--- title: "Best Anti Theft Travel Purse for Women: 11 Picks (2026)" url: https://33travels.com/best-anti-theft-travel-purse/ author: "Lena Marchetti" published: 2026-11-08 updated: 2026-11-08 place: "Buying Guides" --- # Best Anti Theft Travel Purse for Women: 11 Picks (2026) In October 2007, a month into my first job in Barcelona, I rode the L3 metro two stops from Liceu with a shoulder bag that closed with one zip. At Drassanes the bag hung open and my wallet was gone, along with my residency card. I never felt a hand. That is the theft the best anti theft travel purse is built to stop: the quiet two-second dip in a crowd. For most trips the pick is the **Pacsafe Citysafe CX Convertible Crossbody**, with steel mesh in the body, a wire-reinforced strap, zip pulls that hook shut and a strap that comes off for dinner. Ten more follow for other budgets, sizes and styles, each with what it does badly. [We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.](https://33travels.com/affiliate-disclosure/) ## Best anti theft travel purse picks at a glance | If you want | Pick | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Best overall | [Pacsafe Citysafe CX Convertible](#tpg-pacsafe-citysafe-cx-convertible) | Steel mesh, wire strap, turns into a small handbag | | Best on a budget | [Travelon Classic Slim Double Zip](#tpg-travelon-classic-slim-double-zip) | Five anti-theft features in a bag 1 in deep | | Smallest with steel mesh | [Pacsafe GO Crossbody](#tpg-pacsafe-go-crossbody) | 9.5 x 6.3 in, two lockable compartments | | Lightest | [Baggallini Securtex Memento](#tpg-baggallini-securtex-memento-crossbody) | 8 oz, soft nylon, locking zips | | Long sightseeing days | [Travelon Classic Crossbody Bucket](#tpg-travelon-classic-crossbody-bucket) | Fits a 10 in tablet, bottle and umbrella | | Least touristy | [Travelon Heritage Small Crossbody](#tpg-travelon-heritage-small-crossbody) | Canvas and suede over a steel-cable strap | | Crossbody that becomes a tote | [Sherpani Vale](#tpg-sherpani-vale-anti-theft-crossbody) | 12 L, clip lock, lifetime warranty | | Tote | [Travelon Heritage Tote](#tpg-travelon-heritage-tote) | Zip top, two steel-cable straps | | Evenings out | [Travelon Tailored Convertible Clutch](#tpg-travelon-tailored-convertible-clutch) | Clutch, wristlet or crossbody | | Phone and passport only | [Travelon Boho Phone Crossbody](#tpg-travelon-boho-phone-crossbody) | 0.55 lb, one locking pocket | | RFID only, no locks | [Baggallini Modern Pocket](#tpg-baggallini-modern-pocket-crossbody) | For resort and road trips | For backpacks, slings and unisex crossbodies, see the [best anti theft travel bag](https://33travels.com/best-anti-theft-travel-bag/) guide. ## Do anti theft purses work? Are anti theft purses worth it? Yes, against the theft that official warnings for European cities describe again and again: a hand in an open bag in a crowd. The UK Foreign Office says thieves on the [Paris Métro and RER](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/safety-and-security) “work in gangs; one distracts you while the other one goes into your bag.” Canada’s advisories name [trams 15, 25 and 28 in Lisbon](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal), [trams 22, 41, 42 and 43 in Prague](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/czech-republic) and the Aerobus from El Prat in [Barcelona](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain). In Amsterdam, the FCDO warns that thieves [walk into restaurants](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/netherlands/safety-and-security) pretending to sell something and leave with a bag. Tram 28 stops near my flat in Lisbon. In February 2025, at Martim Moniz, three men pressed in at the door behind me and one of them stopped, hand on my bag, when the zip pull wouldn’t slide. They stepped off before the doors closed. Each feature answers one of those moves. A locking zip pull beats the hand in the bag. A lock-down strap beats the grab from a café chair. Steel mesh and cable straps beat the blade. An anti theft purse does nothing against a snatch from a moving scooter or a mugging. For those, Italy’s state police advise carrying the bag [on the wall side of the pavement](https://poliziadistato.it/articolo/pdf/21765) with your forearm over it, and the Paris police guide says not to resist if someone pulls. On Reddit, opinion splits. In the r/travel thread [on anti theft purses](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/rto8pe/is_it_worth_it_to_buy_an_anti_theft_purse/), the top replies say