Pickpocket warning: Interlaken
 

I just got back from a great trip to Switzerland, and will try to write up a trip report soon. In the meantime, I wanted to send out a warning about a pickpocket we encountered - twice - at the Interlaken train station.

There's a guy, probably in his 30s somewhere, with a sort of flat face and who wears a hat, who works people over at the Interlaken train station (mostly Ost but we first saw him at West). He probably is working with someone else but we didn't see the other person.

Anyway, his MO is this: He is carrying around a giant Victorinox suitcase. He will spot someone who looks like a good victim, and get in front of that person boarding a train. He'll get up to the top of the stairs, then turn around, and (let's say you are the victim) he'll grab your luggage, lifting it high, making it look like he's trying to help you.

This is all a distraction. While you're insisting that you don't need help, you're fine, you can handle your luggage, etc., the person who he works with is working you over, getting into your pockets, fanny pack, whatever. (I know, fanny packs are not good ideas, but some people still insist on wearing them!)

Lucky for us the partner didn't get anything from my co-traveler's pack. We saw the same guy again at the Interlaken Ost station two days later, doing the same thing to another guy.

So, just a reminder that if there's some strange distraction around you in a crowded place, rather than be distracted, first check your pockets to make sure no one is in them!!

I sincerely appreciate this info but i woudl be even more heartened if you had said that when you saw this thief AGAIN you went over and prevented the operation from continuing.

It would have been nicer to inform the police.

Yes, that would have been possible if we hadn't already been on our next train. We saw him out the window.

And, I'll add that from our perspective, the second victim seemed to get away from the guy before the guy could do anything. I couldn't do anything at the time, so I'm doing something now.

well if it's so endemic i think the police should have done something by now - i would think these stations have security cameras.

someone must have complained at some point.

Which Interlaken train station?

Oops. I see, Interlaken Ost.

OP said saw at both Ost and West stations