taking care of my stuff

123ping · Dec 8th, 2003, 14:12

the books etc. are making me paranoid...all the "keep everything padlocked" and "don't let anything out of your sight" is making me wonder what I'm supposed to do with my backpack in the daytime. I really don't want to be lugging it around all day everyday. What can I do with it? Are there safe coin lockers (or something similar) available in some cities?

assuming I can get rid of the backpack for a few hours

is a day-bag slung diagonally across my back and shoulders a bit too much of a temptation? what about an SLR camera?

Alan D · Dec 8th, 2003, 16:08

123ping

I don't know which books you've been reading but they seem just a bit alarmist to me.

There's no need to lock your things up in a safety deposit box in a bank in India.

Just don't leave things you value lying around casually - as elsewhere, some people might be tempted.

Theft with violence is quite rare in India so it's safe to carry your camera openly - millions of foreign tourists and tens of millions of Indian tourists do. I would be surprised if someone came on this thread to say that they had some of their property "snatched" in India. Occasionally people have items stolen from their rooms or while travelling by train or bus but you can minimise the risk of this by keeping your valued possessions with you in a small daypack.

Personally, I've stuffed my main pack under the back seats of buses while I've been sitting up front, on the roof of buses with 20 people riding on top, on the floor under the lower berth of train compartments unsecured, and in countless hotel rooms all over India. So far I've lost nothing.

A very basic precaution is to keep your passport, travellers cheques, bank card and flight tickets with you at all times. To lose any of these could result in days of your holiday lost and a lot of hassle.

wonderwomanusa · Dec 8th, 2003, 17:09

To further reinforce what Alan D says: I've been here for two months and had no problems, even in hotels where I've left the key so that the room can be cleaned.

I did run into two women who lost a bag and two cameras on a train between Varanasi and Puri -- that northern (UP & Bihar) area of India can be tough and it's where we hear of the most theft.

Personally, there's nothing in my suitcase I can't afford to lose -- they can have my undies and my spare longhi if they need them worse than I do. I'd hate to have to replace my hairbrush, of course, but that's so minor. Don't bring your valuables with you, or be prepared to wear them all the time... the rest of your gear should be just fine.

neoncarrot · Dec 8th, 2003, 23:41

If you're really paranoid about the day pack, you could try a pacsafe from www.pac-safe.com. Its a sort of foldaway wire mesh bag that encloses the pack and can be locked onto a solid immovable. We have one and use it for mor valuable odds and ends, but its very much a "better safe than sorry" rather than a necessity. To reinforce that said by Alan D and WWUSA; in 3 years here we have had no problems at all, and have stayed entirely in budget rooms.

bolebridge · Dec 9th, 2003, 00:02

Just try and take as little as possible in the first place. On my trip to India earlier this year, I only took a 25 litre bag - it worked out just great. Small enough to throw under a bus seat and light enough to walk round with during the day.

Dec 8th, 2003, 14:12	#1
123ping Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: south korea Posts: 4	taking care of my stuff the books etc. are making me paranoid...all the "keep everything padlocked" and "don't let anything out of your sight" is making me wonder what I'm supposed to do with my backpack in the daytime. I really don't want to be lugging it around all day everyday. What can I do with it? Are there safe coin lockers (or something similar) available in some cities? assuming I can get rid of the backpack for a few hours is a day-bag slung diagonally across my back and shoulders a bit too much of a temptation? what about an SLR camera?

Dec 8th, 2003, 17:09	#3
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,567	To further reinforce what Alan D says: I've been here for two months and had no problems, even in hotels where I've left the key so that the room can be cleaned. I did run into two women who lost a bag and two cameras on a train between Varanasi and Puri -- that northern (UP & Bihar) area of India can be tough and it's where we hear of the most theft. Personally, there's nothing in my suitcase I can't afford to lose -- they can have my undies and my spare longhi if they need them worse than I do. I'd hate to have to replace my hairbrush, of course, but that's so minor. Don't bring your valuables with you, or be prepared to wear them all the time... the rest of your gear should be just fine. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Dec 8th, 2003, 23:41	#4
neoncarrot Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Manali, India Posts: 85	If you're really paranoid about the day pack, you could try a pacsafe from www.pac-safe.com. Its a sort of foldaway wire mesh bag that encloses the pack and can be locked onto a solid immovable. We have one and use it for mor valuable odds and ends, but its very much a "better safe than sorry" rather than a necessity. To reinforce that said by Alan D and WWUSA; in 3 years here we have had no problems at all, and have stayed entirely in budget rooms. __________________ Photo galleries, essays, travel tips and India statistics at: Neoncarrot India travelog

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Dec 8th, 2003, 16:08	#2
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	123ping I don't know which books you've been reading but they seem just a bit alarmist to me. There's no need to lock your things up in a safety deposit box in a bank in India. Just don't leave things you value lying around casually - as elsewhere, some people might be tempted. Theft with violence is quite rare in India so it's safe to carry your camera openly - millions of foreign tourists and tens of millions of Indian tourists do. I would be surprised if someone came on this thread to say that they had some of their property "snatched" in India. Occasionally people have items stolen from their rooms or while travelling by train or bus but you can minimise the risk of this by keeping your valued possessions with you in a small daypack. Personally, I've stuffed my main pack under the back seats of buses while I've been sitting up front, on the roof of buses with 20 people riding on top, on the floor under the lower berth of train compartments unsecured, and in countless hotel rooms all over India. So far I've lost nothing. A very basic precaution is to keep your passport, travellers cheques, bank card and flight tickets with you at all times. To lose any of these could result in days of your holiday lost and a lot of hassle.

Dec 9th, 2003, 00:02	#5
bolebridge Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 36	Just try and take as little as possible in the first place. On my trip to India earlier this year, I only took a 25 litre bag - it worked out just great. Small enough to throw under a bus seat and light enough to walk round with during the day.

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