Recommended Anti Theft Travel Items

So we all know there are practical things we can do to not only keep ourselves safe when travelling but also keep our precious belongings secure too. Obviously, some locations are safer than others but one should always maintain a degree of alertness when you are somewhere unfamiliar. We hope our guide to some of the recommended Anti-Theft Travel accessories and items such as an Anti Theft Backpack will help you.

The first rule of safe travel is to research where you are going or where you are travelling. Other important tips are

1. Don’t flash your wealth
2. Keep your belongings safe and secure
3. Get travel insurance
4. Have emergency contact information to hand
5. Keep copies of important documents such as your passport
6. Beware of scammers. If at all possible avoid ATM’s and withdraw any money inside the bank.

We are travelling more than ever before. We are also travelling with more hi-tech equipment than ever before. Most of today’s smartphones will set you back close to £1000 if not more. Camera’s and iPads are also very portable and easy to take on holiday. 

What features should good Anti-Theft Travel Items have?

When it comes to bags to travel with, whether it be a dedicated anti-theft bag for travel or for everyday use, look for the following features to ensure you get the best theft-proof bag on the market

1. Slash-proof straps which prevent thieves from cutting the straps
2. Adjustable straps allow the bag to be worn cross-body not over one shoulder for greater security.
3. Anti Slash Fabric/panels – prevents thieves from slashing the bag and taking its contents.
4. Locking compartments and straps – protect from pickpockets and grab & go thieves.
5. RFID blocking card and passport slots – block scanners from electronic pickpockets.
6. Locking hardware for securing to immovable objects.

While it may seem we have to be more careful than ever, that doesn’t mean we have to take indiscrete, ugly anti-theft travel gear with you on holiday any more. Designers and manufacturers have really stepped up with innovative new materials, designs and ideas for things that are more stylish, trendy and above all safe. The idea is to blend in…not stand out as a tourist.

Bags and Totes

These all come in a variety of shapes, designs and styles so choosing the best one for your purposes can be tricky. If you are flying to reach your cruise ship bear in mind your luggage allowance and perhaps select items that are lightweight and can be packed flat. If it can double as your carry on then that’s even better.

Wallets, Purses & Travel Document Holders

Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, keeping track of your passport, plane tickets, credit cards & coins can be a pain. Here we look at some of the best accessories to keep them safe and all in one place. 

RFID

Modern payment cards have a built-in chip that transmits the cards’ information wirelessly. This is because it is necessary in order to enable contactless payments, which has become increasingly popular during recent years. Criminals can take advantage of this technology by using a scanner that wirelessly scans the victim’s payment card in the same way that a cash register scans it. 

RFID Blocking materials

There are several products you can buy which will prevent your credit cards from being skimmed. There are RFID blocking wallets, purses, sleeves, and cards. Wallets, purses and sleeves work by acting as a Faraday cage that creates a screen around your cards which stops electromagnetic fields from interacting with the cards. 

Anti Theft Camera Bags & Straps

Cameras can be very expensive and not only that they often contain within them some of our most precious travel memories on SD Cards. It’s always a good idea to download and back those up each day if you can. So keeping them safe is very important.

I can’t stress often enough the importance of travel insurance should the very worst happen and your camera gets stolen or lost. A good idea is to keep a note of your equipments serial numbers. Handy if you ever have to complete a police report for insurance purposes or identify gear as yours if found by police.

Replace any branded camera straps with a plain anti-theft strap. That way it doesn’t scream out ‘expensive’. The same for camera bags.

Never leave a camera sitting alone on a table for example. Put it away or keep it tethered to yourself or the table/chair leg perhaps