awareness does most of the work and that the bags look like tourist gear. On r/onebag, Pacsafe owners report years of use, and others suggest small locking carabiners on an ordinary zip bag as a cheap middle ground. Both camps are right: the purse buys you seconds, and your habits decide whether a thief tries. If your trip is a beach resort or a road trip, an RFID purse for travel or the purse you already own is enough. If it includes metros, trams and café terraces in Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Prague, Lisbon or Amsterdam, the locks are worth carrying. ![Traveler holding a crossbody purse against her stomach on a crowded metro platform as a train arrives](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-anti-theft-travel-purse/assets/metro-platform.webp) *Evening rush hour on a Barcelona metro platform.* ## What makes a purse anti theft: five features ranked Five features do the work. Here they are in the order they matter on a city trip. ### 1. Locking zippers The zip pull slides into a clasp, a hook or a tunnel beside the zip, so the compartment can’t be opened with one hand in a second. There is no key or code. Opening it takes two hands and a few seconds, which is the point: a pickpocket needs silence and speed. Clip it every time you close the bag, including on the walk back from the ticket machine. ### 2. A strap that locks to a chair Travelon’s Lock Down Strap uses a push-and-turn clasp to close the strap around a chair leg or post. Pacsafe calls its version an anchor strap with a TurnNLock hook. This feature matters most where you sit: the Paris police guide warns about thieves who sit behind diners and lift wallets from coats on chair backs, and says [never to set a bag at your feet](https://masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/media/1480/download/Paris_en_toute-securite.pdf). In May 2015 I spent a press lunch on Campo de’ Fiori in Rome next to a colleague who hung her tote on the back of her chair. A man spread a city map across our table to ask for the Pantheon, and when he folded it and left, the tote had gone with his partner. Since then my strap goes around the chair leg before I order. ![Grey canvas purse on a lap with its strap wrapped around the iron leg of a cafe chair on a Rome piazza](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-anti-theft-travel-purse/assets/cafe-chair.webp) *Strap around the chair leg at a café on Piazza Navona, Rome.* ### 3. A cut-resistant strap Steel cables inside the strap (Travelon, Baggallini) or wire and Dyneema reinforcement (Pacsafe) stop a thief from cutting the strap and running. On a crossbody worn in front, a cut strap is the only way to take the whole bag quickly. ### 4. A slash-resistant body Travelon embeds [slash-resistant mesh in all five body panels](https://www.travelonbags.com/anti-theft/resistant-body.html), including the bottom. Pacsafe’s eXomesh is a [stainless steel wire mesh](https://pacsafe.com/pages/anti-theft-technology) built into the fabric. You can’t see either. They add a little weight and stiffness, and they rank fourth because the zip and strap features already cover the quicker thefts. ### 5. RFID blocking This is the least useful feature, though every pick here has it. UK Finance told Which? in February 2026 that it has [no recorded cases](https://www.which.co.uk/money/banking/banking-security-and-payment-methods/contactless-cards-aoMsk0v9xBc1) of criminals using a card reader in a public place to make unauthorized payments. Security reporter Brian Krebs calls RFID card theft [the most over-hyped kind](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/01/how-was-your-credit-card-stolen/). Treat RFID pockets as a free extra, not a reason to choose a bag. | Feature | Pacsafe | Travelon | Baggallini | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Slash-resistant body | eXomesh steel mesh | Mesh in all 5 panels | Securtex panels | | Cut-resistant strap | Wire and Dyneema | Steel cables | Double cable | | Locking zips | Zip pulls hook to a catch | Locking compartments | Locking zippers | | Chair lock | Anchor strap, TurnNLock | Lock Down Strap | Strap clips to a post or chair | | RFID | RFIDsafe | RFID blocking | RFID pockets | ## Best anti theft crossbody purses for travel An anti theft crossbody purse for travel is the shape the official advice asks for. The FCDO tells visitors to France to carry a bag across the body rather than on the shoulder, and the Paris police add one detail: turn the opening toward you. [![Pacsafe Citysafe CX](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B089X4TP9G.