What To Do When You're Hit By Thieves Abroad
Category | Travel Tips
Published: 18/06/2018
| Updated: 28/04/2024
Preparing For The Worst When Traveling Abroad
Planning for an overseas trip is never easy, especially these days. There are passport issues to reckon with and travel itineraries to make, as well as all the financial details you need to address prior to leaving. Throw in the arrangements you'll need to make for being away from home, and an overseas trip can seem overwhelming.
In such hectic circumstances, the last thing you want to do is worry about the worst possible scenario. Unfortunately, these scenarios do occur on some occasions, and you'll want to be prepared if they do. For instance, you'll need a contingency plan for what to do in case you're hit by thieves when traveling abroad.
Luckily, the preparations you'll need to make are minimal. Here's what to do if the worst does happen and you're hit by thieves in a foreign country.
What To Do (and not to do) First
If your valuables are stolen while you're traveling abroad, the most important thing is to stay calm. However much your mind wants to visit catastrophic scenarios, there's no need to panic. Yes, you need to proceed quickly to minimize the damage, but there's nothing to be gained by being frantic. In fact, it will only make things worse.
You should never try to retrieve your possessions, not under any circumstances. Any attempt to do so will most likely fail and possibly endanger you. It will also waste valuable time. You must understand that time is of the essence in cases of theft. You must proceed briskly but deliberately.
First, contact the local authorities. Although it is unlikely that they'll recover your valuables, it is still crucial that you contact the police immediately. At the very least, they'll file an incident report. And you will need this incident report to recoup your losses and obtain a new passport (if necessary).
If you experience any difficulties with the local police, contact the nearest British consul or the British Embassy in the country where you're staying.
What To Do Next
After you contact the police, the next step is to cancel any stolen credit cards. Do this immediately, as it will make recouping any losses that much easier. If you're uncertain whether a given card has been stolen, err on the side of caution and cancel it anyway.
If your smartphone was included in the theft, take measures to erase it immediately. This is a very vulnerable point of entry into your life, and it is crucial that you take steps to minimize the damage. Prior to any traveling, make sure that you know the process involved in erasing your phone. Typically, smartphone providers have easy to use applications and websites to erase your phone. Utilize them quickly.
How to Begin Rebuilding
Stolen credit cards can typically be replaced in a matter of days. Ask you company about the details. This is often true of smartphones as well -- many providers will help you obtain a new one quickly once they're informed of your situation. The British consul or embassy can help you obtain a replacement passport.
If you are in need of emergency cash, contact a friend in the UK and have them wire you the needed funds. The dedicated professionals at ACE-FX can handle any type of international money transfer easily. In rare cases of extreme emergency, the British consul can offer a short-term loan to get you back home.
Lastly, make sure you document everything accurately and save any receipts. Doing this will go a long way toward simplifying whatever measures you need to take once you've returned home.
Hopefully, you'll never need to use this information. But if the worst does happen, at least you'll be prepared.
Protect Yourself Against Theft With an ACE-FX Prepaid Travel Card
One thing you can do to guard against theft while you're abroad is to purchase an ACE-FX prepaid travel card. There's no safer way to transfer money online. We offer our cards in Euros, dollars, and other world currencies. They're preloaded with an amount that you specify, and they can be topped off online anywhere in the world. These funds are drawn from your credit or debit card and are available almost instantly.
In practice, ACE-FX prepaid travel cards function just like your credit or debit card. They can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted and you can use them to withdraw funds from ATMs around the world. They're also easily canceled and replaced, in cases of loss or theft.
You never need have an excessive amount of funds on our prepaid cards. Because they can be topped off at any time, there's no reason to risk huge losses. When the card begins to run out, you simply go online and top it off. Our prepaid travel cards are a safe and convenient way to make overseas purchases.
