This is PeterTaradash a/k/a Grandpa. The other advice here is all good. I will add a few things.
I have been robbed & burgled maybe half-a-dozen times in my life, but not in the past 10 years.
No 100% guaranty this will work for you, but here are some of the things I do to avoid theft problems.
This season I'm in Manila. Not the safest place on Earth.
I have lived in Panama, Mexico, NYC, and many other places where crime is rampant, but . . .
1) I always try to live or rent in an upmarket, safe well patrolled & guarded neighborhood,︀ in a condo where I can leave my apartment for 6 months & come back︁ to find everything intact. A home in a gated subdivision is good, but not as︂ good as in a high rise with limited access like the Manila Serendra Buildings (with︃ armed guards checking every visitor) in Manila's ultra-safe & super modern BGC (Bonifacio Global City).I︄ had a special extra heavy door with top& side bolts that lock with a special︅ registered 4 sided key.
2) I posted stickers that say "Guarded by video surveillance on︆ all my exterior doors & balcony windows." Before that I made little signs that said︇ (with a skull and crossbones) "Do not open- Danger of Death from Nerve Gas- have︈ antidote atropine ready in case of accidental inhalation" The latter sign even kept the cops︉ out once when they had a search warrant. Valuables like gold coins? Keep in a︊ bank safe deposit box, not a storage facility --. Preferably in Switzerland.
3) A hidden︋ safe in your home is OK, but I would not rely on it for anything︌ really important or valuable.
4) When going out I try to look like a poor︍ slob with tattered shirt , beat up baseball cap "Jesus Loves You" logo, cargo pants,︎ sandals, no jewelry. Never use expensive luggage like Louis Vuitton stuff. That would make you️ a target. A beat up backpack is best for shopping.
5) I never never would use a cell phone on the street or anywhere that guys in motorbikes could make a quick snatch. Maybe I'd use an i-phone inside an upmarket restaurant or dept. store. But in general I wouldn't even take it outside.
6) Appearance? I keep a decoy wallet with fake ID cards and a few pesos in my back pocket, and my "real" wallet with credit cards, etc. inside a velcro zippered, or well buttoned up cargo short-pants leg pocket. My watches are those $10 black plastic totally valueless Casio's with the︀ same calculator buttons worn by the hero Walter "Heisenberg" in Breaking Bad. To avloid p;ick︁ pockets and snatchers, keep any serious money well hidden on your person in a zip︂ up concealed money belt. My walk is as confident as an 86 year old can︃ manage. Don't dawdle and look around with goo goo eyes like a dumb tourist. In︄ cars, ALWAYS keep the windows up and doors locked. Maybe I will do a blog︅ on this topic this week. I have been robbed half a dozen times in my︆ life, but not in the last ten years, probably because I took the above precautions.︇
Online Scams?
1) Don’t ever open attachments from unknown to you persons even if the︈ titles are tempting clickbait like
“Naked Girls in your neighborhood who want your body badly.”︉
2) Don’t ever give out your credit card or bank account #, or other personal︊ info.
3) Stay off “social media” No pictures or info about yourself-unless needed to promote︋ your products or services.
4) Be aware that fake messages from banks or package delivery︌ services may just be to facilitate burglaries or robberies.