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089X4TP9G?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Pacsafe Citysafe CXMid-range Steel mesh in the body, a wire-reinforced strap and zip pulls that hook shut, at 0.65 lb. Unclip the strap and it folds into a small handbag for dinner. - 10.2 x 11 x 3.2 in, about 0.65 lb; folds down to a small purse - Steel-mesh cut-proof body, wire-reinforced strap, RFID pocket, 5-year warranty [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089X4TP9G?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Citysafe CX is the Pacsafe purse to start with, and the best overall pick, because it hides the strongest protection in this guide, steel wire mesh, in a bag that weighs 0.65 lb and looks like a plain nylon purse. Take the strap off and it folds to 8.3 in tall, so it doubles as the bag you carry to dinner. - **Good:** steel mesh body, wire-reinforced strap, 5-year warranty, regenerated nylon that wipes clean - **Watch for:** the front pocket closes with a magnet, so keep only a map or tissues there [![Travelon Slim Double Zip](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B01EAFEEN4.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EAFEEN4?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Slim Double ZipBudget All five Travelon anti-theft features in a bag 1 in deep, so it sits flat against your hip or under a jacket on a crowded metro. - 9 x 10.5 x 1 in, about 0.7 lb; strap drop 15-28 in, adjustable - Locking zips, slash-resistant body and strap, RFID card and passport slots [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EAFEEN4?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Classic Slim is the budget Travelon anti theft purse with all five features. It is 1 in deep, so it lies flat against your hip under an open jacket. The front organizer has RFID slots sized for a passport. - **Good:** budget tier with every feature, 59 in strap with a 15 to 28 in drop - **Watch for:** the polyester reads as travel gear, and the depth leaves no room for a water bottle [![Pacsafe GO Crossbody](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0CPPWWCQY.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPPWWCQY?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Pacsafe GO CrossbodyMid-range Pacsafe's steel mesh in a smaller bag: two lockable compartments, a 7 in tablet sleeve and an anchor strap that loops around a cafe chair. - 9.5 x 6.3 x 2.8 in, about 0.62 lb; 7-inch tablet sleeve, key clip - Steel-mesh body, wire-reinforced anchor strap, lockable zips, RFID pocket [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPPWWCQY?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The GO puts Pacsafe’s steel mesh into a smaller body. Both zip compartments lock, and the main one has a padded 7 in sleeve that fits a small e-reader. - **Good:** two lockable compartments, an anchor strap for café chairs, 0.62 lb - **Watch for:** 6.3 in tall, it takes no guidebook or water bottle [![Baggallini Securtex Memento](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0BQX18P3V.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQX18P3V?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Baggallini Securtex MementoMid-range The lightest locking pick here at 8 oz. Soft water-repellent nylon with slash-resistant panels, for travelers who find the other brands stiff. - 9.75 x 7 x 1.5 in, 2.1 L, about 8 oz; water-repellent fabric - Locking zips, slash-resistant panels, cut-resistant strap, RFID passport pocket [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQX18P3V?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Baggallini’s Memento is the lightest bag here with locks and slash panels, at 8 oz. The nylon is soft and water-repellent, so it folds into a suitcase pocket without the boxy feel of the Pacsafe and Travelon bags. - **Good:** lightest locking pick, double-cable strap, RFID passport pocket - **Watch for:** 1.5 in deep and 2.1 L, so it takes a phone, wallet and passport and little else [![Travelon Classic Bucket](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B00C75L4O2.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C75L4O2?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Classic BucketMid-range For long sightseeing days: a 10 in tablet, a water bottle and an umbrella fit, and the main and front pockets both lock. - 14 x 11 x 4 in, about 1.1 lb; two mesh pockets for a bottle and umbrella - Slash-resistant body and strap, locking main and front pockets, RFID slots [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C75L4O2?