Mar. 07, 2024
Apparel
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Generally speaking, traveling is a wonderful experience but occasionally things such as theft do happen. Read one traveler’s story on how her purse was stolen in broad daylight and the steps she wishes she had taken to prevent the incident from occurring.
Written by: Annie Jarvis
During my 5-month solo adventure in Southeast Asia, my bag was snatched in broad daylight by a passing motorbike.
While I had taken a number of precautions to ensure this didn’t happen, there was definitely more that could have been done. Traveling solo can be a rewarding and exciting challenge, but it can also be rather daunting. Read these four travel safety tips and how they could’ve helped me avoid having my bag stolen:
My passport was my most important and valuable possession during my travels and while I was devastated by the loss of everything else I was unbelievably grateful to myself for not carrying it around with me. If I’d been carrying my passport on me the day I was mugged, it would be long gone with my other possessions.
Luckily, I’d followed the advice of a number of travelers – including Travel Fashion Girl – and had locked my passport in the hostel locker.
Although it isn’t always necessary to lock everything away (if you go on a day trip you may want your phone and camera), I know that I could have spent a little more time ensuring I only had the bare necessities on me when leaving the hostel.
Because your passport is one of your biggest valuables, I’d consider this to be the most important of these travel safety tips.
Read this post to learn how to keep your passport safe while traveling.
Compass Rose RFID Secret Bra Wallet
One of the biggest things I have learnt from my experience is to separate my valuable items and keep those I do not need locked away.
Unfortunately the purse that was stolen was carrying both my credit card and my debit card (the only two cards I had on my trip). This meant that I had absolutely no way of taking money out of the bank and created the hassle of having to constantly visit Western Union.
From now on I know to separate my cards and leave one with my passport (along with emergency cash), ensuring I am able to access money even if the worst should happen.
Read this post to learn about anti-theft travel accessories, like a bra stash and neck pouch.
As well as packing more appropriately one of the most important lessons I have learnt is to not get lazy. No matter how hung-over you are or how comfortable you feel if you start to act careless with your possessions someone will notice.
On the day I was mugged I had my handbag hanging over the shoulder closest to the road. This made me an easy target, which is why my possessions were taken and no one else’s.
From that point on I ensured that my bag was fastened securely with the strap across my body and I walked with my purse away from the road.
For extra precaution, try using anti-theft travel bags like these.
The biggest thing I learned from this experience is that everything is replaceable.
I came out feeling stronger; knowing I’d learned a few valuable lessons and also that I could carry on traveling once everything was sorted.
However, had I taken a few extra precautions and followed these travel safety tips, I may well have prevented myself from being robbed. If I follow this advice in the future I know that should the worst happen, it will make moving forward that little bit easier.
The secret to traveling light is to create a functional but minimalist capsule wardrobe. Learn more in my guide!
In addition to the safety tips shared above such as carrying your bag away from the road and splitting up your valuables, some female travelers also like using anti-theft bags to deter pick pockets. These are the most popular styles:
The 5 Best Anti-Theft Travel Bags for Women
1st Column: Travelon Classic Messenger Bag / Travelon Bucket Bag
2nd Column: Travelon Black Crossbody Bag Best Seller!
3rd Column: Pacsafe Green 200 Gii Shoulder Bag / Pacsafe Blue 200G ii Handbag
An anti-theft purse is a purse with built-in safety features. It’s designed to help you avoid becoming a victim of theft at home or abroad. Pick pockets tend to target busy tourist areas in large cities all over the world; some female travelers feel safer with an anti-theft purse vs a regular purse.
While they are optional and not always a necessity, anti-theft travel bags can help protect your belongings by making it more difficult for thieves to slash through your bag or cut the strap.
To learn more about anti-theft purses, please read this article for more information.
Watch the video above for more tips on how to keep your stuff safe while traveling.
Whether you choose to travel with one of these anti-theft travel bags for women or a regular purse, follow these precautions:
Additional reading:
Watch my video on TPSY TV for a few more anti-theft products.
