How to avoid being robbed in Colombia

I am Colombian and I have worked with the police, so there is no one better than me to give you these tips.

I've only been robbed once and it was on the transmilenio at 10pm on Caracas avenue in Bogotá. Another time they tried in the Batán neighborhood of Bogotá, also at 10 pm I was walking but they couldn't. On both occasions I feel I was wrong. "No hay que dar papaya "

Why did they rob me? Basically because "I said papaya". I was on a transmilenio, which is a bus at 10pm on Caracas avenue.

I remember that time seeing some men using pink cocaine(tusi) inside the bus. So let's say that's something we shouldn't do. Do not take public transport in Colombia. If you are going to do it, do it at times that are not as congested as at 10am or 2-3pm.

You have to understand that if people see you as blonde and blue-eyed, they immediately see you as a target to rob you (either robbery) or raising your
prices.

The most common type of theft is belongings such as cell phones. My recommendation is to have two cell phones.

An android on the street (less than 100 dollars) and an iphone (at home).

Never take your cell phone out on the street.

Keep it in your pocket.

You think that no one is watching you but most likely they are.

Do not take out your cell phone on public transport either.

There are videos in which thieves steal your cell phone from the transmilenio window while it is detained. A guy appears on the street and climbs out the window and steals your cell phone.

And there is nothing you can do because the bus only stops at a few stations.

You can't chase them because they're on the street and you're on the bus and you can't get out.

That is called not giving papaya. “No dar papaya” means don't make yourself an easy target to steal.

Do not take your cell phone out of your pocket.

Do not wear jewelry on the street unless you go to safe places and with Uber or your own car.

The same is not necessary to walk with Rolex in Colombia.

Another thing is that you are not cheap. Always use means of transportation like Uber, Didi, or Indriver.

Ask for an invoice for everything you buy because if they see you as a foreigner, the waiters tend to raise the price of your invoices to earn the difference.

A good idea is to walk in dangerous areas or in places where you feel in danger with a bombombum bag.

In this way you will look like a street vendor and it is very unlikely that you will be robbed.

Look at the invoice and ask the price of things well.

Since you handle dollars, sometimes you don't see the difference in prices. Everything seems cheap to them and that is why they steal from you.

With this information you have the basics.

If you want to know exactly the streets that you should avoid if you are in Bogota or Medellin and the cities of the coast or have more detailed information please check this.

I have helped thousands of foreigners with this guide: No des papaya

I am using the income from that guide to open an LLC so I can have a subtack with the option to receive payment because substack is not available for Colombians.