We don't like handing over our passports to many people. Many of you will have heard of the scam carried out in some countries where people dressed in official uniform ask to see your passport. Of course they are not really officials and ask for money upon your passports return.
We keep a colour laminated copy of our passport page in our handlebar bag for quick access, which says all of the information that anybody should need to know about us on the road. We also have a black and white copy of our visas if applicable.
Be insistent (even for 30 minutes or one hour if you need) that you cannot show your real passport. Make clear to the 'official' that all of your passport and visa information is there if they want to use it, and STRESS that you are a 100% legal tourist.
After a while it will get to the point that the 'official' will give up, and if not, flag down a passing car or pedestrian for help.
For more on keeping your passport safe, click HERE.
When it comes to keeping your valuables safe, it's all about minimising risk. We have different locations on our bike for our gear depending on when we are in low or high crime rate areas. If a robbery is most likely to happen while we're riding (eg. Central Asia), we store most of our valuables in the hard-to-access places such as the rear pannier under our rackpack bag. If we believe it will be while we're not attending our bike (Eg. Europe), we store our valuables in our easy-to-remove handlebar bag.
Cash / Credit Cards
– Try not to carry more than a few hundred dollars at all times, although sometimes it will be essential to carry more (Iran).
– If you are a travelling heterosexual couple, it is recommended that the lady carries the cash, as the assumption is normally that the guy will be carrying the money.
– When in higher crime areas, keep your cash stored in a stuff sack with your clothes. Having the cash mixed in with your clothes is great for if you're camping or staying in dodgy hotels as it is hard to find for those dishonest enough to look for it.
– It is also worth spreading your cash about your bags a bit, we leave a bit in my clothes bag, and a bit more in Kat's.
– If you need to carry cash on you, it is best to have it in a money belt concealed under your clothing. Make sure you have your money in a plastic sleeve so that sweat doesn't get to it.
– If you're in lower crime areas, leave your cash in your handlebar bag. You can then take it off the bike whenever you go to a supermarket, shop, restaurant etc.
– If you carry a wallet, store it inside a closable bag. It is far too easy to get pick pocketed or have it pinched from inside an open bag.
– When we're travelling through countries with higher crime rates, we like to store our passports at the bottom of our rear pannier bags. As these rear pannier bags are strapped down underneath our rackpack bag, there is little to no chance of rear bag theft on the road.
– Make a copy of your passport page and laminate it. Store it in your handlebar bag and if asked to show your passport, you can show a copy rather than the real thing. For more read our detailled article HERE.
– If you need to carry your passport with you, it is best to have it in a money belt concealed under your clothing.
– If you're in lower crime areas, leave your passports in your handlebar bag. You can then take it off the bike whenever you go to a supermarket, shop, restaurant etc.
Computer / Tablet
– Keep it stored in a pannier bag which is hard to take off quickly. We use our rear rackpack bag.
– Take it with you whenever you go into a supermarket/shop/restaurant.
– Try not to use it in public areas if your destination is known for theft.
Cameras
– We store our cameras in our handlebar bag for easy access, and so that we can take them off the bike when we stop at supermarkets, restaurants etc.
– Cameras are worth a bit of coin on the second hand market, so these are one of the most likely things to get taken from you. We recommend backing up your photos regularly. Remember, in the event your cameras do go missing, there is no way to replace all those precious photo and video memories.
– Try not to wear your camera. Keep it hidden in a bag when you can.
Do you have any other theft prevention tips for us?