Items featured in video (in order as shown)
Please note: These travel safety tips and anti-theft products are meant to encourage cautious travel but cannot guarantee that theft won’t occur.
Editor’s Note: These stories are not meant to scare you. That’s the last thing we want you to feel — the world is a much safer place than we give it credit for. It’s good to be well-informed and cautious, but please don’t feel paranoid.
Fortunately, in over nine years of full time travel I’ve never had my travel bags, purse, or any other belongings stolen (so far). So, while theft does occur, it shouldn’t deter you from enjoying your travels.
While theft isn’t 100% avoidable, you can take smart precautions to avoid it as and stay safe at home and abroad.
Do you have any travel safety tips to share? Please comment below!
For more travel tips, please read:
Author Bio: Annie Jarvis is relatively new to the traveling world and has just completed a five month journey around South East Asia, India and the US. She loves diving, skiing, cooking and hiking and in particular she loves to write about her adventures on her Refreshing the Page blog.
Recently at a women's shooting event, I had a man approach my booth and tell me how off body carry was wrong, that women should only be on body carry.
His reasoning was valid, if your purse or bag is stolen, there goes your defense weapon too.
My response was that there are times that women simply can not on body carry, also when just starting to conceal carry it is easier to carry (at least for me) in a handbag.
I challenged him that more women should be encouraged to practice safer habits with their purses.
Carrying a purse is a common practice for many women around the world. However, it is essential to know that carrying a purse can be risky, especially in crowded or unfamiliar areas.
In this blog, we will discuss some practical tips that can help you practice purse safety and theft protection.
One common mistake that many people make is hanging their purse on the back of their chair in a public setting.
This makes it easy for someone to grab it and run away. Instead, keep your purse close to you and place it on the floor or on your lap.
This is a big one!
You need to have situational awareness when in public of where you sit down your bag. If you go to the bathroom while dining at a restaurant, take your bag with you.
The other guests at the table are most likely not aware of where you put your purse, and won’t be watching it while gone.
Crossbody bags are a great option for carrying your purse as they are more difficult to snatch from your shoulder.
They are worn across the body, and the strap can be adjusted to fit your body size.
Crossbody bags are available in various sizes, so you can choose the one that fits your needs.
Our favorite concealed carry crossbody is the Kinsey Rhea Rissa.
One of the most important things to remember when carrying a purse is to keep it close to your body.
This means holding it in front of you or close to your side. You can also tuck it under your arm to make it more difficult for someone to grab it.
Personally I like to always carry my crossbody on my left hip.
It is a habit, because I am right handed and have my handgun easily positioned to grab with my right hand from my left hip where the purse is resting.
It is advisable to avoid keeping valuable items in your purse.
Items like expensive jewelry, large amounts of cash, and passports should be kept in a safe or hidden pockets.
This can help minimize the impact of losing your purse.
A purse with a zipper or snap closure is more difficult to open and access by a thief.
It is recommended to use a purse with these types of closures rather than an open-top purse or one with a flap closure.
All of our bags at Kinsey Rhea zip close and our newest bags all feature a locking compartment on the concealed carry pocket. So you have the ability to lock up anything in your purse.
You can check out these locking features in our Kinsey Rhea Maddie Handbag.
Being aware of your surroundings is an essential part of carrying a purse safely.
Try to avoid carrying your purse in areas where there are a lot of people, or areas with a high crime rate.
Be alert and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals. Read more about Tips on Spotting a Predator & What To Do Next
Some purses come with built-in security features like a lock or RFID blocking technology. These features can help keep your purse secure and prevent someone from stealing your personal information.
In conclusion, carrying a purse can be risky, but taking the necessary precautions can help prevent it from getting stolen.
By using a crossbody bag, keeping your purse close to your body, and avoiding carrying valuable items, you can enhance purse safety.
Additionally, using a purse with a zipper or snap closure, being aware of your surroundings, not hanging your purse on the back of your chair, and utilizing a purse with a built-in security feature further contribute to keeping your purse safe and secure.
Check out our new Concealed Carry Purse Insert now available!
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