Prague train station WARNING
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Prague train station WARNING
I am leaving this message to warn travelers about Prauge train station.
My wife and I took a train from Prague to Vienna. It became very crowded as we were moving our baggages to our cabin. Once in our cabin, a man with a small bag showed up and began to help me with stowing away our two suitcases. I taught he had a seat in our cabin. Then he left and right away we realized that our camera bag was missing. This whole thing took about 20 seconds. I went after the guy and of course he did not have my bag. He proceeded to leave the train station. I don't know how many people were involved in the scheme. I think at least three. The train was about to depart and I did not have enough time to report the incident. My wallet and train tickets were in the bag. Fortunatly I had kept our passports, money, and credit cards in my money belt. We had to buy tickets again from the conductor. We are well traveled, but this can happen to anybody. I think what made us a good target was that we had 6 pieces of baggage between two of us.
My wife and I took a train from Prague to Vienna. It became very crowded as we were moving our baggages to our cabin. Once in our cabin, a man with a small bag showed up and began to help me with stowing away our two suitcases. I taught he had a seat in our cabin. Then he left and right away we realized that our camera bag was missing. This whole thing took about 20 seconds. I went after the guy and of course he did not have my bag. He proceeded to leave the train station. I don't know how many people were involved in the scheme. I think at least three. The train was about to depart and I did not have enough time to report the incident. My wallet and train tickets were in the bag. Fortunatly I had kept our passports, money, and credit cards in my money belt. We had to buy tickets again from the conductor. We are well traveled, but this can happen to anybody. I think what made us a good target was that we had 6 pieces of baggage between two of us.
#2
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
Very sorry to hear of your experience.
You described yourself as well traveled but why would you have so much luggage if your traveling by train. Train stations are really the targets all over europe and keeping the luggage to minimum is crucial.
You described yourself as well traveled but why would you have so much luggage if your traveling by train. Train stations are really the targets all over europe and keeping the luggage to minimum is crucial.
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,886
Likes: 0
I have seen this and similar scams in several train stations. That's why its really important to travel with no more luggage than you can keep your hands on until you're safely on the train and its underway.
Also, never never ever let anyone who isn;t obviously a hotel bell hop or your cab driver ever touch any of your luggage - even if it doesn't disappear its likely at least some of the contents will.
Also, never never ever let anyone who isn;t obviously a hotel bell hop or your cab driver ever touch any of your luggage - even if it doesn't disappear its likely at least some of the contents will.
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
Two stations have had this scam for ten years at least, Prague Hlavni and Krakow Glowna. I walk through them carrying only my rail ticket and a little money, in a front pocket or (if I feel like it) tucked into the top of a sock. In my hotel room before I go I take my passport, air ticket, spare money, credit cards and other valuables, wrap them in a dirty shirt, and put that well down in a big bag. If the train crosses a frontier I get out the passport ten minutes after the train leaves. In the same way, at end of journey I put the passport and rail ticket back well down in my biggest bag, and take out one credit or debit card, if I am going to need to draw money before I reach my hotel.
You met with a variant on the usual technique. In this, three thieves hussle round you as you board or leave the train, and while you wait for them to move on one of them picks your pocket, then leaves the train. Prague Holesovice and Prague Smichov do not seem to have these gangs, and at Warsaw Central the many security staff have seen them off.
If you can afford a taxi at Krakow a good arrival is to step down from the train, puck up a luggage trolley, go to the lift, go up to the station roof, at the taxi stand take any taxi that has a phone number painted on it, ask to stop at an ATM (a bankautomat or bankomat), draw a day s cash, and carry on to the hotel. Too few great stations use the roof: in Paris the Gare du Nord has a handy bus station up on the roof, again reached with a trolley and by lift.
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#7
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
you'll hear stories like this anywhere, especially in Central/Eastern Europe in Italy.
It's always important to be careful, and as sad as it is, not too trusting. I have a friend who was traveling in Italy and had a sleeping cabin with a couple of other people. When one of the "train conductors" came in to make sure everything was going alright, he had opened a tablet of some kind of gas, which made everyone in the cabin pass out, and when they woke up, all of their things were missing...EVERYTHING! This is not uncommon. In fact, I take busses when possible
It's always important to be careful, and as sad as it is, not too trusting. I have a friend who was traveling in Italy and had a sleeping cabin with a couple of other people. When one of the "train conductors" came in to make sure everything was going alright, he had opened a tablet of some kind of gas, which made everyone in the cabin pass out, and when they woke up, all of their things were missing...EVERYTHING! This is not uncommon. In fact, I take busses when possible




