MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has some pieces of advice for individuals traveling in London, weeks after she fell victim to robbery during her trip to England’s capital.
On Instagram, Gray admitted on Sunday that she feels “a new found tension” when she goes outside and “a new anxiousness” with her surroundings and belongings following her London trip.
The experience taught the 30-year-old beauty queen some lessons she wanted to share with others so that they could avoid the same incident.
“Things are just things and things can be replaced. Family and their safety is the most important thing,” Gray said.
Gray advised travelers to take their important belongings with them and not leave them inside their vehicles, even though they are parked in a paid and secured parking facility in London City.
“Even in the middle of the day for a few hours. We made this mistake and wish we hadn’t,” she said.
She continued, “Always take your passports and important medications with you.”
Robbing incident
Gray, along with her parents, were in Europe for a family trip. Among the places they visited was Fraserburgh, her dad’s birth town in Scotland.
But on August 31, Gray shared on her Instagram story a photo of a car with a smashed window, saying they were robbed in London.
She said that they only stopped for lunch on the way to the airport, only to find their vehicle robbed with their passports and belongings missing.
During the launch of her “Enviro-Chic Bag” collection, Gray described the robbing incident as a “very stressful time” for them.
“It was a little bit of a pity kasi yung first two weeks of the trip was very, very special for us as a family. It’s the first time for us to do a big family trip in a while, and considering my dad’s age mag-e-80 na siya,” said Gray.
The beauty queen shared they were on a road trip in Scotland and London, before the incident took place.
Thankfully, no one was hurt by the incident.
“No one was harmed; we’re all healthy. Things can always be replaced pero ang importante talaga my family and I were safe,” Gray stressed.
Gratitude
In her Sunday Instagram post, Gray thanked individuals who checked on them and helped them with their travel arrangements, including finding a doctor for her dad’s medications.
“At first, I felt that the robbery and the stress that ensued blotted out the joy and happy memories from the special homecoming trip of my dad,” she said.
“But I decided I won’t let the thieves steal that too. Stay safe everyone,” she added.
