Any theft from train station lockers?
 

I have never concerned myself with the possibility of theft from train station lockers. While looking at my Fodor's guide to France I just noticed a line advising travelers not to leave valuables in train station lockers. If one is to follow this advise the strategy of turning the necessity to change trains into the virtue of spending a few hours in a city that one would otherwise not be able to see is pretty much killed.

Is anyone aware of thefts from lockers in European train stations? My own immediate interest is in Lille and Brussels.

I'm sure they are advising what is safest, and that is true. But I have used train lockers when I went to a place for a day trip or actually en route from one city to another. However, by not leaving valuables in them, I imagine they are advising not to leave credit cards, money, passports, etc. in them. I certainly would never do that, I just left my weekend trip bag with some clothing and book in it.

Even if you want to tour a city en route, you don't have to leave your money, etc., in the train locker.

Due to security concerns, there are no left luggage facilities available nowadays in Lille (neither in Lille Flandres, nor in Lille Europe)

Hi, I have left my luggage etc. in Brussels stations, Midi and Centraal, never had a problem or seen any one hanging around, also Brugge ,Antwerp etc. Lille is OK too.

I stand corrected on Lille, havent been for a while so things have changed.

It's just common sense to not leave valuables in luggage whether it is locked up or clutched in your arms. Luggage is for clothes and such.

Brussels Centraal/Centrale has lockers and a manned room. Dimensions of the lockers are 36"x36"x20", 36"x24"x15", and 36"x15"x12" and will cost you €3 to €4 per 24 hours. You can leave your bicycle and other big stuff at the attended room.

I wonder if Rotterdam Central have lockers..Usually I never use them when traveling and the only time that I did was in Nice.The lockers' room have a policeman patroling the premises.

Thank you to those who have replied. I guess this hinges on exactly what one considers to be "valubles". When I am on a two week trip the thought of potentially losing everything that I cannot reasonably carry with me while sightseeing in unnerving to say the least. Loss of specialized medications would require being on the next flight home. My original question remains unanswered: Is anyone aware of incidents of theft from train station lockers? I have read many an account of pickpockets and a few of theft from hotel rooms but never of theft from train station lockers. My particular interest now is in Brussels Midi Eurostar arrival.

From Midi/Zuid take a 2 minute hop on the next train to Centraal. Centraal is busier and in a better neighborhood. Keep your drugs with you anyway.

I have never heard of a locker being busted into. Nor have I seen a busted door in years. You would need a jack hammer or a cutting torch to get the door open. I doubt that a crowbar could pry a door open.

Read all the instructions and make sure the door is latched before you leave it. Keep the combination secure.

Pick up your stuff before the time expires or station personnel will empty your locker. When I have seen this in progress in other stations the staff is rather casual about it. I wouldn't want my camera laying on the cart they push around while cleaning out lockers.

<i>&quot;I wonder if Rotterdam Central have lockers&quot;</i>

Yes. I've stashed my luggage there and never had a problem. I think it was about Euro 3.00 for a 24 hour period (that was in 2003). Peace, Robyn :)&gt;-

I often use train station lockers, and have never had a problem. I think it is important to follow your intuition. If the area where the lockers are in seems seedy and poorly monitored, think twice.

I recently left stuff in a locker in the Zurich train station, and felt it was at least as safe there as it would have been in a hotel room.

Thanks hopscotch. Centraal does look like the better arrival point than Midi. I will take the lack of any locker break-in tales as some indication that lockers are a reasonably safe place to leave stuff, just don't leave it there for too long.