Having an Unorganized Backpack Made Me a Victim. Travel Safety Lessons Learned the Hard Way!
by Francisco Acosta
Who would have thought that traveling with an unorganized backpack could be so dangerous? I’m here to tell you first-hand that it can be extremely dangerous. Recently, while waiting at the immigration office on the Belize/Mexico Border, I was beaten, and taken by force by two thugs who stole my computer and camera gear.
I now know there is a term for this, Express Kidnapping. Where the victim (me) is taken and held, until the captors are sure there is nothing more to steal. It’s only by the grace of God that I did not have any more valuables with me, that nothing else was stolen.
For those of you who know me, you know I’m a professional photographer, and avid traveler. I rely on my equipment, but my mistake was to make myself a target by exposing my valuables to dozens of strangers in an area known to be frequented by thieves. Now that I am safe at home, with time to reflect, I recognize that I ignored some basic safety rules, that are easy as a traveler to let slip.
Matias Recondo, a young Italian cyclist whom I met in 2014, knows exactly what I mean. He was attacked by two men while on his bike while crossing the state of Oaxaca and was hospitalized. They stripped him of everything. On that occasion, while awaiting assistance from his embassy, he told me,
“Organize your equipment and your cameras. Try not to get them out of your luggage unnecessarily.”
Indeed, I remember him packing his luggage in an unusual way. His advice to me made sense. This was how he was able to pedal thousands of kilometers through Mexico and South America without holdups. But, one oversight was his downfall. In Oaxaca, a Nikon Camera strap waving outside his luggage was enough to draw unwanted attention.
In my case, while walking through the lane that snaked through a parking lot to the immigration point of Belize, it occurred to me that my keys were at the bottom of my unorganized backpack and I proceeded to take all of my belongings out to find them. As it turns out, this was a huge mistake that ultimately triggered my robbery.
Being organized when traveling is not only more efficient, it is a matter of safety and security.
A Canadian customs official once told me that a well organized suitcase receives different treatment during routine checkups. For officers, a well organized bag forces them to be more proper, polite and courteous. Although this is not a foolproof strategy, it is more effective.
After my attack, I contacted Danny Kaine, the CEO of Nomad SOS to explain what had happened. After he made sure that I was ok, he told me this:
“Being an ex-soldier, I can tell you that when we packed to go on operations, we would pack methodically. Items would be packed in the order of which we were likely to need them. The less items we needed to unpack, the less likely it was for something to get left behind or broken, and the less we needed to re-pack. As a traveler, I pack the same way.”
As a Social Ambassador of Nomad SOS I want to remind you, it could happen to anyone, at any time, especially if we let our standards drop, and complacency kick in. I now realize that knowing where each item of my belongings are reduces the chances of exposing them in public. My fractured ribs, and bruising are proof, please spend more time organizing and packing your bags. In Mexico, we have a saying, “a chance makes a thief.” Don’t give them that chance.
Also, please DON’T forget your Travel Insurance.
