Keeping your valuables safe

Keep it safe? Keep it on you.

Of course this is easy for me, as my 'valuables' amount to my money (folded in my pocket, no wallet), bank card (kept inside folded money), my... umm....oh, wedding ring, which I wear always and... I dunno, a pack of smokes and Bic lighter. Those are the things I care about losing and they're on me at all times except sleep time when they're put in the safe.

Obviously I'm no good for advise on what to do with your Rolex, diamond earrings,...(I'm so out of touch I can't think of other luxuries ><) but maybe think of what you're bringing with you and why. I mean, I'm not trying to promote my minimalist approach, but ask yourself if the benefit of being able to wear a thousand dollar jewelry item for 2hrs at dinner outweighs the 22hrs of the rest of the day spent worrying about it's safety. All I had in my room was a pair of year old $40 khaki's and matching fleece, which gave me 5 worry free, concern free days. Ahhh, vacations. =)

I'll just put my beer in the mini fridge in the room to keep it cold. I've never though about locking it up. It would get warm in the safe. I do put a "do not disturb" on the door so the maids won't come in and drink my valuables.

Quote: Face

Keep it safe? Keep it on you.

That's very risky. One mugging or a pickpocket and you're out of cash and credit cards.

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Obviously I'm no good for advise on what to do with your Rolex, diamond earrings,...(I'm so out of touch I can't think of other luxuries ><) but maybe think of what you're bringing with you and why. I mean, I'm not trying to promote my minimalist approach, but ask yourself if the benefit of being able to wear a thousand dollar jewelry item for 2hrs at dinner outweighs the 22hrs of the rest of the day spent worrying about it's safety.

All my jewlery is costume, except a few pieces which I don't wear around often. By other valuables I mean things like a passport, US visa (nowadays printed on the passport, I think), checkbook, driver's license, other ID, plane tickets, etc.

BTW no one, at least no one sensible, wears expensive jewlery meant for a dinner date all day long. We go to the room before dinner and change. Or do you also wear your formal clothes all day long?

Quote: Nareed

That's very risky. One mugging or a pickpocket and you're out of cash and credit cards.

All my jewlery is costume, except a few pieces which I don't wear around often. By other valuables I mean things like a passport, US visa (nowadays printed on the passport, I think), checkbook, driver's license, other ID, plane tickets, etc.

BTW no one, at least no one sensible, wears expensive jewlery meant for a dinner date all day long. We go to the room before dinner and change. Or do you also wear your formal clothes all day long?

Oh. Well, I don't have the mugging fear because of my upbringing. Maybe the fear of getting beat up just because someone wanted to fight, but that usually passes once you're out of highschool as long as you stay out of the bars. Muggings are unthought of. But, I do think a mugging confrontation is much less likely than someone simply lifting something out of your unoccupied room.

Like I said, my advice isn't perfect. I don't have the baggage of passports, plane tickets, checkbooks, etc, I just have a drivers license, bank card, pistol permit (all the same size, folded into my money) and a meager bankroll. That fits nicely on my person. I would think, though, that all the items you mentioned would neatly fit into a purse, or even a clutch, which I see ladies often have on themselves at all times. Maybe something along those lines would work, but I dunno. My wife has a zillion things in her purse which makes me think it wouldn't, but she always seems to have room for more so maybe it would.

I didn't figure people wore fancy jewelry all day long, which was kind of my point. Would it be worth putting that much money in items at risk for the very small time it could be enjoyed. I didn't know what you wear or your style, I just recall personal experiences where friends have brought along "nice" watches and iPhones on a camping trip, then worry the whole time about scratching them or getting them wet. Seems kind of dumb in the same sense that bringing along the thousand dollar earrings to wear for an hour then worry about for a week seems dumb. Just trying to help.

(And no, I don't wear formal clothes all day long, or at all. Those $40 khaki's are about as formal as this guy gets ;))

Quote: Face

Oh. Well, I don't have the mugging fear because of my upbringing.

I do. I was robbed at gunpoint a few years ago right outside a bank. Overall I got off easy, but I learned it can happen to anyone at any time. And the men who did it might as well have conked me on the head and grabbed what I was carrying.

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But, I do think a mugging confrontation is much less likely than someone simply lifting something out of your unoccupied room.

Lifting, sure. Or snatching your whole purse. Taking something out of the safe isn't easy, ergo the safe. All that happening, though, I mean all those thigns, is very unlikely.

