The old backpack strap around the chair trick.

I look forward to Mike Elgan’s newsletter each Friday. I normally read it after sending my own out. (It reminds me of something Thatcher said once about “We can’t all make a living taking in each others’ laundry.” But perhaps we can by' reading each other’s newsletters.)

Anyway, having thwarted a couple of bag thieves in Florence last year, his bit on 10 security tips for digital nomads hit my priors. I particularly liked the backpack strap trick.

6. Understand how crime works in coffee shops

In many cities around the world, coffee shops are irresistible to petty criminals. (Note: I’m writing this from a Starbucks in San Salvador, El Salvador.)

Clueless foreigners show up with their expensive computers, phones and other electronics, and they’re easy to steal. It’s very common for someone to visit the bathroom in a Starbucks, and ask a random stranger to watch their things. This is roughly equivalent to posting a sign that says: “Free laptop! Help yourself!”

Thieves steal in coffeeshops by either grabbing what they want and running, or sneakily taking what they want when the victim isn’t looking. I had a smartphone, along with a wallet case, stolen in Barcelona in a coffee shop. I was sitting right in front of it, and turned for a moment to talk to my wife. When I turned back, it was gone.

The best protection is to sit far from the door with your back to a wall, and keep on the table only what you’re using. If you need to use the bathroom, leave only useless things like your glasses, computer mouse or other low-value items to maintain possession of your table. Put valuables in your backpack, and wear the backpack into the bathroom.

Another great trick while working is to place your backpack on a chair, and clasp a strap around part of the chair. If a criminal tries grab the pack and run, they’ll take the chair, too, and be forced to drop it all before running away.