Thieving on Trains

machadinha

Well, yes, the general advise again is to be more on your guard with it on the major tourist stretches.

And no, personally I wouldn't want to have missed those moments shared with some gentleman or family offering you some of their carefully-selected sweets box for on the road... Maybe those were more innocent times, although the stories were already there back then, and no less so.

Traveling as a young solo male I declined many an offer to visit people at home and so on, often to my regret in hindsight. But, yeh, I guess you gotta keep your personal safety in mind first. Like I often say, it may make you miss out on some good stuff, but some bad stuff too, no doubt. Beyond that, we'll all have our own ways to deal with it. I remain convinced with more than most of those offers I'd have had a ball if I had agreed to visit. Then again, I still know why I didn't. I'd have to say that as the years progress and in other places I've gotten less careful with this, not more so, but I'll still keep my senses about me.

ps You're right, thanks, I'm changing that link above to lead you straight to it.

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Aishah

Nick - thanks for explanation. I knew about this kind of thing but didn't know the expression 'biscuit bandits'. I have to say most times I take my own stuff and share that when it is appropriate!

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Nick-H

But I think the risk has got more.

Or maybe the police just didn't used to bother to stick up posters and take out newspaper ads about it.

Either could be true.

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edwardseco

Nick, you cracked me up. I owe you a bottle of Old Monk next trip..

Nick-H

You're welcome; a chai will do me fine

Brisso

Having been over the SEA and SA tourtist stretches for lots of years, there are 2 simple rules to observe.

Lock your pack - if there is no chain, carry a few heavy duty plastic cable-ties and secure to anything you can find- not guaranteed, but this sort of theft is opportunistic, if the grab doesn't work, the villain is unlikely to muck around cutting it loose.

2 - never, never! have your daypack/ handbag whatever out of your hand or off your back. In cafes, if you place your bag on the floor, place one foot through the strap. Conversely, use the foolproof (if uncomfortable) option of a money belt.

And learn to be observant - size up your companions and any other persons nearby - if you can make eye contact with a potential thief it may be just enough to make them think twice.

Tie a colorful scarf or similar to your bag - once a friend of mine with his girlfriend in sleeper class were at a stop and mused that a backpack that was being carried on the platform outside was the same type as hers. It was hers and had been removed from under her feet as she sat!!

Now, having said that, watch me lose my bag in Kerala ...

machadinha

Aye... the things better not said out loud

Aishah

A strong superstition out our way if you say things are really good and working well, or your health is marvellous, shortly later something bad will happen in that area. In other words you jinx what you have just spoken about. This has happened to me several times, mostly when I have been in the peak of health then struck down with malaria a few hours later; the latest was my boasting about my washing machine and how wonderful it was - the next day the control board fused and is in the process now of beig replaced! Slightly off- topic.. but in response to Machadinha's last comment!

edwardseco

Yes, yes, knock on wood. Chain snatchers can catch you even if you are on your guard. Too bad for the thief, my spouse comes from an obscure Bengali sect that uses fake jewelry..

karuna

I always use a money belt but I think the idea of combat pants with many pockets, especially zip or buttoned pockets is actually much better- split your cash and things up and use a chain to chain your wallet to your belt. Did I read that idea here or somewhere else?
Never had anything nicked, but I have been a prime idiot a couple of times. This was the most frightening at the time:

Wallet chained to belt - jetlagged to hell, sitting in a taxi from the airport and opening my wallet to pay some guy a tip. Forgetting I'd left it open on my lap, getting out of the taxi, walking into the hotel, and after a few minutes doing all that reception malarky, noticing my wallet hanging forlornly round my knees with only 20 quid in it, all £180 worth of rupees missing.
Panic panic panic, run outside and along the road to where the taxi had stopped. All my rupees are lying there on the street, where they had fallen.
Many many prayers of thanks.

I was "that one who dropped her money" to all the hotel staff from then on. And I've stayed there since and they STILL call me that.

Hyderabadi

From Daku Mangal Singh, Bandit Queen, Gabbar Singh,....., to Biscuit Bandit ?

OK, if we have Chocolate Heroes....

Sad.

Nick-H

If you use cable ties, especially heavy ones, you'd better travel with a pair of pliers. And, if they get nicked, that's your luggage permanently attached to the train.

I'd hate to be getting off at an intermediate stop, and having to run round the passengers (especially at night!) asking for anyone with something that will cut through a cable tie!

They're tough!

Oh, and by the way --- is this a 'useful item' you never travel without? I wouldn't be without them in the house, but never thought to travel with them.

Could be very useful for hanging mossie nets, come to think of it!

Don't travel without a chain and lock. They are easily available.

Aishah

Karuna - you were so lucky! To lose money this way or drop your wallet from the top of a bag is just so easy - this happened to me about 2 years back - wallet fell from top of bag after paying rickshaw driver and my getting out. Never got it back. Not much money inside but the nuisance of having to replace ATM, driver's licence etc.

shashank.aggarwal

Whose Driver's License are we talking about here ??

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Nick-H

That's cruel!