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My Great Train Robbery

So, there we were--fairly seasoned travelers with our wits about us and being cautious, prudent, and aware, or so I thought. We had left Amsterdam earlier yesterday by train, en route to Bruges with transfers in Rotterdam and Antwerp. We were a bit frustrated as our original train had been cancelled so we had to wait one hour in Rotterdam for the next one. When we boarded, I put our two light carry-on suitcases in the overhead rack, along with my daypack and CPAP machine (a medical device for folks with sleep apnea). Sat down and just started to read on my tablet when that funny feeling came over me. The train was just starting to pull away and there had been two individuals who for some reason had stood out and raised my suspicions as they walked from the front to the rear of our wagon. Just then, the train began to pull away from the station and I looked up and behind me, and couldn't understand why I couldn't see my backpack and CPAP bag. Much to my regret and consternation, they were gone. I can't begin to explain the thoughts that ran through my head; but, after walking the complete length of the train, checking lavatories and overhead spaces, I realized they were not reappearing. Fortunately, our passports, credit and ATM cards, and cash were safely tucked in my money belt. The stuff in my day bag (jacket, camera, snacks, lunch, water, medicine, etc.) was gone. My greatest concern was that I have not been without my CPAP machine for over ten years and didn't know how I was gong to manage (fortunately have done alright). In retrospect, I think the thieves targeted us because my CPAP machine was in a case that was marked as medical equipment. perhaps they thought there were drugs or expensive equipment. Or, because the case looks like a computer case, they may have thought it was a computer. In the case of replacement meds, I visited a local doctor who wrote a prescription to cover essential meds through the remainder of the trip. It took about half a day to get stuff settled and we were back out there, enjoying Bruges and the wonderful chocolate, sights, and the beer . . . And more beer.

LESSONS LEARNED:

  1. When folks on this site sing the praises of money belts, there is a reason. Use them!
  2. Thieves are out there and targeting tourists, especially ones whom they think may have expensive stuff.
  3. When riding trains, if you put your belongings in the overhead rack, place them where you can still see them while seated. If you can't see them, you can't see them. And, if you can't see them, you won't know what someone is doing with / to them. In retrospect, I should have had some sort of bunji cord or something to tie or link or stuff together.
  4. Realize that sooner or later, challenges arise. By being as prepared ahead of time as possible (having essential papers and credit cards / money in a money belt), we were only inconvenienced and not paralyzed (although I have to admit it took me some time to get chilled out).
Posted by
9363 posts

Sorry that happened to you! It must have been an awful feeling to find your bags gone, but at least you didn't lose the most important stuff.

Posted by
729 posts

So sorry this happened! It totally stinks.

A+ for not letting it ruin your vacation though. Belgian beer definitely has healing powers!!

Posted by
56 posts

Sorry you had that experience Darrel. It doesn't sound like there was much you could do. I like to put my headphones on and nap on trains so I use a small cable lock for my bag on the overhead rack. I'm not overly concerned necessarily...it just gives me peace of mind so I can relax and not have to keep an eye on my bag at every stop. Money belts serve the same purpose. Good for you for being prepared to deal with it. And yes, Belgian beers can be a good elixir!

Posted by
10120 posts

Being without the CPAP is the most worrisome. Are you having one flown over from your supplier?
So glad you had Bruges to comfort you, and thank you for the warning.

Posted by
9462 posts

I'm really sorry this happened to you and thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you were able to recover from this but that really stinks that that had to happen on your vacation.

Posted by
14482 posts

Good that you did not stash your passport (among other valuables) in the day pack. I remember seeing numerous times when passport checks were the norm at border crossings, say at Forbach between Germany and France, Americans would reach above to access their passports in the day pack placed on the overhead rack. Since I don't carry a day pack/cross over bag, the passport stays on my person in a neck pouch/hidden pocket ...period. You bet thieves are out there, and their target are tourists, since they assume tourists will carry electronic gear in the bag, they'll go for that.

Posted by
1231 posts

Sorry for this happening. Thanks for posting, though, for others to be aware, both "newbies" and seasoned travelers. You just never know....

Posted by
2599 posts

I'm sorry this happened and hope you're doing ok without the CPAP. I must admit that as a solo traveller I'm still a bit uneasy about train travel with my luggage--only done Vienna to Budapest and Krakow to Warsaw and had no trouble, made sure my suitcase was where I could see it and my carry-on at my feet, but still made me a bit anxious.

Posted by
1976 posts

So sorry to hear this happened to you, but thank you for posting it as a warning to others. I'm taking the train from Amsterdam to Hamburg on October 16 and will keep your story in mind.

