US government warns travelers of purse snatching at holiday destination | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Located in the Indian Ocean approximately 1,200 miles off the coast of southeastern Africa, the island nation of Mauritius, due to its distance, is visited primarily by more adventurous travelers seeking unique destinations they haven’t already seen.

But once they do get there, they often find that Mauritius is a breathtakingly beautiful destination full of coral reefs, waterfalls, and white-sand beaches, among other natural wonders.

With the island more popular among travelers from the United Kingdom and France, the 1.5 million international visitors who came to Mauritius in 2024 marked a new record that is expected to be surpassed by the time the numbers for this year are calculated.

“Crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity”: State Department

While Mauritius is generally considered a very safe destination kept at the same level two “exercise increased caution” rating also assigned to countries such as France and Italy, the U.S. State Department recently tweaked its travel advisory to warn of rising petty crime in the capital and main port of Port Louis.

“Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity,” the travel update made on Dec. 8 now reads. “This includes pickpocketing, purse snatchings, and petty thefts. Petty crime occurs in crowded outdoor shopping areas, beaches, and other tourist spots. It also happens near ATMs.”

The travel advice presented to Americans going to Mauritius is to always remain aware of one’s surroundings and “stay alert” in popular tourist spots as well as when taking out money. Other areas where petty crime is most likely to occur include outdoor shopping malls and commonly visited beaches.

More serious crimes such as home break-ins, sexual assault, and attacks are significantly more rare, but occasionally occur in areas frequently visited by tourists.

Mauritius, an island country in the Indian Ocean, is known for its white-sand beaches.

Shutterstock

“Do not display signs of wealth like expensive watches or jewelry”

“Do not display signs of wealth, like expensive watches or jewelry,” the summary for the country reads. “Do not answer your door at your hotel or residence unless you know who it is.”

In the rare but unfortunate case when one becomes the victim of a robbery attempt, the official recommendation is not to resist and cooperate with the attacker in order to preserve life.

More Travel News:

A similar advisory is also in place for Costa Rica, as the Central American country deals with a spike in break-in attempts at Airbnbs and other vacation rentals over the last few months.

“Research your Airbnb, rental, or hotel in advance,” the travel advisory for the country updated last month now reads. “Ensure the property has strong security measures, and keep doors and windows locked. Avoid properties with reviews that mention security incidents.”

While the country’s small population means that most travelers who come to Mauritius tend to stay at local inns and hotels, the same travel guidance of being careful about giving access to or information around where one is staying is also in place for Mauritius — particularly when it comes to opening the door without knowing who it is or expecting visitors.