… then slips into my room and steals my emergency cash from my unsecured backpack…!
[Phu Quoc, Vietnam, March 1?, 2009]
I discovered this when I went to pay for my room. I could have freaked out, but I mostly remained calm, inspired by James’ phlegmatic handling of his wallet’s theft earlier.
This was a cascade of errors on my part.
- I was carrying a lot of cash.
- I kept all my emergency cash in one place: in my money belt.
- I kept my money belt in my backpack, in the middle compartment, along with my computer.
- I left the compartment unlocked.
I should elaborate on some of those points.
- I was carrying a lot of cash. As my first extended trip to a region of the world where crisp American bills of large denomination can come in handy when being shaken down by border staff or police, I wasn’t sure how much I would need, or how easy it might be procure more US Dollars while abroad. I left Los Angeles with $2000, mostly in $100 notes. I didn’t need to touch it in Japan, and in fact often forgot I had it. But I was glad I had it, because once I landed in Malaysia and tried to withdraw cash from the ATM, I quickly discovered that E*Trade officially rejects all ATM transactions in South Asian countries due to rampant fraud. I quickly became accustomed to dealing with Malaysian money changers and watching the daily fluctuation of the US Dollar to Malaysia Ringgit. Luckily, just as I was running out of my emergency cash, I crossed into Singapore, where I was able to get cash from the ATM. I used the money changers there to turn Singapore Dollars into United States Dollars without losing a lot to commission, since Cambodia, my next destination, uses US Dollars as its unofficial currency and there was no guarantee that I would be allowed to withdraw cash from ATMs in Cambodia. I’m not sure, but perhaps my many heated calls to E*Trade Banking resulted in them lifting the restriction on my account. I don’t keep a lot of money in my checking account anyway.
- I kept all my cash in one place: in my money belt. Most travel sites recommend that you spread your emergency cash out in different places, like putting some bills in a sock, some beneath the insert of a shoe, some in the lining of your luggage, etc. I was simply lazy here. I was also lulled from the implicit security in Japan.
- I kept my money belt in my backpack, in the middle compartment, along with my computer. I keep the gear with the most value in the middle compartment. It’s a single point of failure, but it’s simpler. Again, I was simply lazy.
- I left the compartment unlocked. I usually keep my backpack’s three compartments locked with their own combination locks. Thinking back, it might be after I grabbed my wallet to make that on-line airline ticket purchase, or after I recovered from being sick (my feverish mind wasn’t exactly 100%, and I had to unlock my backpack to get to the rehydration salts and first-aid kit). I simply wasn’t careful enough when I left my room.
I strongly suspect that the Tropicana housekeeping took it. No one else would be in my room to coincidentally take advantage of my lapse. Of course, I can’t prove anything, and the Tropicana puts up these signs that clearly absolve them of any such incidents. I also suspect that the rest of the staff get their cut to keep the heat off the actual pilferers. 
Just before I discovered the theft, most of the staff seemed to be friendlier than usual. When I mentioned that I had lost my cash, the front desk clerk kept her head down and mumbled something like “I know.”
With my meticulous recordkeeping, I was able to come up with a fairly accurate amount that was stolen. The number actually depends on how much pocket cash I had in my wallet when I left Los Angeles, but I’ll go with around $910 for the stolen amount. $910 is a lot of money for a Vietnamese local. That’s about the average annual income for many Vietnamese workers. Imagine you’re puttering around, spot an accessible opening in the fancy luggage of a wealthy American, and discover what you normally make in a year, in the cash that the country unofficially prefers for large transactions. What would you do?
Foolish American!
I still had some leftover Thai Baht, Singapore Dollars, and Cambodia Riel (worthless outside of the country) in my money belt, along with my ID and credit cards. I also still had my computer and miscellaneous electronics, all of which were in the same compartment. This simply was a crime of opportunity. The computer alone is worth more than the cash I lost. Perhaps the burglar was being charitable. “Thank you for the $900! I will leave your valuable electronics in sympathy of your stupidity.”
I mentioned earlier that I was complacent. From my beginnings as a raw tourist, I was becoming an experienced traveler who could carry everything I needed on my back. I was winning over the natives with my smile and fumbling attempts at communication. I was doing what I wanted, when I wanted. I was traveling in new, foreign lands.
I consider this a good lesson, especially at this stage. It was a timely slap in the face.
Wake up!
Be alert!
Don’t ignore your cynicism!
A good lesson, but expensive, as good lessons often are. I’m still a bit angry, but mostly with myself. I hope that I don’t let this spoil my attitude. I still think Vietnamese people are some of the nicest, friendliest people I’ve ever met (next to Cambodians), but I’ve now shoe-horned a sliver of caution, that even the friendliest person can be tempted by easy money. I usually don’t think about it, but when money becomes a possible issue, there it is, blinking in the darkness of my lizard brain.
As a final lesson, I also compounded the opportunity for error by keeping my backpack in the cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind. Now I no longer keep my things out of sight. Before I leave my room, I always make sure that all my gear is stowed in the appropriate compartments, and that the locks are in place. This has since become a good habit.
