Petty Theft and Money

• Leave passports in your room in the safe (take photos with your smartphone… store them on iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox). You will only need it to get a SIM card, set up your ASM bank account, and sign a lease.

• U.S. ATM cards can be used for withdrawing money, however, you may have daily weekly, or monthly limits.  Be aware that they will charge fees (get this information from your bank).

• Make a list of all credit cards (take photos of them with your smartphone and save them on the cloud).  If they are stolen, you can contact the bank to block them.

• Metro stops and tourist areas carry a high risk of pick-pocketing, especially Sol and Gran Via. Stay alert in crowded areas.  Don’t leave anything unattended in these areas, on trays, etc. Carry your bag on the front of your body and never leave it on the ground. 

• Thieves are quick and quiet. Also, they often work in pairs and dress in regular street clothes