Dear Crystal and other travellers here on the forum.
When Uncle Ben and I travel we always take care to have some money in various places on our bodies. We also carry our documents as securely as possible.
It is possible to buy money belts. These are leather belts with zippers underneath. YOu can fold some paper money under the zipper. It looks like a regular belt that you would wear every day around your waist.
Another thing is to have a fake wallet. In it put some old papers to do with money, but nothing that gives real information about you. For instance, an old library card, some photos, any old documents that will fit that you have changed when you got new ones. These should not give away your real name, and certainly not your address. (Read about identity theft, below.) Make it look real, but make sure it isn't Then put some small bills and change in it and carry it in your pocket. If you must, you can show it. If you must, you can give from it. If your pocket is picked, or your wallet demanded from you, it is there to give.
Put your real wallet in a hidden pocket in your clothing that is closed with VELCRO or a zipper. Go to a store that carries luggage and travel items and enquire about things to keep your money and documents safe. Sometimes they have clothing with hidden pockets. Here we can buy over the shoulder pockets that hang under the arm under clothing, and are zippered. You can also make or buy one on elastic to hang on your leg under your pants or slacks. It would be on the inside of your lower leg below the knee. Don't make the elastic too tight. You can pin a pocket into the lining of your clothing where it won't be felt by anyone. You can have the breast pocket of your jacket made to close with strong VELCRO. VELCRO makes a ripping sound when pulled open so you would hear it. Also it isn't very easy to open. If it is under a real pocket it would be good. Then the real pocket can be picked but the lower one won't likely be found. YOu could put some money into the shoulder pads of your blouse or jacket. You can put some paper bills under the insole of your shoe, or under the band of your hat.
When people used to sail long distances to new countries in the past, they sewed money or jewels into the hems and linings and seams of their clothing. Speaking of jewels, never wear good jewellery when you travel. Never flash money. Always be rather inconspicuous. Drinking will also make you vulnerable.
You need to make up your mind which of these things would work best for you, according to the circumstances you will be in when you travel, and how far you have to go. Also the kind of places you will be in. Never open your real purse before any beggar. It can be snatched.
It is always important to be extra careful in crowds and on public transit. Also when travelling, people may try to distract you, as happened to you, so that you won't notice what their friend is doing as you are robbed. Sometimes it is a child who robs, or it is a child who distracts. Sometimes it is quite a number of people who "swarm" the target. Sometimes someone slits your bag at the bottom with a sharp instrument. This happens in airports in some countries. Not Canada. Don't be afraid. Most of this happens in some kinds of countries and not in others. Read up on the internet about conditions in the country you will be in. Canada puts out information for its citizens. Probably China does, too. Or you can read Canada's. :-)
It is too bad, but we need to always be careful and think about the circumstances around us.
The purses called Belly Packs, which are worn on the outside of your clothing and are fastened around your waist can work well when you are just going downtown shopping, but don't use them in crowds. A shoulder purse is good if the strap is strong and you wear it across you chest so it cannot be pulled from you. Make sure your purse has a good latch. When alone, and someone comes up behind you fast on a bicycle you can easily be robbed of a purse worn with a shoulder strap that is not across your chest.
So think of which things are best in various circumstances, and arrange to have most of your money and also your important documents in hidden places. Have copies of the documents at home, or with your dear trusted friend or parent, so that if they are stolen you can be sure to let the bank or government know and they can put a watch out for anyone using them.
It is important to protect your identity. There is now what is known as "identity theft". You could read about it on the net. Put the term into Google Search. It means somebody gets your name and address. and bank, and maybe credit card information, and maybe your health number, or in the States your Social Security number, --as much of your information as possible. Then they make up new documents and sell them to people who pretend to be you and use your credit and other things. This is why Uncle Ben and I now have a paper shredder at home. When things come in the mail with various information on them that would help any identity thief, we shred them instead of throwing them in the garbage.
It is also important to protect your physical self. Watch that you don't stray into the wrong kind of areas. Watch the time so that you are not in the wrong place as it gets later and the people who are there change. Be careful of parks at night. If you have to at night, walk as far away from buildings with inset doorways where people can step out to you when it is dark. Walk close to the road and with your purse on the road side, not the building side at night. If you take a cab, make sure it is from a well known cab company. Always be extra careful when you are out of your own country, because you can feel very sophisticated and quite the travelled person, and that can cause you to make mistakes and misjudgements.
Ben and I have good reason to know some of these things. I have been the out of country sophisticated one who made a misjudgement. Fortunately I was able to remain safe. He was held up in the US when walking with another male friend. We know a woman who was raped by a cab driver while abroad, just before she had to catch her plane so she couldn't do much about it. Fortunately there was no physical disease contracted, or a pregnancy. However, ours is a world in which we have to be more and more thoughtful about what we are doing. More so than it used to be. Even in our own countries. Don't be afraid, just be wise.
I hope this post helps you and others to think about how to take care of yourselves.
Warm good wishes, Mary
