Keeping your possessions safe when travelling to work

Whenever you travel to work, you may do so with several important personal items on you.

Whether it’s equipment to perform your job – such as a laptop, mobile phone or camera – or personal items that you cherish like jewellery, it’s vitally important to keep them safe.

Losing a work device could lead to a data breach for your company, while prized possessions that hold sentimental value are often impossible to replace.

Here are some top tips to ensure that you do not fall foul of thieves and pickpockets while on your daily commute, no matter what mode of transport you are using.

Driving

If you drive into work, you might assume that you and your possessions are already safe – and this is almost certainly true while you are on your way into the workplace.

However, security ought to come to the forefront of your mind when you park up.

Protection will be offered if your work has a private car park that is locked to outsiders but many may be parking in open lots or using on-street options in busy towns and cities.

In the case of the latter, it is especially important to ensure that your vehicle is locked and that any expensive or important items are kept well out of sight.

It may also be worth investing in security devices to keep your vehicle extra-safe. Be sure to check your finances before making this kind of purchase.

Public transport

According to the most recent statistics prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average person in the UK took 97 trips by public transport each year.

It pays to be vigilant at all times whether using local bus services or the rail network.

Check as soon as you are about to board the vehicle that you have everything on your person. If you use a payment method to pay for your fare, be sure that you put it away safely afterwards.

Perform another check before you reach your destination, too – if the train or bus leaves and you’ve left something behind, it can take a long time to get it back, if you do at all.

Walking

If you live close enough to your workplace that you can walk there, packing as lightly as possible will mean that you are less likely to lose track of where your belongings are.

You may even be able to utilise lockers in your workplace to keep safe things that you need when you are there.

Storing your items in a zipped bag will prevent them from slipping and being dropped by accident – and it also deters would-be thieves. It’s also wise to keep smaller items in jacket and trouser pockets to make sure that they do not become easy targets.