What would you do to prepare yourself for your wallet/purse getting stolen?

Boston_Harry

Suppose that you knew for a fact that your wallet was going to get stolen in Delhi (or anywhere else in India) in one week's time. In your wallet, you have credit cards, driver's license, and possibly your passport was there as well. Also, you had your expensive electronic device stolen.

What would you have done in anticipation of this tragedy? I asked others, and this is what they have to say:
1. Make a copy of the front/back of your cards, and keep this copy somewhere else.
2. Do the same for your passport, and have the address/phone of the Consulate handy.
3. Regarding the expensive electronic device, I'm not sure how to handle this one. When/Where/How should I insure this device?

Haylo

You have posted a lot about this, I do believe in being prepared, and yes I do keep separate records of passport numbers and so on, but you seem more than usually anxious about your property being stolen during your visit.

You sound as if you are dreading it and have obviously convinced yourself that everything will go horribly wrong, and that India is a hotbed of pickpockets. Sorry to be blunt, but frankly you are going to have a miserable time in India if that's the way you are seeing it. Why have you chosen to visit somewhere that you have such a poor opinion of?

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Boston_Harry

Thanks for your nice answer. Truthfully, I'm quite anxious as this trip is quite over-whelming for me. However, I loved the tone of your reply, because it tells me that India, like the USA, is very much full of honorable and kind-hearted people. There are no more pickpockets in India than there are in the USA. Moreover, I should just CALM DOWN. Oooommmm SSSShhhaaannntttiii!!! There...

OK, I will make copies of these things. It sounds like this is all I can do.

Oh yeah, are there a lot of ATMs in India? I hate bringing so much cash around.

capt_mahajan

-crossposted, plenty of ATM's, plenty info on them on indiamike, do search=

I usually scan travel documents and email them to myself (a couple of passport pages). Besides that, and keeping some spare money outside my wallet but on my person, I do nothing.

That is because I have been mugged a few times (none in India), and what you need the most is a little cash to reach somewhere.

Addresses of consulates etc are easily available. I don't use credit cards anymore; when I did, I travelled with one card with a low limit.

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Outside the machine

Wonderonomic

What would you have done in anticipation of this tragedy? I asked others, and this is what they have to say:
1. Make a copy of the front/back of your cards, and keep this copy somewhere else.
2. Do the same for your passport, and have the address/phone of the Consulate handy.
3. Regarding the expensive electronic device, I'm not sure how to handle this one. When/Where/How should I insure this device?[/quote]

If I was that certain, I would spend all the money in the wallet, sell the expensive electronic device, and blow that too.


Make some friends, you got a week? They will hopefully help you ?

But seriously 1 and 2 make sense.

Haylo

No problem there, they're everywhere.

Some visitors also bring a few travellers cheques with them, as a backup in case an ATM swallows their card or if it gets damaged. Or is stolen

Know what you mean about it being overwhelming, what helped me a lot was learning more about how things work and the societal mores. For knowing it was usual to be stared, to have people ask where I'm from and how much I earn and why I don't have any kids, and that children often ask to be photographed makes living in Delhi a LOT less of a shock and far easier to handle.

Some of the forums in the India Travel Basics forum can be useful for that.

holikarang

I second haylo on her reply to you.. you sound too anxious, so the first thing to do is just relax...

then...as for your question...you can do everything that's been said here, also, I would make a travel insurance that would cover any theft, if that can make you feel safer, you can get one of those belts where you can put the passport and the credit cards under your clothes, only keeping the change handy. Also, the suggestion to buy a cheap mobile in India could be good if that can make you feel better.

I believe you just need to keep in mind the normal things we all know and do everywhere in touristic places. Nothing more, nothing less.

Another good suggestion is...don't read too much! this sounds absurd, but it's fundamental to be informed, but when most of the information is negative it means your are getting TOO MUCH of it! Next time I also suggest you to find a travel mate before going anywhere new. The way you put your question makes it sound as you will necessarily get robbed. Get this idea off your head!

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holikarang

Wonderonomic

The fewer things you bring, the less worries you have.
Reduce to the minimum !!!
Travel light.
You won't need all your plastic in India.
Bring one or two credit cards, if you won't be driving why carry a drivers licence?

But if you leave to many things at home, somebody might steal them there?
I am at a loss, I have to admit.

holikarang

yes, that's also a good point indeed!

Wonderonomic

I avoided the wallet part by carrying a money clip in the front pocket of jean.
Wallet in pack pocket is easy game anywhere on this planet, Boston included. Especially when crowds are involved.
I left the wallet in guest houses, those were no fort knox either.
Maybe I was just lucky?

Going swimming, I left valuables with beach bar.!
Naiv you will say? Not that much, but I feel you have to put some trust in humaniity too. I was not disappointed.
Trust builds trust.

edwardseco

I don't carry a wallet as such. I select a few necessary items and take them in a moneybelt and elsewhere. I do carry a decoy wallet with a few hundred Rupes for pocket change complete with fake cards and way out of date ID. Try using that cardboard credit card! Only had the decoy attempted once in India and I should have let the decrepit aging pickpocket have the money. Its just that the ID shows me when I was young and that is rare..

Brisso

I carry cash in a trouser pocket - essential documents in moneybelt or daybag (I am hyperconscious of the location of the day bag). I've spent a fair bit of time In India - public transport exclusively - no-one has ever attempted to take anything from me. Once fell asleep for over an hour on a Mumbai suburban train - my daypack was untouched.

Chain and clip for your wallet?

Wonderonomic

Money belt is good, but not water proof.

Why the decoy wallet? The fake ID?

Question remains wher did you keep stuff you don't want to loose?
I think a money belt is a givaway in itself. everybody will know it contains most precious stuff? NO?

Brisso

you can buy vinyl/ plastic backed moneybelts that are water resistant - by rights, no-one should be able to tell you are wearing one

Wonderonomic

Brisso, are you dreaming?

If I wear shorts and a tshirt.
Who can't see the belt?
People resort to wearing them like ammo belts around the neck too, like army style.