Daughter just been robbed in Mexico
Discussion
Daughter and her Boyfriend have spent 6 months in South East Asia travelling with zero issues.
They have been in Mexico near Cancun, for 2 weeks, and yesterday on a 4 hour bus journey thief's managed to distract them enough to remove all their cash and cards from the bottom of their rucksacks.
The only thing they didn't take was their phones and passports. They even got thier driving licences which were in different parts of the bags.
Whilst on a bus FFS.
Obviously they've cancelled the cards, managed to book a hotel on line with a virtual card. Daughter was talking about cutting the trip short and coming home now instead of in 10 weeks time. Regrouping, getting new cards and driving licences and maybe going somewhere safer than Central America.
Wife thinks that just shock and they'll regret coming straight home
I can send them money via western union. The website isn't clear. If I give them the access code can they take that to any WU agent? They can pay for stuff using their phones but obviously lots of places only take cash.
If they order new driving licences they would come to addresses in the UK.
Could they be sent safely to Say Belize (Thier next destination) ... maybe to the UK embassy?
Same with credit/debit cards?
I did read that the Embassy might be able to provide temporary driving licences... anyone got any experience of that ?
They have been in Mexico near Cancun, for 2 weeks, and yesterday on a 4 hour bus journey thief's managed to distract them enough to remove all their cash and cards from the bottom of their rucksacks.
The only thing they didn't take was their phones and passports. They even got thier driving licences which were in different parts of the bags.
Whilst on a bus FFS.
Obviously they've cancelled the cards, managed to book a hotel on line with a virtual card. Daughter was talking about cutting the trip short and coming home now instead of in 10 weeks time. Regrouping, getting new cards and driving licences and maybe going somewhere safer than Central America.
Wife thinks that just shock and they'll regret coming straight home
I can send them money via western union. The website isn't clear. If I give them the access code can they take that to any WU agent? They can pay for stuff using their phones but obviously lots of places only take cash.
If they order new driving licences they would come to addresses in the UK.
Could they be sent safely to Say Belize (Thier next destination) ... maybe to the UK embassy?
Same with credit/debit cards?
I did read that the Embassy might be able to provide temporary driving licences... anyone got any experience of that ?
Sounds like a theft, not a robbery. The difference (in UK law) is any use or perceived use of force.
Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
Schoolboy error.
Who taught them that it's OK to put their ID, money, cards or other valuables in a bag?
When in transit cash, cards, phone and passports stay on your person.
Banks can send replacement cards pretty quick. I've used Remitly to send money to a friend in Colombia. It used thir ID for authentication and they could pick it up from a supermarket . All quite simple. However it's worth it just to pay any fee to expedite a new card being delivered.
Also have them check to see if there are any unknown transactions.
As for a driving license, surely that can wait until they get back. Otherwise you'll have to post/courier it directly to them. The embassy is not a postal service for careless tourists.
Who taught them that it's OK to put their ID, money, cards or other valuables in a bag?
When in transit cash, cards, phone and passports stay on your person.
Banks can send replacement cards pretty quick. I've used Remitly to send money to a friend in Colombia. It used thir ID for authentication and they could pick it up from a supermarket . All quite simple. However it's worth it just to pay any fee to expedite a new card being delivered.
Also have them check to see if there are any unknown transactions.
As for a driving license, surely that can wait until they get back. Otherwise you'll have to post/courier it directly to them. The embassy is not a postal service for careless tourists.
The Gauge said:
Sounds like a theft, not a robbery. The difference (in UK law) is any use or perceived use of force.
Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
You empathic softie, you.Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
captain_cynic said:
Schoolboy error.
Who taught them that it's OK to put their ID, money, cards or other valuables in a bag?
When in transit cash, cards, phone and passports stay on your person.
This is correct. In separate, fastened, pockets. Who taught them that it's OK to put their ID, money, cards or other valuables in a bag?
When in transit cash, cards, phone and passports stay on your person.
If somebody had taken the whole rucksack, everything would have gone.
Somebody once attempted to pick-pocket me on the underground in Russia. I was wearing shorts that did not have zips on the large pockets, so I had pinned the pockets with big safety pins. This prevented them taking my passport. I had some cash in another pocket and some in a money belt.
The Gauge said:
Sounds like a theft, not a robbery. The difference (in UK law) is any use or perceived use of force.
Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
It's completely different in terms of how somebody feels and reacts to it.Things like this can happen when travelling, I've been robbed in Geneva, assaulted in San Francisco and burgled in Latvia. Stuff happens.
She needs to try and see it as just a potential occupational hazard when traveling, shrug her shoulders at the inconvenience of it all and carry on with her trip. In the future it will become an interesting part of her travel story when telling folk of her trip.
