Has anyone noticed more theft problems in Brussels lately?

They reported that the thieves appeared to be "Romanian". How can you tell Romanians from Bulgarians, Greeks, Turks, etc. I suspect they said the thieves appeared to be Roma (Gypsys), although I still don't know that I could tell the difference. In Karlsruhe I was approached by a solitary woman who was begging, saying "für Romani". I though she was begging for Romanians.

Not Brussels, but I was in Antwerp last week with my 72 year-old mother. We had just arrived from a transatlantic flight into Brussels and immediately took the train connections into Antwerp. Literally within 30 seconds of stepping outside the main train station, she was robbed. She was carrying a small crossover bag, opened it to remove her sun glasses, a gentleman "bumped" into her and stole a small change purse thingy with 50 euros in it. I was a few feet away looking around getting my bearings and saw it happen out of the corner of my eye. I quickly went to her side and asked her what happened, she was convinced the whole thing was an accident. I told her to look through her purse and of course the change purse was missing. Fortunately I insisted she wear a money belt, so the loss was minimal in the grand scheme of things. Ironically for the remainder of the trip she refused to wear the money belt, and insisted on putting everything (passport, cards, cash) into her bag for the remainder of the trip. Oyy Veyy!

Lee, The reference to "Romanian" was either their impression, or my interpretation of the story. Perhaps editing my description to read "eastern European" would be a better description? It was more a question of what they appeared to be.

We have a 2 hour layover at Brussels South station while traveling from Amsterdam to London by train. I am alarmed to hear that brazen thieves are at work inside the stations there. I wonder if checking our bags for the time we are in the station would be a good idea to avoid this sort of thing? I will be wearing a RS carry on backpack and carrying a laptop bag, while my wife will be pulling an RS carry on suitcase. I've already bought our train tickets so too late to change plans (we didn't want to fly from Amsterdam to London as the time it takes to fly is identical as the train and the train is generally a lot more comfortable).

While the area around Brussel-Zuid is not where I would like to be in the middle of the night the station itself is bright, open and well populated. We have been through there dozens of times and never noticed any problem. The stories are about Brussel Central which is the smaller station next to the Grand Place and a station I have never felt particularly comfortable in. There are too many pillars for me. I know the topic is "lately" and it has been several months since I was there. I don't understand a 2 hour layover since between the Thalys and International Train there is a train every hour so the layover should never be more than one hour. Remember you MUST check in at Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure. There's nothing stopping you checking in early. We usually go down to the far end of the station and park at the Quick and have a final Belgian burger. Its right across from the toilets, too.

While the area around Brussel-Zuid is not where I would like to be in the middle of the night the station itself is bright, open and well populated. We have been through there dozens of times and never noticed any problem. The stories are about Brussel Central which is the smaller station next to the Grand Place and a station I have never felt particularly comfortable in. There are too many pillars for me. I know the topic is "lately" and it has been several months since I was there. I don't understand a 2 hour layover since between the Thalys and International Train there is a train every hour so the layover should never be more than one hour. Remember you MUST check in at Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure. There's nothing stopping you checking in early. We usually go down to the far end of the station and park at the Quick and have a final Belgian burger. Its right across from the toilets, too.

Dave, I wouldn't bother checking bags. If the two of you are planning to 'park it' somewhere and wait for your train, just keep physical contact with your bags - as you always should - and literally watch each other's back - as you always should. You could run a cord/webbed belt through the straps to make it much more difficult to run off with a bag, and use small locks to secure your valuables in your daybag. This risk isn't limited to the one station in Brussels...it's everywhere, so just be alert and aware of your surroundings At All Times.

Thanks to Schengen, it's not just tourists and honest people who can move freely between countries. Criminals do the same. Train stations are perfect places. Commit a few crimes and be out of the country that night.

Sound like it might be about time for Belgium to get itself a government. It is now into its 12th month without one, or have I missed something?

Nope, you didn't miss anything. The parties are still "negotiating", but everyone thinks the king is going to have to call for new elections.

I was in that very station 7 weeks ago, waiting for a friend for 2 hours and observed nothing of the sort. For the record, I AM very curious & observant in general. The same general rules apply, as elsewhere- keep aware of your general surroundings, make direct eye contact with anyone approaching you, etc. There are many more questionable/unnerving rail stations then any in Brussles.