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Pickpockets in Copenhagen? A Gadling blogger's victim story. Part One
Yep, it's happened. My wallet was taken out of my daypack-style backpack in Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday. And yes, I know better than to have my credit card with it. As much as it was a bummer to lose the money, the credit card put me on edge.
I think I'm better now.
I found out the wallet was missing when I went to pay for items I was buying at Tiger, Denmark's answer to the Dollar Store. It didn't matter how cheap the items were since I didn't have my wallet when I went to pay. I discovered the bag open and the wallet gone at the cash register after everything was totaled. The bagged items not to be purchased by me were left with the guy at the counter.
After retracing our steps, just in case the wallet somehow dropped out and somehow no one would have picked it up, we went to the main police station to report it missing. The police officer gave me a phone to use and pointed out the number for VISA in a big book on the desk.
Even though I couldn't remember my credit card number, I was connected to someone in the U.S. who is with the bank that issued me the credit card in the first place. Within minutes, the credit card was canceled and a new one should be arriving in the mail soon. If we were staying in Denmark longer, I would have been able to have a credit card mailed to the address where we are staying with friends. With less than 24 hours left to be in Denmark, there was no point in that.
The police officer did file a report and I have a copy. The copy is in Danish, but I asked for the English version of the form to attach to it. I also asked the person who I talked with from the bank to write a note about when I called and make a notation about the only two times I've used the card since I've been in Europe. I have the receipts for those two transaction. Hopefully, this will be the end of this saga.
I was concerned about having only twenty U.S. left and a few Danish coins for our trip back to Columbus. We arrived back home without having to spend another dime. My friend gave me money with no strings attached when we went to Tivoli Gardens so I would have some money to spend.
The plus side is that my driver's license was not in my wallet. That's one less thing to hassle with, although I do need to get another AAA and health insurance card.
By the way, when I started out on the trip, I wasn't keeping my money in my wallet, but in a passport pouch. Once my daughter and I started staying with friends, I became more lax.
Don't be lax --EVER-- is my new motto.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Stories, Denmark, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig Dec 10th 2008 12:45PM
I keep everything in a money belt except a day's worth of cash and one credit card (though I will probably stop putting the card there since I never use it as much as I expect). That means stuff like my driver's license is all tucked away.
I also keep a slip of paper in that money belt with the numbers for the credit card company, a shorthand of my itinerary, police number, etc. Basically, if I lose the entire contents of my bag and pockets I can still continue my trip.
So you don't need the credit card number to cancel it? I've been keeping that on my emergency paper, too, albeit softly encoded (reverse order and add 1 to each digit, etc) but perhaps I don't need to.
Mette Rohrberg Dec 13th 2008 8:40AM
Hello Jamie.
We just found Your wallet in our store. We have a fabric-store and someone (the thief ) dropped it among some wollen fabrics...In the wallet is no money at all, but a lot of cards, including visa, Aetna, giftcards, zoocard and so...Tell me what to do with it....Are You still in Denmark ??? Let me know soon...
Mette
Jamie Rhein Dec 16th 2008 10:35PM
Mette,
That's great news! How wonderful you were able to track me down. I'm actually back in the U.S. I arrived back here last Tuesday night.
I have an idea of a post update. Where is your store located? What's the name of it, if you wouldn't mind letting me know.
Mette Rohrberg Dec 16th 2008 2:51AM
Hallo Jamie.
The name of the store is " City Sycenter " and we are located
in Copenhagen center, not far from the busy Nørreport station. The adress is ; Rosengården 12-14, DK-1174 Copenhagen.
So good to hear from You...And not so hard to find... Google is a wonderfull thing..
Mette