luggage theft from trains in Italy

No it isn't. However, using a lock virtually guarantees it won't be a problem. Thieves don't want to attract attention and so if they pull on your bag and it doesn't go, they'll move to the next one.

Of course you should lock you luggage -- why not?? Petty theft, pickpockets, etc. are crimes of opportunity. Don't provide the opportunity. I even lock my day bag to my chair when I set down in a restaurant. There are reports of some problems on trains but in three hundred plus days of travel in Europe on lots of trains we have never had problem or heard directly of anyone else having a problem -- like someone standing in car yelling, "Where is my luggage?" Use normal precautions -- lock it !!!!

Rick Steves has a really funny passage about this in his "Europe Thru The Back Door" book. "There is a thief on every train -- union rules". As for locking it with a cable lock or something, don't need to go that far. Rick suggests just unclip a strap, loop it over something permanent, clip it back on. Someone grabs your bag and tries to keep going, they'll go about 1 foot with the bag ...

Just returned home from a month in Italy and traveled by train from north to south stopping at many different towns and cities without any problems. I do recommend traveling first class for just a few dollars more. We did have and used cable locks for our large suitcases, but I have to say this was the best trip we had in Italy in years as for any theft issues. We have been going to Italy every year since 1990 and it seems safer now than ever.

First time train travel...What kind of lock do you use and where do you lock it to? Is there time at stops to go over and unlock before you exit the train? Thanks Gina

I think locking luggage is just prudent. I even lock to the overhead. Why worry?? We use a three, four foot light weight cable with an attached three digit combo lock. Lock it to anything that appears to be solid. If I cannot find that I lock the bags together. Depending on the stop, you need to have luggage in hand and standing in the door way. Some stops can be very brief in the range in 3 to 5 minutes with lots of people getting on and off -- can be a real zoo with lots of confusion -- stay alert. So you need to be ready to get off quickly.

Just returned from Italy. Took 2nd class from Rome to Venice and Venice to CT. Other trips just got on the train. We never had an issue. We were always able to put our suit cases above us. We each had a max size carry on and another smaller carry on. Did see people with big roller bags put their stuff where you get on the train. Did not see a problem. And we were on a couple trains that made me wonder. But no issues.

I have a friend whose bag was stolen off an Italian train last summer - she did NOT lock it but it was 6 feet from her in her plain view. It happened at a stop ~ just as the train was starting up again, right before the doors closed, a thief boarded, grabbed her bag as she watched, and exited the train. It all happened so fast and by the time she was out of her seat, the doors were closed and the train was on its way again. I'll be locking my bag on my upcoming trip, or keeping it at my feet!

My husband takes his bicycle lock and we lock our luggage together. My usual warning - if you travel overnight in a couchette, never never never leave your luggage for an instant. Never trust your couchette mates, no matter how nice. It is amazing how crafty thieves can be. Be vigilant but not paranoid.