It appears the spate of street crimes in Barcelona has spread to the airport and none other than Clinto Secretary of Labor Robert B Reich was victimized as he relayed this story on NPR (National Pubic Radio) on which he is a commentator - he may also be running for Governor of Massachusetts.

He said he was checking in for a flight in Barcelona and got his ticket out of his briefcase and set it down whilst checking in.

And voila - when he looked down the briefcase was gone... and in it was all his documentation... passport, cash, ATM cards, etc. He was left with nothing to proof his identity so the check-in staff refused him entry to the plane.

He said that was a strange feeling - like having no identity, no money, zilch.

Luckily a bystander offered to wish him to the American Consulate where he got a passport and boarded a later plane i guess.

Airports, not just in Barcelona, are often easy pickings for thieves - especially against folks arriving wiped out after an all-night flight.

Robert Reich robbed in Barcelona ... My God, how many totally un-PC jokes are coursing through my brain right now.

how about a sampling!

Reich comes up 'short' in Barcelona?

I'm sure he'll not miss the few assets.
M

Something similar happened to my aunt last year at a London airport (probably Heathrow, but my mother wasn't sure). Who would know that you have to constantly be on guard, even in an airport?

an aquanitance of mine landed in Copenhagen with her elderly mother, who she parked with the bags while she went to change money.

Upon return there was a bag missing and the elderly mother hadn't even realized it was gone. In the bag unfortunately were their two Eurailpasses.

Being robbed brings on a terrible feeling regardless of how many assets you lose.

Poor guy. How awful.

If I *have* to put a bag on the floor, anywhere, I always try to have one part of my body touching it, if not looped through a handle or strap. I saw a piece on a news magazine show once about how easy it was for a thief to steal a suitcase in an airport lounge. That was enough for me...

It would be interesting to find out if anyone is dumb enough to buy his passport!

<It would be interesting to find out if anyone is dumb enough to buy his passport!>

Or tiny enough.

Imagine, even tho he set it down, they stole it from right under his eyes.

>>Luckily a bystander offered to wish him to the American Consulate<<

Would one of you guys mind wishing me to Paris?

The really tragic element to the theft was that Mrs. Reich happened to be in the briefcase.

"Robbed" is not the correct term for this crime. Robbery is the forceful taking or threat of force to a person during a theft. The victim must be aware of imminent serious or deadly injury. In other words, there is a cofrontation with the "robber".
The first thing I think of when I( hear or read robbery, "Is the victim okay, has he/she been seriously injured? It is a much more serious event than theft or pickpocketing as physical harm is much more likely. I am likely to avoid areas where robbery or assault will occur--theft or pickpocketing is serious enough but in a different category.