<p>rrhah I would still travel to Denmark and I know I will again. But I will be more diligent and find something to carry my important documents on my body
It’s not all terrible there , but they do have an element of problematic immigrants that has changed the vibe of the city…same thing in Malmo</p>
<p>Lje, how terrible! I hope your H had luck applying for re-entry papers at the embassy. </p>
<p>We always make copies of all docs (even the visa pages) when we travel abroad. In some countries, you have to carry your passport on you all the time since it is required by the local laws, but sometimes a copy will suffice, so check with your travel agency or look it up and make copies if needed.</p>
<p>EU’s economy has been hard hit in the recent years. D2 was thinking about Span for study abroad, but H is discouraging her from going. Knock on wood, for all the traveling we’ve done, I’ve only had one very expensive shawl taken while waiting for a connecting flight at Milan. I usually carry our family’s passports in my handbag, and it doesn’t leave me. </p>
<p>lje62 - sorry about this mishap and thanks for the heads up.</p>
<p>rrhah - Denmark is really a safe country and a must see. Don’t let a couple of losers ruin your opportunity.</p>
<p>rrah, it’s not any more dangerous than anywhere in the US. It can happen anywhere. I hope your daughter enjoys her trip :)</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I absolutely love my Scottevest. I got one for my daughter last year for a trip and my wife took it to Singapore recently. She didn’t carry a handbag; just the vest and a small backpack with a change of clothes. It worked out really well.</p>
<p>I have two. It is so easy to go through airport security when you have one. Everything goes into the pockets (even your shoes if you want), and you’re finished!</p>
<p>Were the perps Danish nationals or otherwise locals or from ‘NAH’ (Not Around Here)?</p>
<p>People need to be cautious regardless of if they are abroad or not. The same things happen just as frequently in America. It is undeniable that thieves target travelers, but only because they tend to be the easiest to steal from. I have traveled abroad several times and my family has had items stolen from us, but there have been numerous times where we have had nothing at all stolen.</p>
<p>The best way to prevent any thievery from occurring is to be aware of your surroundings and always keep an eye on anything you might be taking along with you. Being jet-lagged is not an excuse to refrain from being vigilant. When you are in airports going to and from your destination, you must be even more careful with your stuff. With that said, please don’t feel like you always have to be uptight while traveling! HAVE FUN, but never forget to keep your belongings close to you.</p>
<p>Younger d and her boyfriend are in Europe now, as boyfriend just finished first year of grad schoo. She did study abroad in Vienna and they have both been to London previously…but I sat down with both of them and read them the riot act about being extra vigilant, they have copies of documents which are to be kept in a separate place, I have copies of her passport and I assume his parents have copies of his. I told them to be extra cautious in crowds, to be aware that pickpockets work in pairs, pairs will often stage a fight or create a distraction to create a crowd, and sadly to be aware of gypsy children in groups. Walk with your NY face and your NY purposeful stride… </p>
<p>DH had a colleague who upon retirement as well as his wife’s retirement sold their house and travelled the world for a few years, travelling in every continent and in the U.S. all fifty states and all the national parks. He was robbed 2x in Copenhagen-once while checking into hotel at the front desk-backpack taken from his feet while wife was in ladies room and another when taking credit card out of wallet in a bookstore-wallet stolen from the store counter, he had his hotel room broken into and his laptop stolen in New Zealand.</p>
<p>Unfortunately putting your wallet in your front pants pocket does not protect against theft.</p>
<p>My H was robbed on a crowded Paris Metro–his wallet was in his front pocket. The thief removed the wallet, took out the cash, and replaced the wallet (luckily he/she didn’t take credit cards). We didn’t discover the theft until we tried to pay for our meal in a restaurant that didn’t take credit cards!</p>
<p>Same thing happened to a friend in one of the -stans. Wallet was taken out of his front pocket and placed in his <em>back</em> pocket - without the cash. Beware of people pushing their way to the exit through the crowded bus. </p>
<p>"Walk with your NY face and your NY purposeful stride… " As D discovered, this might make you stand out of the crowd in some places. You have to pay attention to what the locals do and how they walk if you want to blend in.</p>
<p>My son just returned last night from his 4 month semester abroad in Copenhagen. He had an absolute wonderful time there and cannot wait until he can go back. He never mentioned any crime or feeling unsafe but I will ask him now what his impressions were. He is pretty street-smart and has done a fair amount of traveling. I am glad, though, that I read this thread after he landed back home!</p>
<p>The Scottevest front lower pockets have magnets to help prevent things from falling out and then also have outer zippers too (one has an inner zipper for the truly paranoid). There are upper outside zippered pockets and upper inside zippered pockets along with zippered pockets for documents, camera, glasses, pens, an iPad and a huge picked in the back if you want to carry a tennis racquet. I also have an EMS fishing jacket with a similar concept.</p>
<p>I lose things inside my jacket all the time. It needs to come with an inventory list.</p>
<p>There are two huge pockets on the inside front that stuff can get lost in if you tip the jacket upside down - happens with coins. To get the coins out you have to put it upside-down and then get it to go down the other side.</p>
<p>I lost a camera charger in the jacket and didn’t find it for weeks!</p>
<p>I’ve been pickpocketed twice; once inside a hospital in Pittsburgh and once in NE Washington DC. Never abroad and we travel a lot. We always wear a money belt where we carry extra cash and passport. I also have 2 scottevests, but find the pockets too small because I wear an XS which they have stopped production.
My D has had her iphones stolen in New Orleans and Trafalgar Square.</p>
<p>I can see how solo travelers are more vulnerable because you can’t keep an eye on your luggage at all times unless you only have a backpack.
I hope your H is able to get some IDs quickly. My S was able to have a brand new passport issued to him within 35 minutes of checking in at a passport office. But that’s another story.</p>
<p>So true that this can happen anywhere and sorry for how many people have been ripped off. </p>
<p>Just returned from a great vacation to a destination with a reputation for massive numbers of pickpocketing, as well as a facebook page devoted to this experience. We were, of course, extra vigilant, and husband put his wallet on a chain linked securely to a belt loop in a front pocket where it always is. He had his hand on it when we were in crowds. I bought a small case that held license (for id) and credit cards and snapped to a bra strap so I could access it discreetly. In my small, close to the body purse, I had only cash for the day and personal items of limited value. It gave me huge piece of mind to know that if my purse was taken, there could be no identity theft involved. Passports lived in the hotel safe or around our neck, under clothes until we arrived. We did not have any problems, but our strategy minimized consequences. Others have said to have a “decoy” wallet with some cash in it, so if you are harassed and intimidated, you can throw the wallet in one direction and run in another. I am so glad that we were both aware of the frequency of this type event in this city and that we did not avoid the destination because of it. These tips are important to pass on to our students who may well be traveling overseas and particularly vulnerable.</p>
<p>Lje62- hope all works out quickly for your husband and thanks for sharing. It is great to hear from everyone about travel safety tips.</p>
<p>Well I feel a little better after finally talking to a knowledgeable state department representative that gave solid advice and instructions. After the circle jerk I got all day yesterday , it was comforting. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he has direction now.Unfortunately , the embassies in Denmark are not open until Tuesday. I’m shocked at what little availability they offer. </p>
<p>As far as the perps, the police insinuated that they are foreigners , not local Danes.
And this Scott vest that I haven’t heard of is going to be a Father’s Day gift for my husband</p>