How to Protect Yourself and Your Belongings on European Trains

One of the best ways to get around Europe is by train, since it's relatively affordable and lots of fun. Train travelers need to be extra careful with their belongings, though, to protect themselves from pickpockets and scam artists.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Backpack Lock
• Money Belts
• Safety Pins
• Eurail Passes
• Bike Locks And Cables
• Padlocks

1. Pack as light as possible. It's much easier to keep an eye on your stuff when you're only keeping track of one bag.

2. Lock your bag to the overhead shelf (bicycle cable locks work well), and don't store anything under your seat where it can be easily dragged into the corridor with a stick or umbrella handle.

3. Lock the compartment door, if possible, especially at night.

4. Wear your moneybelt if you plan to sleep on an overnight train, and sleep in your clothes in case you need to move quickly.

5. Bring your stuff with you if you leave the compartment for any reason ' don't go to the dining car and leave your belongings behind.

6. Be aware of the people around you, and follow your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, trust yourself, and ask the conductor for assistance.

7. Avoid discussing your travel plans with the other people sharing your compartment.

8. Resist the temptation to use a personal stereo with headphones if you are traveling alone. You become an easy target because you're less aware of your surroundings. Plus, you might miss important announcements on the train's PA system!

Tips & Warnings

• Have your passport and tickets handy before you board the train so that you don't have to open your moneybelt or backpack in front of strangers, who will then know where your valuables are stored.
• Bring a package of safety or diaper pins with you, then pin the pockets of your garments closed with your valuables inside. Just make sure you can access what you need without having to undress completely.
• Even people who seem nonthreatening can be thieves or scam artists. Women with babies, groups of children, and even English-speaking backpackers all have their own favorite scams.
• Think twice before getting into conversations with strangers, or listening to sob stories about lost money or luggage. While it's OK to be friendly, be aware that some people you meet may not be as well-meaning as they appear to be.

[lenaki59]

on 3/7/2009 Agreed that in some places in Europe this is true. However would you prefer your wallet picked from your pocket or snatched from you with a pistol on your head or worse....?Take a stroll at downtown Chicago after 9 p.m. and you will understand what i am talking about

on 11/22/2005 When traveling on long trips in Brazil by bus or other methods, be wary of being offered any kind of food or soft drinks, especially if you're traveling overnight. The person offering might seem very friendly, but it sometimes happens that the eatables/drinkables are spiked. When you get to your destination, you're either still sleeping or too groggy to know what happened. It is useless to go to the police, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

on 11/22/2005 Thieves like to take advantage of the pushing and shoving associated with boarding a train to get behind you and into your pockets or baggage. When working in teams one will be infront of you stalling, while his partner behind you is working your pockets!

on 11/22/2005 One trick used by thieves working in teams is to trap a traveler in the corridor of the train and then while you are struggling to "get by them," they will take advantage of the closeness to get in your pockets. Do not get trapped in the passageways.

on 11/22/2005 An increasingly common practice among thieves is that of drugging unsuspecting travelers with free drinks (coffee, cola, etc.). Once drugged, it is an easy thing for the thief to take your bags and even your personal belongings from your person.