My Pick Pocket Story
Valentine’s Day of 2020, I was driving home on my motorbike like any other night, except it was after 1 AM. I dropped off my friend at his place and continued down the empty street to my house. I had just exited the main road along the beach, turned onto my neighborhood street, and finally into my small, dark alley. I was just a few meters from my house when I felt a strong pull on my backpack. I thought it was a friend driving by and slapping me on the back, but then a second later, I realized, wait – that guy just stole my bag!
In that bag was my new iPhone 7+, my house keys, and my wallet with all my cards and cash. Panic presided over common sense & I started chasing the guy, screaming, “Hey! Come back!” and speeding down the road. It was flight or fight, and my body decided to fight. We went in circles before I lost him. In a split second, I felt like I had lost everything. I was (almost) homeless, with no way to get into my house, phoneless and cashless. After the unsuccessful chase, I went back to my friend’s apartment and luckily met up with him to start the painful process of canceling cards and letting people know what had happened.
After this experience of pickpocketing, I made this list of how to avoid theft in Vietnam or any developing country.
How to prevent pickpockets
- Place all belongings inside of your motorbike or car.
- Put bigger bags in front of your legs or lock them inside of the bike.
- Be extremely careful pulling out your phone in public.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times!
- Don’t use off-the-shoulder bags or even small backpacks.
- Use a fanny pack – they’re harder to snatch.
- Only take what you need – leave cards at home and only take enough cash for the day.
- Never bring your passport in your bag. Instead, keep it locked safely in your hostel or hotel.
- Avoid being alone at night, especially after dark.
- Buy a cheap phone and leave the good one at home.
What to do if you get robbed
- Don’t chase the thief – it could turn a non-violent pickpocketing into a violent one.
- Cancel all of your cards immediately. Most banks have Emergency hotlines available 24/7.
- Use FindMyIphone as soon as you can. Screenshot the location of the phone and erase your phone for sensitive information and photos.
- Report the incident to the police station in the area. Make sure to get a copy of the paperwork.
- Use travel insurance to recover some of the losses if you have it.
- Let local Facebook groups know what happened to raise awareness.
- Begin to replace your things- order new bank cards, get a new sim card, etc.
Even though the experience of pickpocketing is inconvenient & unfortunate, robbery is a risk of traveling anywhere. Especially in developing countries, some of the most interesting and affordable to visit, there’s the risk of pickpocketing.
I wouldn’t let the fear of safety deter you from visiting a poorer country; however, be aware theft is an everyday reality in some places. If most houses have multiple gates and locks, it’s a sign that theft is prevalent.
Hopefully, you can follow the steps to prevent robbery or mitigate the consequences if it does happen. Just remember, material things can always be replaced and it’s not the end of the world.
Awww Cierra 🙁 . Why ppl have to be so shitty. Either way , put one foot in front the other and keep on moving. 🤞🏽
Hey Jeffrey!! I know..it’s a shame, but yeah it happened life goes on 🙂
That does not sound good! I see it happen in Barcelona every once in a while and my friend had her purse taken while we were eating in a nice restaurant! Great tips for safety!
Oh no! Sad to know it’s also a problem in Barcelona 🙁 thank you for sharing!
Thanks for turning a terrible experience into something that can help people. I’ve been robbed while traveling and it’s so hard to not replay all you should have done. So thanks for the post.
Thank you Karen! Yesss..exactly this! You blame yourself like crazy and replay the scenario 1000x in your head. But oh well, life goes on!
That is so sorry to hear .. Hope you feel better now!
Oh no, so sorry to hear about what happened to you. It´s really frustrating and time-consuming to get all the documents and cards back. I guess it can really happen anywhere and when you least expect it. Thanks for sharing this very useful post, great tips!
Hi Katja! Thanks for the understanding! It has been a pain indeed, but glad I can give some tips to fellow travelers!
I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. We live in Bangkok where bag snatching from motorbikes can be common in the city centre – it is awful when you feel like everything has been taken so quickly! Hope you managed to get it all sorted in the end!
So sorry this happened to you!!! Thanks for sharing so that other people are more aware.
My pleasure! Thanks for reading 🙂
So sorry that has happened to you and I’m glad you had a friend who could help you. I was almost robbed in Costa Rica, and since then am extra careful with my belongings. These are great tips. I hope things will not get worse with the Coronavirus. I know people are afraid of visiting some countries but hopefully, things will return to normal in a few months!
So sorry this happened! But, it sounds like you’ve learned quite a bit from it. Thanks for sharing some valuable info–maybe it can help another person!
Thanks always mom, love you & I hope so too!