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So..now we also bring the bike security cable and secure the bag to the bed postI think a thief might just take the whole pack that has pockets locked. It would signal that something valuable is in the pack.
Not sure. They might, but the victims of theft I talked with only told of items (mainly cash money) removed from their packs. The pack was not taken and in one particular incident several packs had money taken from them at the same time. It was a full municipal albergue in one of the more popular stops along the Frances. I was never able to determine if the property was stolen at night or during the day when everyone was out and about the town, leaving backpacks unattended in the albergue sleeping quarters. Big open room with 30 beds/bunks. I just remember the next morning a lot of tears and sad faces and later in the morning while walking was told of the thefts.I think a thief might just take the whole pack that has pockets locked. It would signal that something valuable is in the pack.
I think a thief might just take the whole pack that has pockets locked. It would signal that something valuable is in the pack.
Excellent advise TWH. Thanks for sharing!I agree the best deterrent to theft is always have you valuables on your body. The problem is: just how many valuables are you carrying in weight and volume and can you keep them secure when showering and sleeping.
I don't like the feeling of having my pockets stuffed with documents, valuables and money. And there is potential for losing money when pulling things in and out of pockets. If something you need is at the bottom of a pocket and you must first remove things above it to access the items in the bottom, there are potential problems when first pulling out the items on top, setting them down and then re-entering you pocket for more. I use a hip or fanny pack and wear it so the pouch is in the front. I can easily access my things (passport, credential, cash, camera/phone, guide book and more) without having to remove items to get to other things. There are potential security pitfalls with "fanny packs" so if you go this route, get one from Pacsafe that addresss most of those security issues. Bring it to the shower in a dry bag and wear it to bed (if possible for you) or have it loose in your sleeping bag or use a padlock on the zipper pulls and a tiny cable to go around the bed frame or bedpost and connect it to the padlock at the zippers. The opportunistic thief, if smart, will immediately move on to the next victim when meeting any resistance or challenge with the current victim.
I had a large volume of valuables on my last Camino so I took both the hip pack described above and a 15 Liter "safe" also listed below. If interested do your own research to see how it works. It was multi-functional securing my valuables when I was sleeping, showering or away from the albergue, it was a secure chamber for my charging station to supply laptop, camera batteries, hard drive, phone etc...by running my extension cord with multiple outlets (A/C and 5v USB) into the secure bag with the other end plugged into the wall, it was a great carry-on bag when my back pack was checked luggage and it worked as a tote for trips to the laundry or shopping for food/beer/wine or taking a short hike as a picnic basket. It has a cable for attaching to a fixed structure that would require more than a multi-tool to cut and it cannot be cut open with a knife. A professional thief carrying special equipment will easily defeat this bag but those types of thieves are not on the Camino. The weakest link of this security bag is the lock that came with it so that was replaced.
There is a smaller 5 Liter version of this bag if you want the cable and mesh protection of the one described above but with less bulk and weight.
I was discrete locking and unlocking this bag and cable each time I used it. I did my worrying before the trip regarding security and devised a method to minimize theft so I could be worry free while on the Camino. I did hear of a theft in the morning when leaving one of the places I stayed. The place was 2 or 3 levels and the room I was in had about 10 beds (5 bunks). I don't think the theft happened in my room but I never heard any more details other than a few people lost their wallets/money during the night or morning.
There is no "one size fits all" solution to avoiding theft on the Camino. The variables mostly relate to how valuable the items are you are bringing and can you afford to lose them? Another concern relates to your support system back home. If you find yourself one morning without cash, phone, credit cards, etc...do you have family and friends to call who can quickly "save" you or is your situation one where you need to be more self reliant. If the latter, pre-trip efforts towards theft prevention are much more critical.
hip or fanny pack - pacsafe metrosafe LS120
5 liter container w/lock closure & cable - travelsafe 5L G2
15 liter container w/lock closure & cable - travelsafe X15 portable safe
and hangs around my neck if I am in the bathroom and shower.
Looks fab. I have same type but...not waterproof so it goes into a dry bag when in shower cubicle.This is what I have used. It is waterproof with two zippered compartments - one on each side. All of my valuables go inside: money, debit and credit card, passport, etc.
It fits into my pants pocket like a wallet, and hangs around my neck if I am in the bathroom and shower. It never leaves my person.
Here is where this specific model can be found, but there are other similar items around, too.
View attachment 53223
Also look at Travelon anti theft bags. They have the same types of security features as Pacsafe, but many more styles and less expensive too.@jrickards, I wore a money belt containing my USA passport, Credential and Euros nearly 100% of the time (except for when showering). I slept wearing it as well as this handy RFID Theft-Proof pouch: https://www.pacsafe.com/citysafe-cs...se/20195310.html?cgid=bags-cross-body#start=1. I adjusted the strap and wore it as a pouch in front when walking. If I felt like it, I strapped it to the bed. Trust me...it does not 'look' gender specific.
EDIT: YES! What @twh wrote! PacSafe is excellent and I now see they have many new styles.
View attachment 53226
So..now we also bring the bike security cable and secure the bag to the bed post
While the above post has its own merit, I would think that the average bloody, thieving albergue scalawag would not risk grabbing a whole bag and being confronted at the front door by the actual owner (or his\her friends) who just happen to return at that moment!
