Best Way to Prepare For Being Mugged

Question

How would you advise preparing for the possibility of being mugged while traveling in the US, or Caribbean?

Edit: I'm specifically concerned about being able to rebuy your stolen stuff, without having anything on hand. I have had many people advise putting a credit card in a shoe but want to assume everything cell, credit cards, backup credit, etc. have been stolen. Lets assume you have a couple dollars that you found on the street. The likelihood of this is slim, but I believe that is what brings about the creativity and realism of the question.

With all the additionally technology today, it seems there would be some way to prepare.

For example:

Memorizing a Credit Card Number to Use at a store. (Not sure if US stores accept only the number, with zip) Maybe order goods over the phone at one of local stores so you can pick them up. Maybe there is a service offered?

I know a lot of grocery stores might offer a pre-order service for food with a credit card number? Might they allow that you to pre-order gift cards that you can pick up later?

Lets assume you have nothing but a couple dollars, access to a public phone or nice pedestrian's phone and ideally maybe a public computer.

Answer 1

The best approach I think is to not worry about being mugged, but to make sure being mugged will not be a disaster if it does happen:

1) Always travel with multiple credit cards, only carry one with you out of the room.

2) Always keep photographs on a smartphone or something else of all your cards and the backs of them (so you have the numbers to call to report them stolen).

3) Don't carry any more with you than you absolutely need - when abroad for example do you really need your driver's license, costco card, etc? The less you have the less they can take.

4) If you get a lot of cash for the trip do not carry it all with you all at once.

5) Always copy photos off your camera or smartphone, or switch out memory cards every night so that your camera being stolen means only a days lost photos (using the camera connection kit to copy photos into an iPad every night is a great way to back them up without having to take a whole computer along).

Answer 2

I agree with @Kendell's suggestions, and here are my additions:

1. Don't keep your (all) credit cards in the wallet. I worked in a bank once, and the security there said that most people carry everything (licenses, ID's, cards, checks) in one wallet, and when it gets lost or stolen their whole life may be ruined. Keep 1-2 cards in the wallet, another one somewhere else on you, and all the rest leave at home/hotel safe deposit box.

2. Never carry checks with you.

3. Never carry Social Security card with you.

4. Have a spare ID (for example - your driver license is in the wallet? Keep your State ID/Green Card/Passport Card/Military ID somewhere else). This way you can relatively easy prove your identity to the airline/airport security when you're trying to get back home, or to the consulate when you're trying to get a temporary passport.

5. Several banks/credit card companies provide a service where you give them all your credit card numbers, and if you report them you lost theirs, they'll take care of reporting to all the rest. This way you only need to make one call and won't forget anything. I know AMEX has this service, for example.

6. If you have visas in your passport - make sure to save copies so that you can recover them easily later instead of reapplying. Generally, don't carry your passport with you when you travel, keep it in the safe deposit box (laws in many countries require you to carry it with you, but other than Russia, I haven't heard of any country actively enforcing it).

Answer 3

Wikihow has a piece on this and suggests:

• Drab down. Expensive clothing's purpose is to advertise to the general public that you are filthy stinking rich. Robbers don't have X-ray vision: they notice the attire only and guess what's in the wallet by that.

• Buff up! If you were a thief, would you go for someone wimpy or ripped? You'd go for the person less able to defend themselves and avoid a nasty injury. Not only does working out make you appear harder to rob, it makes you actually harder to rob.

• Cover up that bling. Or, don't wear it at all. Think about it: unless you're on your way to a presentation or job interview, nobody cares about your $500 watch or $200 Paris Hiltons. Nobody, that is, except those with bad intentions. Save your valuables for momentous occasions or for times when there is less of a risk of getting robbed--when you're with a large group of close friends, for example. If you absolutely must--cover up that watch. Put on your new pearl earrings after you get to your destination. Nothing says "rob me" like valuables in plain sight.

• Keep a "robber's wallet." Put high value bills/notes in small plastic bag in your sock or some other safe place. Buy a cheap wallet and keep some low value currency and some fake cards in there--to make it seem less like the fake it is. If you get robbed just hand the wallet over.

• Don't flash the cash. This is even worse than displaying valuables! If you pull a $20 out of your pocket and then another $20 later, thieves will assume there's more where it came from.

• Look sure of yourself, even if you aren't. Just exuding confidence tells a thief that you're liable to fight to get your money back.

Answer 4

I decided it was worth putting an anecdote in as a way to handle this, as you've edited now to say you're stuck with only a couple of dollars.

In 2008 I and a friend did La Tomatina, the tomato fight near Valencia, Spain. We had a rental car, and parked at the entrance to Buñol, the town where it happens. Concerned about getting our stuff wrecked by tomato juice, we were fortunately smart enough to put everything in the car, except for a few items, which I will list:

car keys, 50 Euros cash, and mobile phone

During the fight, I was pickpocketed. When you have 10 people up against you, there's not much you can do about it, but I was impressed given it was in a bag in my velcro-closed pocket in my shorts. Full props to them.

So now we had:

nothing

We ran into some friends there who were also there for the event, and they lent us a few Euro coins. So now we're in the position you describe, having:

nothing, except for a few coins.

We considered breaking into our rental, but had no phone in there anyway.

Our 'solution' evolved, as we wandered around town. We reported it first, as this was now evidence for insurance. Next we needed to contact the rental car agency. It was nearly impossible to borrow a phone! No restaurant or anyone was prepared to help us. We used most of the few coins on a public phone calling the rental company, but they would keep cutting us off when we couldn't speak Spanish.

Finally we returned to the Police Station, and an old cop took pity on us, and phoned on our behalf. He organised for the rental company to come fetch us, and they exchanged cars.

Next, I needed to cancel my phone. Unfortunately I was late getting to cancel that, and the weasel who stole my phone racked up several hundred pounds worth of phone bills. Vodafone refused to reimburse, despite the fact there was no way I could have contacted them any earlier. Wasn't happy about that.

In hindsight:

• spread the money around. I was the only one looking after cash. We should have split it among us.
• my credit cards and passport were fortunately in the car. Normally I travel with the passport on me, despite what some people say, I prefer to know where it is at all times, rather than risk NOT knowing when it's gone, at least this way I will know when it's gone wrong.
• photocopy everything.
• cancel everything as early as you possibly can. Credit card companies, phone companies will often try their best not to refund you.
• have a lock on your phone. I did, but they used the sim in another phone. However, it at least requires they have another phone to transfer to, which saves you at least a minute of them using it.
• when possible, keep cards separate - maybe a spare credit card in your sock, for example.
• always keep an eye on your stuff. It doesn't take long to develop a habit of just glancing at your bag, or subconsciously feeling in your pocket.