I Was Robbed While Traveling in Central America

I was robbed by the UK government so I left 12 years ago.

Security guard might have been the one to call the robbers!! That's a real thing.

I was kidnapped/carjacked by two armed robbers in Brasil. Thought they were going to kill me, as I’d seen their faces. Lost my car and all my valuables, but got away with my life.

I served at the US Embassyin Managua for a few years. As soon as you said you were walking from the bus station back home at sunset I knew what was gonna happen. Managua unfortunately is extremely unwalkable unlike some of the other Nicaraguan or Central American cities.

I have been in Brazil (even stayed in the favela’s), in Colombia, Panama, Moscow Russia and several other countries MANY times. My wife is from Colombia. I had one attempted pick pocket. I was never robbed. I have seen several bodies on the street (shot dead) for various reasons. In Cali, Colombia they do not shoot people randomly. They shoot people for things like getting too friendly with a girlfriend, not paying owed money or things like that. I walked day and night. I took to subway in RIO many times. I walked all over the city even in places Taxi drivers would not come to pick you up in the afternoon. I always carried a “sacrificial” wallet. It had some US dollars AND local currency. I copied old credit cards, license etc. If I lost it I would not lose any sleep. When in hotels I would hide my money, passport, etc. behind the desk taped to the back of it where you could not see it. I never lost anything doing that.

Whenever I travel overseas, I always have a decoy wallet and a decoy phone . The phone is a thin sheet of lead sandwiched between 2 pieces of plastic and painted to look like a real phone. The phone fooled the TSA , but the TSA are easy to fool. In 30 years I've never been robbed.

I was probably on a similar trajectory in Managua once. I was walking (against the clear and passionate advice otherwise from my hotel staff) from the bus station area down to that famous church area near the waterfront. At this point the earthquake a few years prior had ravaged the central city and there were a lot of shanty towns lining the street. It got weird REALLY fast. But there was a local guy with a flat tire and no jack along the side of the street. His two buddies were trying desperately to lift the side of his car up to get the spare on, but couldn't. I stopped and pitched in. Much to my surprise with the three of us we were able to get the car lifted and the tire changed. From that point forward, it appeared that I had a pass. I continued on my walk, saw my sights, and walked all the way back to the hotel a mile or so through that same area with no issues. Terrible idea and I wouldn't do it again, but at least there is still honor somewhere. Thanks for the content. I'm pretty far from 7 figures, but maybe our paths will cross someday. Cheers.

There are 2 important lessons you should take from your experience and No It is not the walking that is the problem... 1) Never have on you any luxury items including clothes and accessories when you are traveling... You are asking for unwanted attention. 2) If you are white and you are dressed preppy and are staying at a nice hotel, you have unwanted attention checking you out as well as the ladies.... Stay humble dress modestly and no accessories and no problems...

I got robbed in Lima, Peru just outside the "safe" Miraflores neighbourhood. Guy on a motorcycle, luckily didn't use a gun, just grabbed my cell from my hand. Most foreigners know that jewellery and obvious signs of wealth aren't a good idea, but in much of Latin America walking with your cell phone out is a bad idea. I knew that and still did it. I'm a walker, I love to walk, and quite frankly at this point I won't live anywhere that I can't.

I've been robbed at gunpoint twice in the USA 🇺🇲