It is a sad truth that as a traveller, you become a target for thieves – particularly now when so many travellers carry numerous valuable technological items that are far too easy to transport in a small bag.
I worked in a hostel for a couple of years and unfortunately saw one too many travellers experience the sinking sensation of realising something had been taken, not to mention having exactly that happen to me when I was away on what was supposed to be a carefree summer holiday.
With these experiences I quickly gained an understanding of how professional hostel thieves work – and make no mistake, these are professionals that are quite difficult for even the most secure hostel to stop. Even with secure doors to the outside only able to be opened with a key or through reception, it is too easy for thieves to enter behind other guests who politely hold the door open as any normal person would.
This works particularly well in larger accommodation where staff are often busy with check ins and other guests, and therefore unable to keep an eye on the CCTV cameras many accommodation providers have to be sure they recognise all entering the building.
Armed with this knowledge, I now present a list of tips to help make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
- 1. Do not leave your belongings unattended in communal areas – even for a second
When walking the streets of Barcelona or Bangkok, most travellers are weary of unwanted attention and make a point of keeping their belongings safe, but people tend to quickly lose this caution when they return to the safety of their accommodation. Communal areas such as kitchens and lounge rooms are a prime target for thieves.
I was robbed in a quiet hostel kitchen, after stepping away from my phone for less than a minute, so my advice is to never, ever turn your back. It may seem both obvious and excessive, but by keeping your valuables with you at ALL times or at least being sure they are constantly in your sight, you are automatically providing yourself with additional, almost bulletproof insurance.
2. Be sure the door to your room is closed
The hostel in which I worked experienced a different kind of thief than those that target communal areas, as these parts of our building were always loud and crowded. Instead, thieves would enter the building behind other helpful guests, hurry past reception – who might occasionally catch them if they were not checking in others or answering questions, but were often absorbed in providing assistance to other guests – and keep testing dormitory room doors until they found one open.
In hostels with bathrooms separate from rooms, a common mistake people make is leaving the door ajar while taking a shower. I saw several travellers robbed while they were in the shower, as they had often left belongings on their bed thinking they would be back shortly and that the timeframe was surely a safety net.
3. Lock everything away – ALWAYS
I have stayed in hostels with roommates who chose to leave the door unlocked, in which case it is not within your control to protect your belongings. Doors in accommodation are also often quite heavy, and some are therefore easy to accidentally leave open if you do not make a point of hearing the satisfying click that indicates the door is locked. I have noticed other travellers, especially those with less experience, may be quite trusting, not only leaving the door unlocked by having their bags open in the room.
If you are not in accommodation with a locker, lock your bag every time you leave the room – and as a further deterrent, put it out of sight if possible. If you are in a hotel with a closet, it’s a good idea to put your bag in there as the thieves do want to be as fast as possible, and the harder you make it for them the safer you are. If you are lucky enough to have a safe in your room, use it for everything of value.
4. Charging does not make your electronics immune
By far the most significant commonality I noticed in the stories I heard from travellers is that we seem to be lured into a false sense of security when our electronics are charging. Just as I chose to leave my phone plugged in rather than take it with me as I usually would, reasoning that while I went to wash my one plate for 30 seconds it would be OK, I saw so many guests that left their tablet or laptop charging on their bed.
In these cases, all thieves have to do is a find a door that isn’t closed properly, grab whatever they can see, slip the devices into a backpack or shoulder bag and walk out the door. Quick, easy and completely inconspicuous.
5. Be weary of ‘guests’ with limited luggage
I had a conversation once with a guest who asked me where the guy that had checked into his room the other day was, as that ‘guest’ had entered the room, had a casual chat about his travel plans then said he was going out for cigarettes and never returned. I suspected immediately this was a thief, and asked the guest if the man in question had any luggage with him.
His answer confirmed my suspicions: the guy had only a shoulder bag, and it showed how easy it is for these people to pretend they are just another hostel guest, as who would suspect anything else? If you notice someone like this, it is better to be safe than sorry – make sure all your belongings are safely locked away, ask the person an innocent question such as where they are from, then check with staff if anyone matching that description is staying in your room.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
