Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Naples Train Station Robbery Alert

We just returned from our trip through Switzerland and Italy. Last Friday, 7/20, we came through the Naples Train Station arriving from Florence. We had two large pieces of luggage and a carry on bag. I had just put my small purse inside the carry on bag, thinking it would be safer. We were immediately approached by two men. They were asking if we were going to Sorrento. We said "yes" and they started to tell us how to go and when the next train left. I already had the information (thanks to these boards) and we told them we knew and continue to walk. We didn't really know what they wanted and I decided they might be taxi drivers hoping to convince us to ride with them, but they never really said that. We continued down to the bottom level and purchased the tickets to Sorrento. We went down to the proper bin and sat on a bench. We had the two large pieces of luggage between us. Unfortunately, my husband put the carry on bag next to his right foot. As people were getting off the train, he glanced to the left and within seconds looked back and the bag was gone. He remembers a woman sat down next to him, a little too close, looking back now. He jumped up and starting running up the stairs we had come down. Of course, it was too late and they had probably gone up the stairs on the other side anyway. Everything was in that bag, passports, my purse with credit cards and drivers license, airlines ticket, cash, gold chains we had bought for our boys in Florence. The list goes on. We ran back upstairs and looked for a police officer. We were eventually taken to the police office in the station where we struggled to communicate and fill out the proper forms. There was one officer that could speak some English and was very helpful and sympathetic. We asked if they could put on the line with the US Consulate. It was Friday and the Consulate was about to close. We were able to finish the Police report and get to the consulate. Thankfully, they stayed late to get the passports replaced for us. The consulate was great and we are grateful they were willing to stay as we would not have been able to fly out on Monday morning. <BR> <BR>It was a horrible experience and it basically ruined the last three days of our trip. We had to rebuy our airlines tickets. I just want to warn anyone traveling to please be on alert at all times. We thought we were being careful but it only takes a second. We feel we were targeted the minute we got off the train and followed. We are blond and obvious tourists. Like most people, we thought we were careful, it is so easy to let down your guard for an instance, and that is all it takes. I just hope that our stupidity will help prevent this from happening to someone else. We love Italy. The police officer asked us to please not think all Italians are like this and look badly on Italy. I know that this can happen anywhere and does. Don't let it happen to you, please be careful and learn from our mistake.