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Bucket is for days when you leave the hotel at nine and come back at dusk. A 10 in tablet fits inside, and the two mesh side pockets take a water bottle and an umbrella. The main and front compartments both lock. - **Good:** the only crossbody here with bottle and umbrella pockets, strap clips to a chair or post - **Watch for:** 1.1 lb empty and 14 in wide, and the mesh side pockets sit outside the locks ![Woman's hand pressing a metal zipper pull into a locking clasp on a black crossbody purse in a metro carriage](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-anti-theft-travel-purse/assets/zipper-clip.webp) *Clipping a zip pull shut on a moving train.* ## Best anti theft purse that doesn’t look like a travel purse The most repeated complaint about a theft proof purse is that it looks like tourist gear. These two hide the hardware under ordinary fabrics. [![Travelon Heritage Small](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B01CG1J6NC.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CG1J6NC?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Heritage SmallBudget Cotton canvas and suede trim read as an ordinary bag, while the strap hides two steel cables and the zip pulls lock. - 9.5 x 8 x 2.5 in, 3 L, about 0.9 lb; strap drop 13-25 in - Slash-resistant panels, steel-cable strap, locking zip pulls, RFID pocket [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CG1J6NC?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Cotton canvas, suede trim and nickel hardware make the Heritage look like a weekend bag from a department store. The anti-theft system is the same as the Classic line: slash-resistant panels, a strap with two steel cables, locking pulls and a Lock Down Strap. - **Good:** the least touristy crossbody here, 3 L, phone and e-reader fit - **Watch for:** canvas marks more easily than nylon, and the 13 to 25 in drop is short for tall travelers [![Sherpani Vale](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0GGLY3VNF.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGLY3VNF?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Sherpani ValePremium Wears four ways, from crossbody to tote, holds 12 L and a 10 in tablet, and has a clip lock, chair loop and anti-slash base and strap. - 14 x 10 x 4.5 in as crossbody, 12 L, about 15 oz; fits a 10-inch tablet - Zipper lock tunnels, main-compartment clip lock, chair loop, anti-slash base, RFID [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGLY3VNF?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Vale works as a crossbody, shoulder bag, tote or fold-over, with eco-leather trim that dresses it up. It holds 12 L, and Sherpani backs it with a lifetime warranty. - **Good:** four ways to wear it, fits a 10 in tablet, chair loop lock and zipper lock tunnels - **Watch for:** the slash protection covers the bottom and strap, not every panel, and it sits in the premium tier ## Best anti theft tote bag for travel A tote without a zip is open to any hand on a crowded train. If you want a tote, buy one that zips shut and switch to the crossbody strap whenever you board a train. [![Travelon Heritage Tote](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B07MNXBQYJ.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNXBQYJ?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Heritage ToteMid-range A tote that zips shut, with hidden slash-resistant panels and two stainless steel cable straps that lock to a chair. - 13.5 x 13.5 x 5 in, about 2 lb; strap drop 11 in and 16-28 in - Slash-resistant panels, locking zips, steel-cable straps, RFID wall pocket [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNXBQYJ?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Heritage Tote is the travel tote for museum days and flights: 13.5 in square, with front, rear and two hidden side zip pockets. Both straps hold stainless steel cables, and either one locks to a chair. - **Good:** zip top, hidden slash-resistant panels, a deep RFID wall pocket - **Watch for:** 2 lb empty, and on the shoulder strap the bag rides behind your elbow ## Small anti theft purses for evenings and light days You don’t need a full crossbody to walk to dinner. These carry a phone, cards and a passport, and not much more. [![Travelon Tailored Clutch](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B06XC221JR.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XC221JR?