Anti-theft handbags. Recommendations please .

[Guest]

Originally Posted by TigerMom

I have two pacsafe bags and absolutely love them. Apart from the safety aspect they have loads of pockets for all my stuff. I use them when I have to go to London or if I know I'm going to be in a crowded place.

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Oooh. Interesting. Which ones do you have? I am trying to work out what size is best but hard to find side by side comparisons.

Ideally I would like to have a good play with the bags and stuff them with various things before I buy. But given some seem to have to come from the states that makes the P&p for a test stuff quite expensive.

Does your bag have any non lockable zips on the side. I can't decide if that would be a useful thing ( for ease for me) or too easy access for others...

Don't want to carry too much. Spare glasses the main problems as I have to carry sunnies, readers and distance ones...

Spare eyes would take up less space 👀

[Bad Pink Tink]

Originally Posted by Gull

I’ve never heard of these ! DH and DS have RFID wallets but I’ve never bothered with a purse, would need too many as I like them matching my bags I know I’m not safety aware enough. When I read threads like this and the house security ones, it reminds me of how different life is on a small island and that maybe I should be more careful when I leave our little bubble. I’m off to look at these bags now

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Your bubble sounds so different from my day to day reality in a Dublin suburb. I wear a money belt under my coat with my purse and phone, I have lost count of the times when the driver of the bus I am has to call The Police due to fighting and other anti social behavior, in fact the the bus company regularly stop the service in my area due to drivers being attacked. I don't walk around my area once it gets dark, we have a house alarm on night and day, even when we are at home, and the local neighbourhood Facebook page is filled with posts about houses being broken into, cars and bikes being stolen and people being attacked.

I guess growing up and living like this has made me very aware of personal safety when I travel and I'm far less of a target than most tourists.

[Gull]

Originally Posted by Bad Pink Tink

Your bubble sounds so different from my day to day reality in a Dublin suburb. I wear a money belt under my coat with my purse and phone, I have lost count of the times when the driver of the bus I am has to call The Police due to fighting and other anti social behavior, in fact the the bus company regularly stop the service in my area due to drivers being attacked. I don't walk around my area once it gets dark, we have a house alarm on night and day, even when we are at home, and the local neighbourhood Facebook page is filled with posts about houses being broken into, cars and bikes being stolen and people being attacked.

I guess growing up and living like this has made me very aware of personal safety when I travel and I'm far less of a target than most tourists.

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Wow ! Thats quite sad, and just shows you the difference round the country. Even when I lived on the mainland I didn’t lock the doors during the day, but again it was a village we lived in. I have to remember to lock my car when I go away ! Most folk here leave their keys in the car never mind locking it lol. I’ve still not got THAT relaxed But when there’s only 2 small planes and 2 ferries a day there’s no easy escape for any dodgy characters.
We do travel a lot and it must sound like I walk around with my bag wide open but I do keep an eye out, just not to the extent a lot of you do/have to. This serves as a good reminder to me, thanks.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by FamilyGWales

It's a beautiful city and I am really looking forward to going.

I do tend to be quite travel savvy and I know you are too with all your globetrotting - but I didn't really look into the safety side of things until after I had booked the flights. Dumb. I am going with an 80yo who is not the fastest or best mover so started to dig into locations to stay and that when o started to uncover some of the reports and reviews on different areas.

Have picked carefully and don't advertise wealth or carry cash so hope don't scream target. Am sure all will be well, and to be honest the benefit of seeing the fab architecture and visiting that amazing part of Spain.

But yes, the reports have put me off a bit. Hence the new bag plans.

Don't need much of a push for new bag plans anyway to be honest 😂

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Maybe I should book, I should see it as a new bag opportunity too 😂

I’m sure you will be fine and have a lovely time, it’s a case of being aware really same as any city. It does look gorgeous, it’s so sad the reputation is putting people off visiting a little 😔

[mitch84]

Personally I don’t think these things are necessary, I think that thinking like that will increase anxiety not decrease.
I’d just go and be a bit savvy, don’t leave wallets in open pockets or bags on the back of chairs.
The pickpockets are subtle, they aren’t taking phones out of hands or cameras from around necks.
I walked round Barcelona with my phone in my hand for photos and maps, and a cross body bag, I was solo and out at night and had no issues at all

[sky13]

I went to Barcelona quite a while back with family. I was using a Crumpler bag, which had a huge velcro closure (which made a very secure closing, and had the benefit of being pretty load when being opened due to the velcro). The Crumpler bag was cross body, and also had very thick material that looked fairly slash proof. On the other hand, my sister had a bag with a zipper. She noticed people feeling around inside her bag on at least 3 occasions in the metro. I don't think anyone ever managed to get inside my bag (the noise and pressure needed to open that velcro would have been a pretty huge alert).

Thankfully we were aware that pickpocketing was an issue, so the only things we kept inside our bags were things like water bottles, guidebooks, etc that we wouldn't have an issue with losing.

More important things (passports, cards, etc) went in a waist pouch which was hidden under clothing.

Edited to add - these days I would probably also add a lanyard or wrist strap for my mobile phone especially if I was going to be using it to take photos everywhere.