Had she been held at knife point, or assaulted then that would be traumatic, but if the stuff was stolen without her knowing then what she has suffered is no different to the airport losing her rucksack.
A friend of mine laughed at me when, unlike him, I would not leave my rucksack on the luggage rack -next to the doors- on a train in the UK. I kept it with me.
A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
Frustrating but one of those things, they might just be tired of the trip anyway and it's the straw that broke the camels back or they might be keen to continue after a bit of rest and sorting things.
One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
Pit Pony said:
Could they be sent safely to Say Belize (Thier next destination) ... maybe to the UK embassy?
Embassies are a pain in my limited experience, you might have more luck with a hotel, but you can always ask (except on weekends, when they're closed):+501 822-2146
bhcbelmopan@fcdo.gov.uk
768 said:
Pit Pony said:
Could they be sent safely to Say Belize (Thier next destination) ... maybe to the UK embassy?
Embassies are a pain in my limited experience, you might have more luck with a hotel, but you can always ask (except on weekends, when they're closed):+501 822-2146
bhcbelmopan@fcdo.gov.uk
I still maintain that if you really need to send their license to them, you should courier it to their hotel directly.
Sorry to hear it happened, but it can happen anywhere and backpackers are especially vulnerable as thieves know they have everything on them.
To be fair, as said above this happens everywhere, my mum had her suitcase stolen from a train between Sussex and Lincolnshire a few months back. I just felt sorry for whoever opened it since it contained nothing more than clothes for an 82 year old woman.
As said, sending money is relatively easy if they still have Passports for ID to collect. Sending them physical documents eg driving licences can be done by international courier to a hotel if they're staying there for a few days and can be done in advance of their arrival (assuming it is a decent hotel).
To be fair, as said above this happens everywhere, my mum had her suitcase stolen from a train between Sussex and Lincolnshire a few months back. I just felt sorry for whoever opened it since it contained nothing more than clothes for an 82 year old woman.
As said, sending money is relatively easy if they still have Passports for ID to collect. Sending them physical documents eg driving licences can be done by international courier to a hotel if they're staying there for a few days and can be done in advance of their arrival (assuming it is a decent hotel).
rpguk said:
Frustrating but one of those things, they might just be tired of the trip anyway and it's the straw that broke the camels back or they might be keen to continue after a bit of rest and sorting things.
One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
Defo worth checking this…..One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
Other than that, if it is real, it becomes a story to look back on.
hstewie said:rpguk said:
Frustrating but one of those things, they might just be tired of the trip anyway and it's the straw that broke the camels back or they might be keen to continue after a bit of rest and sorting things.
One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
Yes. We have had a video tour of the hostel this afternoon. They don't want any cash sent. Seems they've booked a very cheap** flight back tomorrow, and have found flights similarly cheap to return in about 3 weeks time. They have requested new cards to come to our house and replacement driving licences. As soon as they arrive they will be off...One point for the OP, have you actually spoken to them? There are a lot of scams out there with fraudsters pretending to be robbed kids etc and then asking for western union transfers!
Her boyfriend had a video interview set up for the week after next for a job starting in September, so he's going to see if they'd prefer to do it in person before they continue thier trip.
Whilst they were in South East Asia, my Dad died in January and they "popped" home for 2 weeks for the funeral.
....**cheap being £250 each one way.
Rusty Old-Banger said:
This.
Some of the posts in here have the stench of victim blaming.
There's been no victim blaming, just alternative suggestions of how she could view the experience differently so it doesn't spoil her travels.Some of the posts in here have the stench of victim blaming.
She can either see it as a crisis and let it ruin an otherwise great adventure and finish it short by coming home and never travel again
or
accept that if you do enough travelling then these things can happen, accept the grief and stress of getting back everything to normal and then see it as part of your post travel story tellings to others.
Glass half full etc.
MC Bodge said:
A friend of mine laughed at me when, unlike him, I would not leave my rucksack on the luggage rack -next to the doors- on a train in the UK. I kept it with me.
A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
My new carry-on rucksack has a code-lock with metal loops that you can secure all the major pockets with. Much happier on overnight flights now.A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
havoc said:
MC Bodge said:
A friend of mine laughed at me when, unlike him, I would not leave my rucksack on the luggage rack -next to the doors- on a train in the UK. I kept it with me.
A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
My new carry-on rucksack has a code-lock with metal loops that you can secure all the major pockets with. Much happier on overnight flights now.A few months later, he sheepishly admitted that somebody had stolen his rucksack from a similar luggage rack on a train....
The inconvenience of losing all of your valuables is far more than the inconvenience of making it less likely.
Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce said:
What usually happens on overnight flights?
I fall asleep and can't keep an eye on a good few £k of camera kit above my head (as even the old bag wouldn't fit under the seat).Granted the individual risk is small, but leaving all that unattended never felt particularly safe.
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