Theft Prevention: Why you should drag your backpack behind your bike

This week a friend of mine had her iPhone stolen in Antigua. It’s ignited another round of discussions in our traveling circles about theft on the road, how to avoid it and the various gear and gadgets marketed to minimize the likelihood of being burgled on the road.

I would like to say two things about this:

1. If you travel long enough, something’s going to get stolen. That’s just the way of it. If you adjust your mind to that from the beginning you won’t be surprised when it happens and maybe you’ll feel a little less violated as well.
2. The best way to prevent it is to look like you’ve got nothin’.

When we were kids we spent a couple of winters rolling around Central America. My Dad’s philosophy included a commitment to blending in and keeping a low profile as much as a family of gringos could.

“If you look like you’ve got less than the locals, then no one has a reason to take your stuff,” was his conclusion.

It’s one I’ve come to share over the years.

Traveling with fancy “traveling” clothes, an obvious “gadget bag” and a shiny new backpack is the surest way to paint a target on your back before you even leave the airport. There are lots of reasons that an iPhone might be a great piece of gear to take along on an extended journey, especially if you’re working as you go, but if you don’t need it… don’t take it. Buy the $10 cell phone when you hit the ground and swap out the SIM card in each country. Take clothes that are clean and respectable looking, but not new with the tags from REI still dangling off the back. The fancy gear yells MONEY loud and clear, to locals and opportunistic other travelers alike. A brand new backpack screams, “It’s my first rodeo!!” like little else, marking you as someone who is neither hip to the road groove, or experienced enough to smell a con.

Most everyone you’ll meet on the road is a good person, a friend in the making. But the very few and far between who are out to prey on travelers have a keen eye and know exactly who they’re looking for. The surest way to “not be that guy” is to follow my Dad’s advice, travel with a low profile.

And, if you absolutely MUST buy a new bag, drag that thing behind your bike for half of a mile before you pack it.

Have you had anything stolen on the road? What steps do you take to prevent it?