Posted by
23178 posts

That is unfortunate and makes for an expensive lesson. IMO, the greatest risk for your bags is when the train is stopped in a station. For us, and other readers, we clip our bags, in some manner, to the over head rack. Wrap a bag strap around one of the bars of the overhead rack, clip both bags together. Do anything that would reduce quick access to your bags or grabbing of your bags. When we are walking away from our bags, we will use a light weight cable to secure our bags to the rack. Do the same if we have to leave our bags in the common storage area. Knock on wood. We have never had any problems with probably a hundred train rides. But always the next time.

Posted by
233 posts

Thanks for everyone's kind posts. My biggest frustration had been that this had occurred to me--and I tend to be very aware of my surroundings--but, even that has faded. We are continuing our trip without concern. Once we get back, I will deal with the paperwork associated with filing a claim through our trip insurance policy. For now, I am enjoying Belgian beer--probably more than I should.

Posted by
3719 posts

So sorry this happened to you. Glad you are enjoying the rest of your trip! We use a bicycle lock to loop through the handles and tabs on our carry-on bags and backpack, and loop the cord of the bike lock around a post or any part of the overhead rack. If you can pick up a bike lock somewhere, it might be worth it for the rest of your trip. This keeps thieves from taking the bag(s) off the train. Hope the rest of your trip is great, and without any other incident like this!

Posted by
15679 posts

I'm so sorry that you had a bad experience too, Dave, but cheers for you for not letting it ruin your trip!

We always cable bags that we can't have near us to something immovable, and generally don't use overhead racks: day bags stay with us at our feet or under our seats. In Italy, especially, there were a number of panhandlers jumping on and off regionale trains that they knew tickets weren't often checked for. With access being that easy, it was a good idea to be more observant than not.

Posted by
681 posts

Three cheers for you for not letting it ruin your trip! Thank you so much for posting this so we can all learn from your bad experience. Now, enjoy that good beer and chocolate!!!

Posted by
12172 posts

Very sorry for the loss. I'm glad you're getting along okay without your CPAP machine.

I agree with your points: use a moneybelt, thieves do target tourists (because they're likely carrying expensive stuff), put your bags where you can see them (I don't like using the luggage area at the end of the car).

I've used a cable lock in the past to tie the bag to the overhead rack. Nowadays I put my bag on the floor in front of me and put my leg through one of the straps (I travel with a convertible carry on) - so it's both in sight and secure enough that it won't walk away without my noticing.

I'm a very light packer but I do like one additional rule; it may not work for everyone's travel days but can still work for other days. Anytime I'm in crowds (bus, train, metro, shop, square, sight), whether a travel day, a tour day, or a shopping day, I use what I call a one-handle rule. I reduce everything I'm carrying into one bag. I find it's easier to keep track of one item than multiple items. Thieves also target people who seem distracted, confused, tired, or otherwise disoriented (another reason tourists are easy victims),trying to keep track of multiple items can also make you an easier target.

Posted by
9099 posts

Seem to recall earlier in they year there was a thread from someone asking how to secure their bags while they went to the bathroom on a train. A bunch of regular posters insisted that trains were a crime free zones, nobody wants your underwear, locking your bags to the rack is antisocial.

Darrel has proved them wrong. Take his advice: keep your bags in sight and tie/lock them down!

Posted by
4138 posts

I'm so sorry about what happened to you, but I really appreciate you telling your story. I'll be taking my first solo trip to Europe since 1977. Without my husband along I'll have no one to keep an eye on my stuff, so this is a good thread of alternatives for me to consider.

Posted by
1507 posts

About securing your luggage while you are going to the bathroom: the most dangerous time in a train is when the train is stopping at a station. There is some background chaos, people going around, standing up and sitting down; it is less likely for a thief to be noticed and anyway in a few minutes you will be leaving; you may be well distant when you realise you have been robbed. When the train has left station everything is more orderly, and above all the next occasion for the thief to leave the premises is at the next stop: much more likely to be found. I am not saying a robbery it is not possible on a moving train, but it is much less likely.

Posted by
4637 posts

Sad story, Darrel. Few years ago I was boarding a train with my sister in Prague Main Station. We had three suitcases. Suddenly 2 Polish guys (they spoke Polish to each other) started to help but then ran out of the train. I became suspicious and told my sister: these two guys wanted to rob us. Sure enough, her purse was already opened. She laughed because she had only cosmetics there and they were not interested. Then I realized that I saw these guys year before walking through the train and soon after that one gentleman was missing his wallet. One has to be especially alert on trains with many tourists and around big train stations. To end on the lighter note: Gypsy is running through the station with a suitcase and his friend is yelling at him: "Dezho, what do you have in that suitcase?" And he is yelling back: "I don't know yet."

Posted by
9099 posts

I am not saying a robbery it is not possible on a moving train, but it
is much less likely.

Problem is most tourists don't know how long it is until the next station stop. It could be an hour away or five minutes. A lot can happen while you're using the "loo".

Posted by
8293 posts

Ilia, sorry. but your gipsy joke is in bad taste.

