Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Bruce Dumes wrote:
> After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
> one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
> it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
> backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
> a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.
>
> The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
> Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
> lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.
>
> I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
> replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
> general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

If the additional cost is negligible, why not opt for peace
of mind? You may never actually NEED that extra protection,
but better to have and not need, than regret not having it
if it turns out you DID need it. Personally, I distrust
back-packs on general principals - I don't like having my
stuff more accessible to other people than it is to me.
However I find the damned things uncomfortable and
impractical anyway, since I don't hike if I can avoid it,
and my travel generally involves sitting in a vehicle.

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:21:22 -0700, Bruce Dumes
<[email protected]> wrote:

>After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
>one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
>it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
>backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
>a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.
>
>The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
>Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
>lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.
>
>I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
>replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
>general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?
>
>Regards,
>Bruce

I'm paranoid about passports and credit cards, but not about
luggage. You're more likely to have problems with airlines
losing it than slashers pinching it.



Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:10:45 GMT, "William Black"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>I load the lot onto a memory stick, along with my 'portable apps' suite and
>fasten it to my mobile phone.

Great idea - to add to others.


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

> I'm paranoid about passports and credit cards, but not about
> luggage. You're more likely to have problems with airlines
> losing it than slashers pinching it.
>

Which is why I never check baggage if I can help it. I haven't checked
a bag in 10 years.

Interesting responses from all!

Bruce

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:41:25 -0700, Bruce Dumes
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>> I'm paranoid about passports and credit cards, but not about
>> luggage. You're more likely to have problems with airlines
>> losing it than slashers pinching it.
>>
>
>Which is why I never check baggage if I can help it. I haven't checked
>a bag in 10 years.
>
>Interesting responses from all!
>
>Bruce

I hope that unslashable bag fits in the carry-on weight and
size parameters. And, if you're flying through the UK, that
you don't have a second bag.



Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

>> > With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that
>> > the
>> > weight goes up.
>>
>> This thing is surprisingly well made (should be for the money). It's
>> actually lighter than my regular backpack.
>
> You won't need it. Violent theft from tourists is extremely rare in
> these countries.

Is he worried about "violent" theft or simply people who use tools (in this
case, a sharp knife) to slice open the bottom of a backpack and take its
contents? There's likely no violence towards the person with the backpack,
and the temporary shock & disbelief at what's happening probably keeps the
thief from having to subdue his prey.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Following up to Bruce Dumes <[email protected]> wrote:

>I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
>replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
>general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

you should be realistic, tourists are targeted in crime. The trouble
with this sort of defensive action is you can move yourself to worse
trouble if you get dragged over or cut by a failed knife bag snatch.
Having said that its not that common anyway. What do you do at home?
--
Mike
(remove clothing to email)

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Following up to Bruce Dumes <[email protected]> wrote:

>Which is why I never check baggage if I can help it. I haven't checked
>a bag in 10 years.

you must travel light!
--
Mike
(remove clothing to email)

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

In article <[email protected]. com>,
Iceman <[email protected]> writes

>Actually, there is probably more of a danger of theft from tourists in
>Amsterdam than from locals. Amsterdam had the only hostel I've seen
>in Europe where they assign you a large locker with a padlock for your
>stuff - they had a problem with backpackers who spend all of their
>money on drugs, and then during the day when everyone else is out of
>the room go through other travelers' bags to find cash or find
>valuables to sell.

In Geneva the youth hostel I stayed at years ago closed from about 9am
until about 4pm, and during those hours everyone had to be out of the
building with whatever items they needed for the day. I don't know if it
was common practice in Switzerland, as I didn't encounter it in French
or German hostels.
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

"David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1i2jye5.16opump1nmz23N%[email protected]...
> William Black <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:1i2jxvv.1nq00s61lc5arsN%[email protected]...
>> > William Black <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >
>> >> "David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:1i2jwc9.1eqp74piyu1zxN%[email protected]...
>> >>
>> >> > Storing the photo online is a better idea.
>> >>
>> >> I load the lot onto a memory stick, along with my 'portable apps'
>> >> suite
>> >> and
>> >> fasten it to my mobile phone.
>> >>
>> >> When travelling I wear it around my neck with the phone and chip
>> >> dropped
>> >> into my front shirt pocket.
>> >
>> > To be extremely pessimistic, that could all be stolen. I advise an
>> > online solution as well. It's easy and safe to do.
>>
>> 1. If that lots goes I'm stuffed anyway.
>>
>> 2. It's all backed up on a couple of PCs that are available if
>> necessary.
>> The data can be FTP'd to me.
>
> That can take time. Having an online solution is quickest- why not have
> it in addition?

