Baggage theft

A few options.
If your bag is carryon size, it can go on the rack above your seat. Problem solved.
If you are near a group of seats that face a table, there is usually space between the back of those seats and the next seats to slip a suitcase in out of the way.
You can also see about changing your seat assignment nearer the luggage rack.

Honestly, locking your luggage to the rack is quite controversial. It creates problems for other users on the train. It would be my absolute last choice.

Here is how I handle train travel if I feel like I need to bring more than fits in one carryon. I have a carryon sized roller bag and a carryon sized backpack. Both can fit on the rack above my seat and I can negotiate stairs in the terminal and on the train easier than having one larger, heavier bag.

The most important thing is to keep your valuables: passport, money, cards, phone, etc. with you at all times.
Theft is rare, but what is reported most is snatching the above during getting on/off train cars because so many people are in such small aisles and distracted by stowing luggage.

Please always keep your passport and wallet and other valuables with you by the seat. I have been here 3 days and it's my 7th time in Italy. It must be a problem since I see the equivalent of the army or national guard at the train stations and the regular police and unarmed guards for the pick pockets and petty thief's I saw a local at the Ravenna train station filing a police report at noon today.

When we can’t have our luggage in view one of us gets up before each stop and keeps an eye on it.

Last time I used a train I locked my suitcase and my wife’s together using a cable lock. I don’t know why that would be controversial, as long as you don’t lock someone else’s suitcase or impede others from picking up their suitcase. Lots of Itslians use cable locks to secure their luggage to the luggage hold. The images below show what they look like:

overhead rack

luggage hold

You are over thinking it. Our main luggage is often out of sight in the bin by the doors. Remember, only people with problems are posting. Theft and scams exist but it is not the majority of the time. We have close to a year of travel in Europe since we started in '70. Have never been pickpocketed or seen one in actions. Traveled on dozens of trains using the luggage bins and haven't lost a bag. The probability of your bag being mistakenly taken is greater than actual bag theft. Who wants to steal an unknown bag of dirty clothes. However, having a small bag snatched from the overhead rack while in a station is a bit more problematic. I do wrap a bag strap around a rib of the overhead shelf just to prevent a quick grab if I am distracted. Do not use a cable lock to secure your bag in the open bins. Over the years I have had a couple of those locks fail and the last thing you need is a bag secured to train pulling out of the station. I have used cable locks to secure two bags together in the bin thinking that if someone grabs one bag and a second bag follows, they will leave both.

I worry more when I am in New York or Chicago than I do in Rome. Things can happen but a few precautions -- especially the PROPER use of a money belt -- can solve a lot of problems.

After catching trains in Europe last summer, every bit of luggage space, both above the seats and on the luggage racks were full and passengers were stashing their luggage in the next carriage, so it is not always possible to keep luggage close by. On the past few trips, I have used Pacsafe retractable locks which thread through the bags - makes it harder for anyone to walk off with two suitcases strapped together. I also use the retractable locks for the overnight bags above the seats and I do attach them to the rack. Valuables, I keep on me, but on longer trips, it is easy to fall asleep and not be quite so aware of one’s surroundings. Check out the Pacsafe website and do what is right for you.

Laura - excellent suggestion!

I do what Laurel does and, in 15+ years of riding Italo, have not had a problem.

I’ve taken many trains in Italy for more than twenty years.
Put some neon ribbons or a neon strap on your luggage, or carry bright coloured luggage.
Leave it in the rack by the doors.
You’ll see it easier when you lean out of your seat to check.
If the train has many stops, get up at each one to keep an eye on your bag.
Don’t put a backpack on the rack above you if it has valuables in it.
Keep your passport and bank cards on you in a crossbody bag or moneybelt at all times.
ALL times.
Don’t lock a case to the racks…it can impede others getting off as you try to unlock it.
I’ve never seen luggage theft on trains.
The only theft I’ve seen was of a camera on the Circumvesuviana line from Naples….not mine, someone else’s.
Long distance trains seem fine if you are prepared.

Born and living in Italy since 63 years. I never witnessed directly a baggage theft in Italy, and probably I have more railway kilometers on my back than most of you. The only baggage theft I witnessed directly was in Santiago, Chile (even there, we were left wondering what the average Chilean could make of the clothes of a 5' 11" Italian); also in central Buenos Aires we were told theft was frequent.

I currently travel with only an RS back-door backpack, and on trains I keep it with me, resting atop my feet so the bag needn't be on the floor, and with one leg through one of the backpack straps. Yes true it's not the most confortable especially on a long journey but it's not as bad as it sounds.

The only theft attempt I've had was when I had no choice but to let the bag out of my possession, going through security xray at FCO. I noticed a young attractive Italian couple chatting up the agent manning the metal-detector line, then whilst I was waiting for my bags (I had my Civita out of the main bag because at the time I was not yet retired and still carried a laptop) the young woman grabbed both my bags off the conveyor and turned to depart. I clapped my hands to startle her and then held them out to her whilst saying (very loudly and in Italian) "thank you for helping me get my bags" 😉.

Theft of baggage may be rare, but it does happen occasionally. Just because one has travelled on trains for years without incident, doesn't mean it doesn't. I've never been pickpocketed anywhere in Italy or in the world, nevertheless when I board a crowded bus, I take precautions. The articles below are just about super famous people (show business stars) whose bags were stolen on a Frecciarossa.

So my precaution, if I have to store the luggage in the hold at the end of the car out of sight from where I'm sitting, I use this cable combination lock like this one here. I usually tie two cases together, but you can often tie it to the luggage rack. I've never impeded anyone from getting their own luggage. I've used it in Italy, and I've used it in Portugal this month. You guys are free to do what you want, I lock my bags.

https://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2023/01/28/news/furti_zaini_treni_roma_alta_velocita_italo_frecciarossa_arrestati-385491805/
https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/ladri-gabriella-golia-treno-roma.html
https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cronaca/giorgia-palmas-derubata-treno-yfk8bllz
https://www.milanotoday.it/cronaca/giulia-vecchio-furto-treno.html
https://www.milanotoday.it/cronaca/tatiana-luter-furto-ringrazia-polizia.html

Just saw/overheard a person reporting laptop theft on a high speed train from Bologna to Florence last summer. When the train pulled in at the station and people were exiting this person was still discussing with the conductor.

I keep all electronics with me at my seat in a daypack, for which there is always room. And I keep my passport in a money belt.