against a wall, less chance of a passer-by being able to reach it.
As soon as somebody sits down at an adjacent table, move the item away from them. Otherwise they might put their coat down on top of your bag.
Singapore Theft
I had my cross-body bag taken in Singapore. A slash-proof bag is no help when somebody takes your whole bag. it was a classic theft, I realised afterwards. Somebody, an old man, bumped me from the right. I looked behind and two tall younger men in conversation were marching away behind me. At the time I thought I must have left my bag on the bus. But I felt light as they lifted it. the image of the old man and the two passers-by remained in my memory and re-surfaced when I read about this distraction technique later.
Stay close together. If you are a couple, walk together. Don't separate, the man a few paces in front of the woman, or running forward to look at a shop window, or take a photo.
Spain Theft
Years ago a grab theft happened to my parents in Spain. The two men were walking ahead. the two ladies were walking behind. The thief ran past the men towards the ladies. he grabbed a handbag and ran on. By the time the men heard the women shout and ran back, the thief was well ahead and had disappeared around a corner.
Czech Republic Theft
We were in Prague for New Year one year. We were targets of two thefts. The first was from our parked car.
We had just parked when a girl approached and offered to help us and translate. She accompanied us around a museum and went for lunch with us - during which she went off to make a phone call. We later suspected she was telling accomplices that she was keeping us busy.
We got back to find our car window broken as well as items taken. We spent most of the rest of the holiday going back to police stations to make reports and meet translators and to the garage to order parts and on the phone to insurance companies - all impeded by office closures over the New Year.
We went off for a meal at a restaurant. My husband's jacket was on the back of the chair. No wallet in it. However, his new sunglasses were taken.
As they say, better safe than sorry.
Safe travelling.
Useful Websites
clothingarts.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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