Travel Tale: Dear Thief...

Every Rick Steves Lambskin Travel Wallet includes this funny note to the thief (enlarge).

We love to share funny, offbeat or inspiring travel anecdotes (videos, too)! If you have a true tale to tell, send it to stories@ricksteves.com. If you have a photo that illustrates it, please attach it. Don't forget to tell us which city and state you live in. We'd love to hear from you, just like we did from Carol...

Dear Rick,

I attended one of your lectures where you told a story about a pickpocket who was following you, and what we should do. I paid special attention to your advice: put only a small amount of money each day in a small wallet that is easy to reach for small purchases; the rest of your money and cards should be in your moneybelt, under your clothes.

I have traveled to Ecuador three times over the last year and a half. Amazing country, but there is a lot of theft in the big cities. On my last day in Quito, as I was wandering around Old Town near the palace, a group of young girls suddenly surrounded me on the sidewalk and "bumped" into me. I knew what they were doing, as one of your staff had warned us about pick pockets in Quito.

Sure enough, the side zipper of my bag was open and my Rick Steves Lambskin Travel Wallet was gone! Because I had followed your advice, all they got was the change that I was trying to get rid of before going home the next day. Everything else was safely under my clothes.

I laughed to myself, wondering what they thought when they read the note inside the wallet.

Thank you for your guidance! It saved the day.

— Carol in Seattle, WA

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