No matter how safe an area appears, there is always going to be some crime. And there’s always crime against tourists especially, because local criminals know that we are typically carrying the good stuff. Money, electronics and other valuables are never truly safe while traveling abroad, (or even in our own countries) but there are precautions that you can take to avoid becoming the victim. Besides some of the more obvious precautions - like blending in and not appearing immediately as a tourist - it’s a necessity to make yourself aware of common criminal themes and plots.
Prior to traveling to any destination, it’s smart to spend some time studying and becoming knowledgeable about the typical style of local crimes and what to be on the lookout for. Search online for known crimes in the areas in which you will be traveling, you will be able to find countless websites and forum discussions outlining everything you need to keep in mind while traveling abroad. An important website, not only for U.S. citizens is http://travel.state.gov. The U.S. Department of State’s travel affairs website makes it exceedingly easy to stay up-to-date on common crimes, dangers and risks, which are conveniently listed by country.
Various common crimes on tourists, by country:
Brazil - high crime rate, high murder rate, violent crimes, theft in public, day and night crimes, quick-napping, pick pocketing, theft from parked and moving cars, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together (especially including the use of children), theft of unattended items, ATM related theft, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
China - moderate crime rate, bag pick pocketing, drugged assault, narcotics, high price billing scams for taxis and tours and restaurants, bootleg and pirated goods for sale, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale, counterfeit currency, political and religious activity involvement may result in physical abuse and deportation, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together, theft of unattended items, impostor police officials
Egypt - increased crime rate since recent civil unrest, carjacking by weapon, sexual assault, pick pocketing, purse snatching, marriage fraud
England - low crime rate except in London, violent crimes, pick pocketing, mugging, smash and grab theft, theft of unattended items, impostor police officials, theft or rape from unlicensed taxis, drugged assault
France - low crime rate except in Paris, semi-violent crimes, mugging, pick pocketing, residential break-ins, bicycle theft, sexual assault, smash and grab theft, theft of unattended items, purse snatching
Iraq - high crime rate, extremely high terrorist activity rate, large-scale attacks, lethal attacks toward those associated with Iraqi government and the United States, armed carjacking, U.S. citizen kidnapping, fatal hostage kidnappings, violent religious and political demonstrations, bombing of large gatherings, petty theft, pick pocketing, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
Italy - moderate to high crime rate, pick pocketing, theft from parked and moving cars, purse snatching, drugged assault, sexual assault, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together (especially including the use of children), theft of unattended items, ATM skimming devices, impostor police officials
Japan - low crime rate, U.S. citizen targeting, some pick pocketing, harassment, sexual assault, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
Kenya - extremely high crime rate, tourist attacks by armed assailants, violent and fatal crimes, violent and armed carjackings, home invasion burglaries, kidnappings, pick pocketing, snatch and run thefts, smash and grab thefts, con artists, impostor police officials, theft of unattended items, armed highway banditry, mail system theft, counterfeit and stolen goods for sale, sexual assault
Mexico - extremely high crime rate, violent crimes, armed robbery, carjacking, high homicide rates, heavy organized crime activity, U.S. tourist targeting, kidnapping, drugged assault, rogue taxi theft, harassment, extortion, purse snatching, pick pocketing, con artists, impostor police officials, theft of unattended items, counterfeit and stolen goods for sale, sexual assault, ATM skimming devices
For more information and additional countries, please visit http://travel.state.gov.
(Photo from idhvalle-pnud.org)
Various common crimes on tourists, by country:
Brazil - high crime rate, high murder rate, violent crimes, theft in public, day and night crimes, quick-napping, pick pocketing, theft from parked and moving cars, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together (especially including the use of children), theft of unattended items, ATM related theft, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
China - moderate crime rate, bag pick pocketing, drugged assault, narcotics, high price billing scams for taxis and tours and restaurants, bootleg and pirated goods for sale, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale, counterfeit currency, political and religious activity involvement may result in physical abuse and deportation, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together, theft of unattended items, impostor police officials
Egypt - increased crime rate since recent civil unrest, carjacking by weapon, sexual assault, pick pocketing, purse snatching, marriage fraud
England - low crime rate except in London, violent crimes, pick pocketing, mugging, smash and grab theft, theft of unattended items, impostor police officials, theft or rape from unlicensed taxis, drugged assault
France - low crime rate except in Paris, semi-violent crimes, mugging, pick pocketing, residential break-ins, bicycle theft, sexual assault, smash and grab theft, theft of unattended items, purse snatching
Iraq - high crime rate, extremely high terrorist activity rate, large-scale attacks, lethal attacks toward those associated with Iraqi government and the United States, armed carjacking, U.S. citizen kidnapping, fatal hostage kidnappings, violent religious and political demonstrations, bombing of large gatherings, petty theft, pick pocketing, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
Italy - moderate to high crime rate, pick pocketing, theft from parked and moving cars, purse snatching, drugged assault, sexual assault, diversion scams by a group of thieves working together (especially including the use of children), theft of unattended items, ATM skimming devices, impostor police officials
Japan - low crime rate, U.S. citizen targeting, some pick pocketing, harassment, sexual assault, counterfeit or stolen goods for sale
Kenya - extremely high crime rate, tourist attacks by armed assailants, violent and fatal crimes, violent and armed carjackings, home invasion burglaries, kidnappings, pick pocketing, snatch and run thefts, smash and grab thefts, con artists, impostor police officials, theft of unattended items, armed highway banditry, mail system theft, counterfeit and stolen goods for sale, sexual assault
Mexico - extremely high crime rate, violent crimes, armed robbery, carjacking, high homicide rates, heavy organized crime activity, U.S. tourist targeting, kidnapping, drugged assault, rogue taxi theft, harassment, extortion, purse snatching, pick pocketing, con artists, impostor police officials, theft of unattended items, counterfeit and stolen goods for sale, sexual assault, ATM skimming devices
For more information and additional countries, please visit http://travel.state.gov.
(Photo from idhvalle-pnud.org)
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