Avoiding Crime During
Your Vacation

You can save a lot of money using vacation packages, but even the best vacation can be quickly ruined by crime. Thieves are opportunists and everything is on their list, including money, travelers’ checks, cameras, laptops, cell phones, passports, jewelry, and plane tickets. It is important that you take steps to avoid becoming a victim of crime on your vacation.

First, leave as many of your valuables at home as you can. If you don’t need your laptop computer, don’t take it on your vacation. The same is true for expensive jewelry and other valuables; you need a watch, but you can take a Timex and leave your Rolex at home.  If you do have to carry valuables with you for whatever reason, keep them locked in the hotel safe during the day. Remember, maids and other hotel personnel can rob you too unless you use the safe.

Another easy way to avoid being a crime victim on your vacation is to be careful how you dress. Of course you'll want to look good, but if you dress too flashy thieves will know that you are a tourist and assume that you are carrying money. Also, avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying designer purses (hopefully you left these items at home). Instead, go for a more casual look. You'll be more comfortable and less a target for thieves.

Don’t forget to protect your home or apartment from being looted while you are away.  Returning to find you’ve been burglarized will also ruin your vacation.  Have someone watch your house while you are traveling to make sure that it is safe. You can even ask a friend or relative to stay at your place to not only watch your home or apartment, but also to take care of your pets and plants.

Finally, it’s good to mark your luggage with your name and address in case it gets lost, but make sure this information is covered so that a person standing next to you can't easily read it. If a thief spots you leaving on your vacation and reads your luggage ID address, they now know where you live, and can easily rob your home knowing you won’t be there.