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Tailored ClutchBudget A dressier small bag that carries as a clutch, wristlet, crossbody or waist pack, with locking compartments and a slash-resistant strap. - 9 x 5.25 x 2 in, about 0.7 lb; strap drop 15-28 in, wears four ways - Slash-resistant body and strap, locking zips, lock-down strap, RFID slots [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XC221JR?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Tailored Convertible wears four ways: clutch or wristlet, crossbody, waist pack and sling. It’s the one to take to a restaurant where a nylon crossbody would look out of place. - **Good:** the dressiest pick, removable 61 in strap, all five Travelon features - **Watch for:** 5.25 in tall, so large phones fit but a passport wallet won’t sit flat [![Travelon Boho Phone Crossbody](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0CSZ9Y4PV.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSZ9Y4PV?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Travelon Boho Phone CrossbodyBudget Phone, cards and passport only: one locking main pocket on a wide guitar strap, at 0.55 lb. - 4.75 x 7.38 x 2 in, about 0.55 lb; strap drop 14.5-28 in, 62 in long - Locking main pocket, slash-resistant body and strap, lock-down strap, RFID slots [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSZ9Y4PV?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Boho holds a phone or two, cards, cash and a passport in a drop pocket, on a wide guitar strap that’s easy to swap from shoulder to shoulder. - **Good:** 0.55 lb, one locking compartment with a wide opening - **Watch for:** no room for a wallet, keys and sunglasses at the same time ## When an RFID purse is enough Some trips don’t need locks: a beach week, a road trip, a resort where the bag stays in a room safe most of the day. In those cases a purse with good pockets is enough, and RFID blocking comes as an extra. [![Baggallini Modern Pocket](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B09M66KQV7.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M66KQV7?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) Baggallini Modern PocketMid-range RFID blocking and plenty of pockets but no locks or slash panels. A fit for resort trips and road trips where crowds are not the risk. - 8.5 x 8.5 x 2 in, about 9 oz; adjustable crossbody strap - Built-in RFID blocking, multiple pockets, water-resistant nylon; no locking zips [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M66KQV7?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-anti-theft-travel-purse) The Modern Pocket is a regular Baggallini crossbody with RFID lining: light water-resistant nylon and many pockets. It has no locking zips, no slash panels and no cut-resistant strap. - **Good:** 8.96 oz, organized, wipes clean - **Watch for:** none of the protection that matters on a crowded metro ## Anti theft travel purse comparison | Purse | Size W x H x D (in) | Weight | Slash-resistant body | Locks to a chair | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pacsafe Citysafe CX | 10.2 x 11 x 3.2 | 0.65 lb | Steel mesh | Yes, wire strap | | Travelon Classic Slim | 9 x 10.5 x 1 | 0.70 lb | Yes | Yes | | Pacsafe GO | 9.5 x 6.3 x 2.8 | 0.62 lb | Steel mesh | Yes, anchor strap | | Baggallini Memento | 9.75 x 7 x 1.5 | 8 oz | Panels | Yes | | Travelon Classic Bucket | 14 x 11 x 4 | 1.10 lb | Yes | Yes | | Travelon Heritage Small | 9.5 x 8 x 2.5 | 0.90 lb | Panels | Yes | | Sherpani Vale | 14 x 10 x 4.5 | 15 oz | Base and strap | Yes, chair loop | | Travelon Heritage Tote | 13.5 x 13.5 x 5 | 2.0 lb | Panels | Yes | | Travelon Tailored Clutch | 9 x 5.25 x 2 | 0.70 lb | Yes | Yes | | Travelon Boho Phone | 4.75 x 7.38 x 2 | 0.55 lb | Yes | Yes | | Baggallini Modern Pocket | 8.5 x 8.5 x 2 | 8.96 oz | No | No | Every bag in the table has RFID-blocking pockets. ## How to carry a purse where pickpockets work A locking purse fails if it rides behind you with the clasp open. These habits come from police and foreign ministry advice: - Wear it across your body, in front, with the zip facing you ([Paris police](https://masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/media/1480/download/Paris_en_toute-securite.pdf)). - Walk with the bag on the side away from the street, forearm over it ([Polizia di Stato](https://poliziadistato.it/articolo/pdf/21765)). - Keep your phone in an inside pocket, not an outside one, and off café tables. - Split your valuables: one card in the purse, one in the hotel safe ([FCDO Spain](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/safety-and-security)). - Be