My Airfare Secrets                                                                                  Bookmark  If you have plans on traveling to South America any time soon, here are a few tips for keeping you safe:   1) Be on the high alert any where in South America for gangs of thieves why prey on normal human reaction so to steal from you. Often they work in gangs of a few kids and one older and faster snatcher; for example, in a busy and crowded location like a market, these young thieves may flick fruit at the clothes or bag of a tourist. The normal and immediate reaction to do in this kind of situation is to take off the jacket or bag to clean it. At such a time the oldest thief will dash in from behind to snatch the loosen bag or whatever.   2) Be prewarned: there's current political unrest in Venezuela. Avoid Caracas completely. Always know beforehand the political climate of any place you plan to visit and do not act against the warnings.   3) In some South American countries drivers do not always stop at the red traffic lights; they do this in order to avoid thieves from robbing them when sitting at a red light.   4) It's not recommended to drink water; buy it bottled from a store to be safe.   5) If you plan to hire a taxi, ask someone local which taxi you can trust to drive you around. Not all taxi drivers are reliable or honest.   6) Never stay at the Copacabana hotels: many thieves wait outside to rob tourists.   7) Beware of phony cops on any street stopping you in order to conduct a document check. If any such "cop" look a little funny, run off to a safe place like a hotel or restaurant.   8) Watch out for llamas, for they can give a terrible kick if you happen to turn your back on them!   9) When taking a taxi, always be wary of who you are traveling with. If possible, do not ride in a taxi that has strangers.