This is what you should do if you have been robbed abroad

Whether you have been saving up for the holiday of a lifetime or you have been planning the city break of dreams and the time finally comes to jet away, there’s no feeling like it.

But sometimes, unfortunate circumstances can happen which can often ruin your trip, including criminal activities.

Being robbed abroad is something no one should ever have to encounter but if it does happen to you, this is what the UK government website recommends you should do.

What to do if you have been robbed abroad

If you have been the victim of a crime abroad it can ruin your special holiday (Image: Getty)

The government says if you’re the victim of crime abroad you can get help from the nearest British embassy, high commission, consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.

It adds: “In most countries, you must report the crime before you leave the country if you want it to be investigated. You might need to report the crime to make a claim on your travel insurance.”

How the embassy, high commission or consulate can help if you have been robbed abroad

The embassy, high commission or consulate can help you in a number of different ways if you have been robbed on holiday, such as:

• understand local police and legal procedures
• find an English-speaking lawyer or translator
• find medical treatment or an English-speaking doctor
• contact your relatives and friends to let them know something has happened to you

@sammiebananny Vacation abroad prep tips I wish i knew before getting robbed. #traveltips ♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] – Elliot Van Coup

However, they will not be able to assist with the following:

• give you legal advice
• collect evidence or investigate crimes
• influence the outcome of any trial
• give you financial help, for example for travel costs to a trial abroad or to replace stolen property
• accept any lost or recovered stolen property, except for passports (which are cancelled and returned to HM Passport Office) and driving licences (which are returned to DVLA)

What is the TikTok trend ‘attenzione pickpocket’?

If you have been scrolling through TikTok lately looking for the latest gossip on celebrities or even just to find out how to clean your car properly, you might have come across the “attenzione pickpocket” trend.

Users of the social media app have come across multiple videos of a woman shouting “attenzione pickpocket” but what does it mean and how did it come about?

@cittadininondistratti2 #VENEZIA #CITTADININONDISTRATTI #BORSEGGIATORI #pickpockets #PICKPOCKETS #BORSEGGIATRICI #cittadininondistratti #VENICE ♬ suono originale – Cittadini Non Distratti

The topical clips came around when account @cittadininondistratti2 posted a video of a lady in Venice, Italy who repeatedly shouted the Italian phrase when she spotted devious thieves snooping around tourists looking to steal their belongings, reports the Evening Standard.

“Attenzione pickpocket” means “attention, pickpocket” and was being yelled to warn people.

The account @cittadininondistratti2, meaning “citizens not distracted” was originally suspended but it soon returned in June to give the people what they want – it has gathered 352.7k followers since.

The human behind the account is 57-year-old Monica who has been part of the “40-strong group of disturbance against pickpockets for 30 years”, the Evening Standard said.

Recently speaking to Newsweek, Monica explained: “We decided to make our videos go viral to inform tourists to be careful.

“There is a lack of prevention and information about what is happening in the city and we are all happy that these videos are letting people see the problem in Venice and throughout Italian cities.”