Living abroad is an excellent experience that thousands of people from all over the world try each year. With some 200,000 Brits alone taking leave from their homeland each year, this trend is showing no signs of slowing. Living abroad does come with some potential pitfalls though. Perhaps one of the most frightening for a newly relocated retiree or expat is the potential of becoming a victim of crime in a foreign country. This can and does happen, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself no matter your destination.
In this article we’ll explore how you can enjoy living abroad whilst lessening your chances of becoming a victim of crime. The reasons to take the right precautions are clear even if you’re still living in the UK. Living abroad however can complicate the issue. Since many popular expatriating destinations also present with a language barrier, avoiding the need to deal with the authorities any more than necessary is often seen as a plus. Being a victim of a crime and trying to deal with Bulgarian or Turkish authorities for instance, can be a daunting experience at best.
Fortunately there are several things retirees, expats and even holidaymakers can do to help lessen their chances of being victimised. Do keep in mind, in most major expatriating destinations only very petty crimes are the norm – violent crimes are not.
Some of the best ways you can protect yourself whilst living abroad include: -
• Getting the lay of the land. Make sure you quickly and efficiently familiarise yourself with your new city or town. Learn your neighbourhood very well and understand different routes to take when coming home. Avoid poorly lit streets and alleys in favour of well-lit paths home.
• Locking doors. Whilst it might seem foolish to feel the need to lock doors as you soak up the beauty of living in the countryside of France or on the beaches of Belize, this is an excellent step to take to avoid property crimes and home thefts. A lock will not necessary stop a hardened criminal, but it can keep an honest person honest. Lock house doors and also cars at all times.
• Avoid carrying cash. This is never a good practice no matter where you live. Never carry more cash than you need to have on you at the time. If at all possible, use bank or credit cards instead.
• Avoiding looking like a tourist – even if you are. Walk on city streets like you know exactly where you are going and resist the urge to gawk too much at landmarks and sights. The more you make yourself look like you belong, the less of a target you will make yourself out to be. Pickpockets look for people who are not paying attention to their surroundings.
• Pay heed to government warnings. Read the British consulate or British travel advice web sites on a fairly regular basis for any warnings issued for your country of choice. This can be particularly useful if you’re expatriating in an area where English is not the language of choice. If you are, however, do keep up with local news.
• Use common sense. Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention to people in your general vicinity and do not accept that everyone in your new country of choice is a “nice person.” Canada, America, Turkey, Belize, Bulgaria, Cyprus and every other country in the world all have bad guys just like the UK. Exercise common sense and you will lessen your chances of becoming a victim.
Living abroad is a delight that many people never desire to turn back from. To enjoy your new home in all its wonder, do your part to minimise your chances of becoming a victim of crime. Should you become victimised, do report crime to the local authorities and even contact the British consulate for advice.
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