LOOK AFTER YOUR PASSPORT

With tens of thousands of British residents living in Spain, and millions of UK visitors  coming to  Spanish holiday resorts and beaches this summer, the Foreign Office has launched a video campaign to help Britons avoid the threat of passport thieves.
Out of the 15 million British tourists who came to Spain last year, more than 3,000 reported their passports stolen and almost 1,800 reported their passport lost .
Worldwide, more than 20,000 British passports were either lost or stolen in 2014-15.
To make people more aware of the risks, stealth crime expert and ‘Man of Steal’ James Freedman has worked with the Foreign Office to create a series of videos  that show the techniques used by passport thieves, and offer advice on how to avoid becoming a victim.
You can watch them on the Foreign Office YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/user/fcotravel.
James Freedman says: “Pickpockets and thieves constantly evolve their techniques and tactics. These videos show just a handful of ways that a pickpocket might attempt to steal from you, so remember some basic advice to stay safe.
“If you don’t need to take your passport with you, leave it in your hotel safe instead. Only carry what you need and keep valuables in a secure pocket. If you have a bag or case, never let it out of your sight.
“Be more alert in crowds and wary of anyone getting too close.
“Finally, try not to advertise the location of prized possessions by patting your pockets or bags.”
Dealing with a lost or stolen passport can be expensive and time-consuming. The victim may need to report the theft to the police, and spend time and money at the local British Consulate getting an emergency travel document.
It is also a good idea to leave a photocopy of your passport with friends or family, or store an electronic copy securely.
If your passport is lost or stolen, you can report it to the Spanish police by calling +34 902 102 112 (a multilingual service).
If you need to travel urgently, you can apply for an emergency travel document at the nearest British Consulate (visit www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document or call + 34 917 146 300).
For more information about living in or visiting Spain, go to www.gov.uk  or follow the British Consulate on social media via:
Facebook: Brits living in Spain and Brits visiting Spain
Twitter: @BritsliveSpain and @BritsvisitSpain