Watch Out For Theft of Watches, Jewellery & Cash When Travelling

 

Where To leave Watches, Jewellery & Cash, Shoes

Where to leave your wedding ring and watch is a hard decision. What are the options and risks of each location and precaution.

Is Home Safe For Valuables

Left at home, you could be burgled.  Behind a book is no use. We came home to find all the books thrown on the floor.

Safety of Safes

Safes which can be picked up are no use. You need a hidden safe.

House Sitters

Or a house-sitter, who you know and trust. Such as swapping homes with a family member overseas.

Separating Valuables

Or leave it in the home of a trusted family member. In the USA, we left locked suitcases with not one but several colleagues. so if we or they got burgled, we would not lose everything.

You could take valuables with you. But you could be mugged. 

Loss

Or leave goods behind. I left the small bag with my passport on the back of a chair. Check the room is empty. Check.

Valuables could, should, be hidden under clothing.  You can buy clothes with double pockets, one sewn inside the other.

The grment or bag with the hidden pocket is no use if the garment or bag is stolen. Beware or leaving wallets and sunglasses in the pockets of jackets on the back of your chair in a crowded restaurant. Also bags on the floor. The strap needs to be around your feet, or your chair feet, with one foot on the bag. 

Some places have a hook for bags under the table.

I have bought bag hanging hooks which fold out. I used to forget to take them. Then I tried keeping the hook inside the bag, instead of in a drawer. 

A cross=body bag can be removed by somebody slashing straps with a knife. A common trick is for somebody to push you from one side. Whilst they move away, or apologise, and you look at them, another person swipes your goods from the other side. This happened to me in Singapore. 

Gym Security

I read about somebody losing money and a watch at a gym. Most gyms keep records of who enters. The premises supposedly has a system which was down. Should the premises be obliged to say, to warn if the system is down? But that might alert others.

Could you put the lockers under the watch of the Reception? What if it's the staff at fault?  Other possibilities, people with access to the premises, painters and decorators, electricians, construction workers, cleaners.  Members. And guests.

Another system would be to have surveillance from outside the premises.

If you are the owner or manager of premises used by the public, or devise security, what else could you consider?

Doorstep cameras detecting movement which alert your phone.

Colour code keys on a sash, and lockers, so nobody can open the wrong one without being noticed.

You can also buy sew in pockets for inside jackets and clothes, from Amazon. Cheaper from ali express. 

Useful Websites

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Opening-Zippers-Backpacks-Suitcases-Traveling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clothing-Pockets-Anti-Theft-Security-Sweatshirt/dp/B0GD6Z6

https://www.clothingarts.com/collections/new