My sister had a most dramatic holiday experience in Rome many years ago, when she had to chase a young snatch thief and wrestle him to get back a bag containing her family’s travel documents.

Another relative of mine walked through a crowded marketplace in Manila without realising her handbag had been slashed open and its contents lifted.

A member of my travel group cried when she discovered her wallet was missing from her backpack during a visit to a popular tourist spot in Beijing.

A colleague lost her purse to thieves on the first day of her arrival in Mexico.

A friend lost her camera to thieves at a Phuket beach when she and her boyfriend left it unattended to go for a quick dip in the sea.

A pair of amethyst earrings I bought in Srinagar, Kashmir was pinched from my bag during a customs check at the airport from which I was boarding a flight to Delhi.

I think you get the drift. These stories are not hearsay, but gleaned from people I know, and through my personal experiences. And they’ve taught me these valuable lessons: Never, ever let your guard down wherever you go, and always watch your bag!  

Don’t take it for granted that every trip will be enjoyable and uneventful; it is a good idea to be always alert, especially where safety and security are concerned.

Start even before you leave home, by making checks with government agencies that report safety, security and health issues related to travel in a foreign country. Also consult your travel agent or ask people who’ve been to the country you’ll be visiting for information about their experiences with safety, customs and the local culture.