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I would think, though, that all the items you mentioned would neatly fit into a purse, or even a clutch, which I see ladies often have on themselves at all times.

With room to spare! But one snatch, or you get a bit careless and leave your purse behind, and that's it: no money, no credit cards, no ID, no passport.... not even your room key.

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I didn't figure people wore fancy jewelry all day long, which was kind of my point. Would it be worth putting that much money in items at risk for the very small time it could be enjoyed.

It seems to me you put all your stuff at risk all day.

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I didn't know what you wear or your style, I just recall personal experiences where friends have brought along "nice" watches and iPhones on a camping trip, then worry the whole time about scratching them or getting them wet.

I never carry much of value with me. I haven't got an mp3 player, iPod or other, because it feels ridiculous to carry a gadget worth hundreds around. It can get lost or stolen too easily.

Quote: Face

Maybe the fear of getting beat up just because someone wanted to fight, but that usually passes once you're out of highschool as long as you stay out of the bars.......

.....and stay out of the O'Sheas restrooms. Especially if a black guy in a yellow shirt goes in there.

Quote: Nareed

I do. I was robbed at gunpoint a few years ago right outside a bank. Overall I got off easy, but I learned it can happen to anyone at any time. And the men who did it might as well have conked me on the head and grabbed what I was carrying.

Eesh, sorry. Yeah, that might make me less likely to carry my worldly possessions on my person. Perhaps I'm blissfully ignorant. Or rather, I'm too poor that I haven't a lot to lose and therefore don't care much ;)

Quote: Nareed

It seems to me you put all your stuff at risk all day.

Maybe. But "all my stuff" typically amounts to $10, some plastic, and a few lifesavers lol. If I got mugged right now, I'd only be upset about losing my pistol permit, and only because I happen to have gotten a rare good picture of me on it =P In Vegas, substitute $100 for $10 and the song remains the same. Maybe I shouldn't give advice anymore....=)

In an attempt to redeem myself, I'll try some practical advice. Only keep on you what you absolutely need. Documents, majority of bankroll, jewelry, all remain in safe, locked, at all times. For things you need on you like money, ID, bankcards and the like, there are a number of concealed holders, it just depends how safe you want to be. Small plastic pockets (similar to the paper ones used to keep a credit card from scratching) that you can use to keep these items concealed on your body either via an elastic strap on your leg, or, more lady-like, above the bicep, or on a lanyard worn around the neck. EvenBob's pill bottle disguise is good as well, although I wouldn't use a pill bottle myself (why steal money for drugs when you can just steal drugs). Something of no value to anyone, like an empty case of those horrible lozenges that come in a small tin, or hell, carry them in an empty feminine napkin wrapper. I don't know anyone who goes around picking up random samples of those! =D. If all else fails, befriend a man at least as imposing as gofaster who owns as many guns as myself and EvenBob combined and invite him out for a night on the town. (I seem to have fallen back to impractical. /sigh)

I was under the impression that tips for the maid should be left on your pillow. I've always done that with no other explanation or note, and 90% of the time the tip has been taken when the room was cleaned.

I've also never had an issue with maids stealing valuables. Of course I always use the room safe if I have one. (If not I have a toiletry bag with a small hidden compartment.)

Quote: Face

In Vegas, substitute $100 for $10 and the song remains the same. Maybe I shouldn't give advice anymore....=)

How do you manage more than an hour in Vegas with only $100 and a credit card?

At home I prefer to carry as little cash as I can, and rely on my debit card for the rest; I use credit cards rarely. In Vegas I use a credit card to pay for the hotel and, if necessary, to pay for a show. I take it along mostly in case of emergency.

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In an attempt to redeem myself, I'll try some practical advice.

Redeem yourself from what?

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For things you need on you like money, ID, bankcards and the like, there are a number of concealed holders, it just depends how safe you want to be.

I'm not that paranoid. A purse with a noisy closure, better yet a clasp, and some common sense vigilance is all I need. But thanks for the suggestions.

Quote: Face

Yeah, that might make me less likely to carry my worldly possessions on my person.

If I got mugged right now, I'd only be upset about losing my pistol permit, ....

Only keep on you what you absolutely need.

No reason for you to bring an out-of-state CPL to Las Vegas (or CCW or whatever your state calls it) since NV has reciprocity agreements with only a handful of states and you probably didn't bring your gun on the plane anyway. If it's a costly hassle to replace when you get home, leave it in the safe. Or maybe if faced with a mugger, you can whip it out and say "Back off! I have a permit!"