Have you been robbed in a foreign country?
Travelling abroad is a beautiful experience. You get to see different cultures, many new sights, and try new things. Unfortunately, many things can go wrong and ruin a fantastic holiday. For example, your luggage might get stolen. You need to be fully prepared for such an eventuality. Here are some steps to take when your items are stolen while abroad.
- Take a personal inventory
- File a police report
- Approach your embassy
- Cancel your credit and debit cards
- Contact your travel insurance agent
- Leave the investigation to the authorities
Take a personal inventory
The first thing you should do if your items are stolen is to seek a safe place and take a personal inventory. Check your luggage to know what exactly has been stolen. The most important things to check are your passport, credit cards, and cash. Then, make a list of all the missing items, including even the smallest details. This list will help you file a report at the police station. Also, when making claims to your travel insurance company.
Report the loss at a local police station
The next step is to visit the nearest police station to file a report. This step is very crucial. It ensures the law enforcers immediately starts working on recovering your items. If you have difficulty communicating with the local police, use an online translation service or bring a local who speaks English. Get several copies of the police statement because your travel insurance agent will require them. They will also be useful when the police recover the stolen items in the future.
Approach your embassy
Contacting the Australian Embassy is crucial if you are stranded in a foreign country. The Australian Embassy can help you get in touch with your emergency contacts back home. They will replace the stolen passport to allow you to move about in the visiting country.
The officials at the Embassy will also assist in explaining the local criminal justice process. Offer you details about any Australian victim compensation programs available, and provide a list of local attorneys who communicate in English. Plus, if you need medical care as a result of the crime, the embassy can recommend the appropriate hospital.
Cancel your credit and debit cards
All banks have 24-hour emergency numbers; you need to immediately call the bank and report the loss of your cards. The next thing you need to do is ask the bank to freeze all the stolen credit and debit cards before the culprit misuses them.
You can now request the bank to replace the lost cards so that you have enough cash to make it through the rest of your trip. The card can be mailed to you internationally or sent via an express service. You should be able to get a card to between one to three days, depending on your card issuer.
Contact your travel insurance agent
After filling a report with the police, contacting the embassy, and your bank, the next step is to reach out to your travel insurance agent. The travel insurance will cover all or part of your losses, depending on the travel insurance plan you purchased. A good travel insurance policy will cover medical costs in a foreign hospital, replace visas lost with a passport, and several electronics stolen during the trip.
To claim these items, the insurer will generally not just take your word for it. They need some proof. The best evidence is the police report. Without a police report, the compensation may be delayed or declined.
Leave the investigation to the authorities
The lost item's location may be a dangerous area. So please do not spend time informing people unless they are of any help. Any information you receive about the site inform the police for follow-up. Please do not reply to any emails or calls informing you about your stolen items unless you verify it. If you are contacted about the stolen items, tell the authorities about it. Do not arrange to meet with anyone. If you are not cautious, you may unintentionally walk into a trap and land into more trouble.
Unfortunately, crime is present wherever you go in the world. But if it happens to you, do not panic, follow the above steps. All the systems, as mentioned earlier, are in place to protect you. Go ahead and book your flight with CheapTickets.sg and stay safe!