(In a way happened to me long time ago in one of the Miami Beach hotels. I was standing in the lobby and completely by accident looked at the young guy who just exited the elevator. He had a bag that looked just like mine.... and a camera bag that looked like mine... and a suitcase that looked like...and that was WAY TOO MUCH for a coincidence so I took of after him. At the fist sign of confrontation he just dropped everything and ran.... Needless to say I DEMANDED to be moved to a different room)
Just IMHO but I tend to agree that these types of low life want to move fast and with least attention to themselves hence fast hit on something that can be easily opened and grabbed....
I never kept anything of value in my backpack but that was because the only ting of value I had was my phone, wallet, passport and credencial. I have a large travel wallet that fitted into the cargo pocket of my trousers so that was all but mobile secure. My mobile phone, I kept on a lanyard mainly so it could not fall out and was always handy when I wanted to take a picture. Been on the camino 5 times and often leave my phone on charge in the dorm while I am out. Always there when I came back. I always carry a small shirt pocket wallet for convenience of having a handful of Euro handy so that I dont have to take out the big wallet every time. I must add, all this was not for security issues, just was convenient. BTW the large wallet was always kept in a ziplock plastic bag after everything got wet on my first camino when it rained solid for two daysBy overnight, I'm not referring to hotels but the "typical" hostel-type accommodations. Of course, I'll have my pack (with clothes, toiletries, etc) plus maybe a point-and-shoot camera (haven't decided on this yet), cellphone and of course, wallet with cash, credit card and passport. Of course, it's the more valuable items that I'm concerned about.
How does one ensure that these items are secure while sleeping? Should I consider mini-locks for the backpack zippers? Do hostels have some form of lockbox for each person overnighting?
Yes, they would!I think a thief might just take the whole pack that has pockets locked. It would signal that something valuable is in the pack.
Yeah... I actually wanted to expand the original topic into this issue (in a sense it applies)Been on the camino 5 times and often leave my phone on charge in the dorm while I am out. Always there when I came back.
Hi @jrickards
I am a newbie on the Forum myself so unfortunately cannot give you any of my own wisdom.
There were many posts here at some point or another on the topic. While the majority will tell you that theft is a VERY rare occurrence on The Camino - things do happen none-the-less so common sense caution is advised.
Basically a lot of advises were about trying not to bring anything of the value (jewelry for example), even the cameras (use your cellphone instead, although arguments were also made in favor of even leaving that behind), keep your passport, money, CC (one - 2 at the most) and Credencial del Peregrino on your person AT ALL TIMES! Down to the point of placing them in a waterproof small bag and taking it into the showers.
Perhaps a money belt during day time. I would not bring a wallet per se, perhaps a small travel-size pocket gizmo that has maybe 6 slots (couple of CCs, your DL - even that is questionable since you'll have the passport - maybe your Medical Insurance papers)
At night - either put the bag INTO the pillow case (not under the pillow) or inside sleeping bag (and to be fair - there are enough pro and cons for both of these methods)
I would definitely consider mini-locks (like TSA-approved perhaps key-less but with the cipher-code...who wants to mess around with that?); if anything I DO consider doing so when I take to the road.
I am sure we'll get some words on the possible lockers\lockboxes. My thought is that it is probably individually applied to albergos - some will have them and some will not.
Good luck and Buen Camino
I would not leave my phone charging out of sight for very long, especially not while I go out for a meal.Yeah... I actually wanted to expand the original topic into this issue (in a sense it applies)
All the talk about recharging the electronics and ...how does one do it? plugged into the outlet for whatever duration and be it evening or overnight?
This is what I have used. It is waterproof with two zippered compartments - one on each side. All of my valuables go inside: money, debit and credit card, passport, etc.
It fits into my pants pocket like a wallet, and hangs around my neck if I am in the bathroom and shower. It never leaves my person.
Here is where this specific model can be found, but there are other similar items around, too.
View attachment 53223
[/QUOTE
That's my plan. Thanks for sharing.I had a battery pack with me and I charged up my watch and phone when I stopped for lunch. After washing my clothes I could sit and relax and charge up the electronics. It was just part of the daily chores.
I had a problem with my phone in 2015. Every day when I reached the albergue it would be almost flat so it went on charge as soon as I arrived. I then would go for a shower and then out for a drink and a bit of people watching in a roadside cafe. The phone took forever to charge so I was picking it up around dinner time. It was always there. Obviously, I preferred to have a wall socket by my bed but occasionally there would only be one or two sockets so it was out of sight but no-one ever touched it. As an aside, I eventually reset the phone to factory settings and no longer had to charge it every dayYeah... I actually wanted to expand the original topic into this issue (in a sense it applies)
All the talk about recharging the electronics and ...how does one do it? plugged into the outlet for whatever duration and be it evening or overnight?
One assumes you are not wondering how to charge in general. You should bring the appropriate plug converter...your electronics are probably "smart" and will do okay with whatever the wall power is, so only the little plug adapter with in "your" type and out "host nation" type is really necessary. One looks around and asks if necessary to find a plug.Yeah... I actually wanted to expand the original topic into this issue (in a sense it applies)
All the talk about recharging the electronics and ...how does one do it? plugged into the outlet for whatever duration and be it evening or overnight?
I have a charger from a Huawei phone we bought in 2016 while spending 2 weeks in London. I think that probably will do the tick just nicely for either my phone or camera (both take mini-B USB)My son left his charger in an albergue some years ago and had to buy a Spanish replacement. I always travel with it now so I dont need to carry adapters
If you bought it in London it will have the British three prong plug so you will need a british to European adaptor.I have a charger from a Huawei phone we bought in 2016 while spending 2 weeks in London. I think that probably will do the tick just nicely for either my phone or camera (both take mini-B USB)
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