It is really not a good idea to have any personal information online;
certainly not an image of your passport. Online data is a rich source of
information for identity theft.

Colin Bignell

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Am Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:07:21 -0700 schrieb Iceman:

> How paranoid depends on where you're visiting. I've been to places
> like Mexico and China where I was very careful about theft.

China? Seemed one of the safest places in the world to me. You know that
thieves there can end up being executed if found out, don't you? No need to
be very careful there.

Mexico is a different story.

> But there
> would be no reason to walk around Japan or Switzerland with a
> slashproof backpack.

100% ACK.

Regards,

Frank

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Am Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:21:22 -0700 schrieb Bruce Dumes:

> After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
> one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
> it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
> backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
> a knife and yanking on the strap.

Where should that be? Certainly not in Western Europe. What can happen is
that pickpockets cut the backpack itself open to take out the wallet. Maybe
when you have it on your back in a jam-packed bus in Italy or Spain. So
keep your valuables in your front-pockets and leave the backpack for things
like clothes.

> I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

Careful, these things will do more harm then help. In Italy and Spain
thieves sometimes ride on a scooter and the person on the back of it
snatches the camera or bag. You wouldn't want to have a slash-proof-strap
around your neck in that situation! Rather use your common sense and have
the camera on your side, away from the road.

> The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas)

No problem there with theft, they'll rather rip you off in the bars of the
red-light-district, if they want your money ;-)

>, up through
> Denmark to Copenhagen,

Absolutely safe there.

> Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
> lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

That should also be fine.

Regards,

Frank

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

"nightjar" <nightjar@<insert my surname here> wrote:

> "David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1i2jye5.16opump1nmz23N%[email protected]...
[]
> > That can take time. Having an online solution is quickest- why not have
> > it in addition?
>
> It is really not a good idea to have any personal information online;
> certainly not an image of your passport. Online data is a rich source of
> information for identity theft.

It's up to the individual what they do, of course, but I don't agree
that it's unsafe. Indeed, it's been very handy in a few countries where
various employers have needed a copy of my passport, and I didn't have
it on my person. I just went on their computer and printed off a copy.

The biggest threat, at least in the UK, to online security is through
phishing. My own bank is going to be sending out card readers to their
online customers as a result. This is something other countries have
done for years. It's in direct response to various customers giving out
their password details etc. as a response to phishing emails.

I've kept this kind of information online for over a decade by the way.
I'd be more worried about someone breaking into my flat and stealing my
passport, and that's hellishly unlikely too.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

PeterL <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Aug 8, 3:46 pm, [email protected] (David Horne, _the_ chancellor
> (*)) wrote:
> > Bruce Dumes <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that the
> > > > weight goes up.
> >
> > > This thing is surprisingly well made (should be for the money). It's
> > > actually lighter than my regular backpack.
> >
> > You won't need it. Violent theft from tourists is extremely rare in
> > these countries.
>
>
> I am glad to hear that tourists are well behaved in these countries.
> But what about violent theft against tourists? That's what OP is
> concerned about.

Other than displaying your brilliant wit and comprehension skills, did
you have anything to add?

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

Re: how paranoid should one really be?
 

Mike Jacoubowsky <[email protected]> wrote:

> >> > With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that
> >> > the
> >> > weight goes up.
> >>
> >> This thing is surprisingly well made (should be for the money). It's
> >> actually lighter than my regular backpack.
> >
> > You won't need it. Violent theft from tourists is extremely rare in
> > these countries.
>
> Is he worried about "violent" theft or simply people who use tools (in this
> case, a sharp knife) to slice open the bottom of a backpack and take its
> contents? There's likely no violence towards the person with the backpack,
> and the temporary shock & disbelief at what's happening probably keeps the
> thief from having to subdue his prey.

I was using 'violent' very widely here. This kind of theft is rare.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007