I’ve been mugged while travelling overseas. Now what?

This article has been updated from a previous version. 

If you’ve been mugged while traveling overseas, immediately cancel your credit and debit cards, file a police report, notify your local embassy or consulate, contact your travel insurance provider, and secure access to some cash. 

I learned this the hard way on a chilly March day in 2013, just after landing in Brussels for a class reporting trip. I was excited — a week of committee hearings, interviews, and writing ahead. 

But as my classmates and I descended into the subway, four men rushed past me on the stairs. “Excusez-moi, s’il vous plaît!” they called out. I stepped aside, thinking they were in a hurry. Moments later, I saw them heading back up — odd, but I didn’t think much of it. 

At the hotel, I reached into my coat pocket. My wallet was gone. 

That’s when the loop started: retracing my steps, replaying the encounter. I’d dropped my wallet into a deep, open coat pocket, and they’d seen it. I was an easy target, and they knew it. 

Being mugged while travelling overseas can happen to anyone. In 2018 alone, Canada’s consular officers opened cases for more than 10,000 passports that were reported lost or stolen abroad.  

If it happens to you, it’s important to be proactive and take the necessary steps to mitigate the situation as much as possible. Here’s how: 

1. Cancel your credit and debit cards 

The first thing you should do if your wallet’s been stolen is cancel any of the credit or debit cards that you had inside of it. 

That means calling the international numbers for your credit card companies and calling your bank to report the theft. Acting quickly can help stop any fraudulent activity before it starts. 

“Credit card companies will act right away,” says Natalie Preddie, a Toronto-based travel and lifestyle expert.  

To make this information easily accessible, keep copies of all your cards, relevant phone numbers, and your passport. “Then you can go to the hotel and say this is the number for my credit card company and they will let you use their phone,” says Preddie. 

Credit card companies can also advise you on what to do if you need emergency funds while abroad.  

Read more: How to save money on your next road trip 

2. File a police report 

Once you’ve canceled your cards, the next step is to document the crime. That means heading to the nearest police station to file a report. Depending on the country you’re in, this might be challenging—especially if you don’t speak the local language, but it’s still important to do so. 

“The police can keep an eye out,” says Preddie. “It could be nothing, but something could show up and you never know, so it’s always good to let them know.” 

Police might suggest searching nearby trash bins, since pickpocketers are often just after quick cash and will discard the wallet and the rest of its contents as soon as they get some. 

If your passport was also stolen, “The local police will be able to get you to the Canadian embassy and will help you figure out what to do to get you back to Canada,” says Preddie. 

To make the process smoother, keep digital copies or photos of your ID, passport, and other important documents stored securely. These backups can help prove your identity and speed up assistance.

3. Notify the local embassy or consulate 

On its website, the Government of Canada has a list of all the Canadian embassies and consulates and their locations in various countries around the world. Have a look at where the local embassy is located in the country you’re in. (It’s probably a good idea to do this before you travel, too.) 

Even if your passport wasn’t stolen, it’s still a good idea to contact the embassy or consulate if you’ve been the victim of theft. They can provide guidance and support, and it helps them be aware in case your identification is misused. 

Additionally, Canadian officials abroad can help return items that are lost or found at Canadian government offices. These items are held for 30 days, so it’s worth checking in with the local embassy or consulate just in case something of yours turns up. 

Read next: What kind of travel insurance should you get when taking a vacation? 

4. Call your travel insurance company 

If you purchased travel insurance before your trip, contact your provider as soon as possible after taking the initial steps. Starting a claim early can help speed things up. 

“This is exactly why you have travel insurance,” says Preddie, who adds that being mugged would fall under baggage loss. 

“They will require a copy of the incident report from the police,” says Preddie. “So whatever steps you take — the consulate, the bank, the police — have proof of it. Then you have all of this documentation to say I did everything in my power to rectify the situation.” 

Your travel insurance provider should also have a local partner in the country you’re visiting. They can guide you on where to go for additional help. 

Not only will they open a claim, they might also be able to issue you travelers cheques if you don’t happen to have any other cash on you. “They’re very fast at making sure you are not stuck or stranded,” says Preddie. Once you get back home, you might need to fill out additional forms to help support the claim. 

Learn more: Travel insurance vs. ticket protection: What you need to know 

5. Get your hands on some cash 

While all of this is happening, try to access some cash, especially if you’ll be traveling for several more days.  

“And if one is a good planner, you will have kept some additional cash back in your hotel safe,” says Preddie. But if not, you might need to ask friends and family (either with you or back home) to lend or wire you money. 

When I was mugged, my classmates were kind enough to lend me some cash until I was able to pay them back, and my parents transferred me money via Western Union. When Preddie was mugged in London, England, her parents were able to wire her money that she could access from a nearby bank.  

This can be more difficult if your identification was also stolen, which is why it’s crucial not to keep everything in one place when you travel—and to make copies of everything in your wallet, storing them separately, like in a hotel safe. 

“Make copies of your cards so if everything’s gone, you can prove who you are. Because that’s going to be the hardest part,” says Preddie. 

“But ultimately,” she adds, “do not panic. This does happen. You won’t get stuck. It’s a pain, but it happens enough that all of these offices are ready to be able to assist you.” 

Before you travel, consider preparing for emergencies—having a backup plan, copies of key documents, and travel insurance can make a stressful situation much easier to manage.