Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [442]
thieves look for easy targets, such as a bulging wallet in a back pocket or a camera held out in the open; keep spending money in your front pocket and your camera stowed when it’s not in use
passports, traveler’s checks and larger sums of cash are best carried in a money belt or an inside pocket that can be zipped or closed – or better yet, stowed in a safe at your hotel
snatch theft can occur if you place a bag on the ground (even for a few seconds), or while you’re asleep on an overnight bus; never leave a bag with your wallet and passport in the overhead rack of a bus
don’t keep valuables in bags that will be unattended
blending in helps: walking around town with oodles of brand-new hiking gear or a shiny leather jacket will draw attention; stick to muted colors and simple clothing
leave jewelry and fancy watches at home
hotels – especially cheap ones – aren’t always trustworthy; lock valuables inside your luggage, or use safety deposit services
walk purposefully wherever you are going, even if you are lost; if you need to examine your map, duck into a shop or restaurant to do it
Some thieves work in pairs or groups. One person creates a distraction as another robs. This can take the form of a bunch of kids fighting in front of you, an elderly person ‘accidentally’ bumping into you or someone spilling something on your clothes. In these cases, hold your bag tightly. Most thieves don’t want the public hassle of having to wrestle anyone for a pocketbook. Some razor-blade artists may slit open your bag, whether it’s on your back or on the luggage rack of a bus.
In some cases, there have been robberies and armed muggings of trekkers on popular hiking trails, especially around Huaraz (Click here), in the Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash. Going as part of a group with a local guide may help prevent this. In addition, the area around Tingo María (see boxed text, Click here), on the eastern edge of the central highlands, is a renowned bandit area, with armed robberies and other crimes a regular occurrence. Keep any activities in the area, including bus rides, to daylight hours.
In recent years, ‘express’ kidnappings have been recorded, particularly in some of the unsavory neighborhoods that surround the airport in Lima. An armed attacker (or attackers) grabs someone out of a taxi or abducts them off the street, then forces them to go to the nearest bank to withdraw cash using their ATM cards. Victims who do not resist their attackers generally don’t suffer serious physical harm.
The policía de turismo (tourist police, aka Poltur) can be found in major cities and tourist areas and can be helpful with criminal matters. If you are unsure how to locate them, contact the main office in Lima (Click here). If you are the victim of a crime, file a report with the tourist police immediately. At some point, inform your country’s embassy about what has happened. They won’t be able to do much, but embassies do keep track of crime geared at foreigners as a way of alerting other travelers to potential dangers.
If you have taken out travel insurance (Click here) and need to make a claim, Poltur will provide you with a police report. Airlines may reissue a lost ticket for a fee (though this is increasingly unnecessary, since most airlines use electronic tickets). Stolen passports can be reissued at your embassy (Click here), though you may be asked for an alternative form of identification first. After receiving your new passport, go to the nearest Peruvian immigration office (Click here) to get a new tourist card. For more on legal issues, Click here.
For issues of safety affecting female travelers, turn to Click here.
Corruption & Scams
The military and police (even sometimes the tourist police) have a reputation for being corrupt. While a foreigner may experience petty harassment (usually to procure payment of a bribe), most police officers are quite courteous to tourists, or just leave them alone.
Perhaps the most pernicious thing travelers face are the persistent touts that