Posted by
19653 posts

To paraphrase Shakespeare:

Who steals my purse steals trash...
But he that filches my CPAP
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me breathe poor indeed.

I can imagine when the thieves opened the case, and instead of uncut diamonds, they found that device.
"??!?"

Posted by
32173 posts

Darrel,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but it sounds like your positive attitude helped a lot. Based on your description, pinching the bags from the rack directly over where you were sitting takes some nerve!

I experienced an incident on my recent trip that could have potentially been serious. I placed my large pack on the luggage rack at the end of the car. At one of the stops, some moronic twit threw everyone's luggage off the rack so he could reconfigure it for his bike. My bag ended up in the foyer right at the top of the entrance stairs, where it could have easily been stolen or just kicked off the train at the next stop, as it was blocking the stairway. Fortunately, I sensed that something was amiss a went back to check, and was able to retrieve it before any "misfortune" occurred. I took it back to my seat and placed it in the inverted "V" between seat backs.

Posted by
4495 posts

In July my wife had a pocket of her handbag opened while we were boarding a train in Rome Termini. The would be thief was a slight woman who was off the train seemingly instantaneously when discovered. Fortunately it was the pocket that only contained sunglasses which were not taken. Other pockets unopened contained money and passports.

One of the things that sucks about getting older is that you become a mark.

Europe: take the train and you deal with thieves, drive a car and get hit with enforcement camera fines.

Posted by
14482 posts

I'll take my chances with the train. so far I've been fortunate not having any luggage stolen. No way do I want to be bothered with driving and parking laws, let alone paying for gas by the liter and running the risk of getting and wasting the money on tickets.

Posted by
23178 posts

I don't think that bombastic statements really help inexperienced travelers who are getting a handle on how to travel. It is not a choice of thieves on trains or traffic tickets. Darrel laid it out pretty well what can happen if a little careless but it doesn't happen to everyone or even 90%, 80% of the time. Relatively infrequent but if you are the one then it is a big problem for you. We need to help new travelers understand the risk but not scare them into thinking that Italy, Europe, etc., is a den of thieves just waiting to pounce on every American tourist especially if over 60, 70, 80 - whatever. We have spent dozens of days on trains all over Europe during the past 20 years, with no problems. But that doesn't mean we cannot have a problem the next time. Just use some reasonable, simple precautions as described by many above, and you will be fine.

Posted by
4495 posts

I wasn't being bombastic as it was my experience, in the past 2 years we have had 2 Europe trips and are batting 2 for 2 as far as experiencing an enforcement camera ticket and pickpocket attempt.

Just based on my personally quizzing people, I would say that 15-30% of American drivers renting cars in continental Europe (not UK, Ireland, Scandinavia) get some kind of camera enforcement fine after returning home. Not the end of the world but for most Americans it is their first experience with the concept of enforcement cameras and the post trip double fine process (rental car company admin fee, then actual ticket).

Americans traveling in Europe are more likely to experience pickpockets and petty theft than they are traveling at home. There aren't statistics to back me up, but I suggest it is because such crimes are more common in Europe. And yes, taking the precautions mentioned above can just about eliminate being a victim to pickpockets and petty thieves. I wouldn't have been carrying passports in a purse but you can't fight every battle in a marriage. I immodestly safety pinned shut my front pockets where I kept my wallet and phone and that worked well for me. It was just too hot for a money belt.

Posted by
233 posts

Just wanted everyone to know that we are still out there, having fun, but shifted to French wine instead of Belgian beer. We joke about the thieves having taken some great photos that we will never see:( Just another day in paradise.

Posted by
15679 posts

One of the things that sucks about getting older is that you become a
mark.

I don't know as age matters all that much as I've seen a fair share of reports from backpackers and students who found themselves missing passports, cash, phones or cards. No, Europe is no den of thieves but carelessness and distraction (i.e. burying one's head in a cellphone) ups the ante.

Posted by
2487 posts

It's always the moments of distraction and confusion - getting off a train in an unfamiliar surroundings, standing at a ticket machine wondering how the thing works, an overcrowded city bus - when they attack.
It doesn't make me paranoid, but it does make me take extra precautions. Not putting my day bag in the rack, but in front of me, between my feet. Being extra careful where to put it when sitting at a sidewalk café. Looking for a quiet corner at a station or on the street when consulting a map or guidebook. And, when I don't need them, not carrying around passports, credit cards and the like, but leave them at the hotel (although opinions on that strategy vary).
Sorry it happened to you in the Netherlands!

Posted by
977 posts

Sorry to read about your experience. You seem to have handled the situation very well after the initial shock. That's why when travelling on trains, I always secure my luggage with a bicycle chain/lock. Not paranoid, but smart. Can sit back and enjoy the journey. Also, a big fan of the money belt. If someone is going to separate me and my valuables, I try to make it as difficult as possible.