wary of the spilled drink, the stain on your shirt, the petition and the stranger with a map. Canada lists all four as distraction tactics in Spain, Italy and France. - Plainclothes “police” who ask to see your wallet are a known scam in Spain and Prague. On a September 2013 press trip to Naples, a scooter rider slowed beside me on a narrow street off Via Toledo and reached for the strap on my street-side shoulder. I had it across my body, so the strap snapped tight and he rode on. I’ve worn it on the wall side ever since. | City | Where official advice says thieves work | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Barcelona | Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça de Catalunya, Sagrada Família, Park Güell, El Prat and the Aerobus | [Government of Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain) | | Rome | Public transport and main sights; Termini and the 64 bus named in past warnings | [British Embassy Rome, 2013](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/high-risk-of-theft-on-rome-public-transport) | | Paris | Métro, RER lines, mainline stations, café terraces and ATMs | [UK FCDO](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/safety-and-security) | | Prague | Main station, Můstek and Muzeum metro, trams 22, 41, 42 and 43 | [Government of Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/czech-republic) | | Lisbon | Trams 15, 25 and 28 and crowded stops | [Government of Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal) | | Amsterdam | Central Station, De Wallen, trams 1, 2 and 5 and trains to Schiphol | [Government of Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/netherlands) | Barcelona recorded [94,517 thefts in 2024](https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/crime-in-barcelona-drops-47-in-2024-reaching-lowest-theft-figures-in-a-decade), the lowest figure in a decade outside the pandemic, and 23.3% of them happened on public transport. For a wider read on the countries, see the [safest cities in France](https://33travels.com/safest-cities-in-france/) and the [safest cities in Portugal](https://33travels.com/safest-cities-in-portugal/). What goes inside matters as much as the bag: In the purse on a city day - Phone, in an inside pocket - One payment card and the day's cash - Photo or photocopy of your passport - Hotel card with the address - Lip balm, tissues and a small charger In the hotel safe - Passport, unless you need it that day - A second payment card - Spare cash - Jewelry you don't plan to wear [Build a printable list for your trip](https://33travels.com/packing-list/) For the rest of the suitcase, build a list with the [packing list generator](https://33travels.com/packing-list/), and keep toiletries in a separate [travel makeup bag](https://33travels.com/best-travel-makeup-bag/) so the purse stays light. ## Anti theft travel purse FAQ Is Pacsafe or Travelon better for an anti-theft purse? Pacsafe for strength, Travelon for choice. Pacsafe builds **stainless steel wire mesh** (eXomesh) into its bags and reinforces straps with wire, and backs them with a 5-year warranty. Travelon puts slash-resistant mesh in all five body panels and steel cables in its straps, sits in lower tiers and comes in far more shapes, from phone bags to totes. Both lock their zips and both block RFID. Do I need to buy a padlock for an anti-theft purse? No. Travelon, Baggallini and Sherpani build the lock into the zip pull: it clips into a clasp or tunnel, with no key or code. Pacsafe zip pulls hook onto a catch the same way. A padlock is optional on the Pacsafe Citysafe CX, where it secures the wire strap around a table or chair leg for a longer stop. Is a money belt better than an anti-theft purse? They do different jobs. A money belt under your clothes holds the passport and backup card you won't touch all day. A purse holds what you reach for: phone, one card, the day's cash. The common complaint about under-clothes pouches is fumbling for them at a shop counter, which shows a thief where your money is. What should I do if my purse is stolen abroad? Freeze your cards in your banking apps first, then file a police report, which your travel insurer will ask for. If your passport was in the bag, contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. In 2012 the British consulate in Barcelona issued 1,320 of them, about 75% for [stolen passports](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/easter-holidaymakers-heading-for-southern-europe-warned-over-rises-in-theft-and-pickpocketing).