If you are in Brussels Midi, Brussels Central Station in or just outside in particular or in Zaventem Airport you need to be more than virgilant.It is a pity that the police and the security service until today are not capable of creating a safer station.The muggers target especially tourists with more than one traveller bag.The small one is their favorite, cause they can runaway with it.They have all sort of tricks to distract your attentions.And they are operating with at least two.
Waiting for the taxi with travelling bags or sitting on the platform while all the bags are close to you and in front of you is not safe enough.You are target because you have bags.Tourist without their travelling bags are less vulnerable.It is a pity that travellers who has to travel through those international stations are just moving target and the police can do nothing about it.
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Yes, maybe the police could take more action against this kind of crime. But the politicians of Brussels are more to blame, as there educational-economical policies create or keep the poverty that turns or keeps these youngsters into criminals.
Anyhow, Brussels isn%26#39;t less safe than other larger European cities.
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My friends (4 ladies in their 50%26#39;s)were in Brussels last week having arrived by Eurostar for a few days vacation. At Midi they were travelling on the escalator down to the metro when it suddenly lurched to a halt and everybody was thrown forward. One of my friend%26#39;s tried to catch her companion in front of her and was immediately robbed of her wallet by 3 very young Romanian gypsy children. This was an organised attack and to make it even more frightening, a lady at the very bottom of the escalator was thrown onto the bottom step where her hair got trapped between the last step and the lip. She was badly injured not only because she was trapped in the mechanism of the escalator but also because a number of people fell on top of her!
I am a regular traveller to Brussels and have never encountered anything like this before. Needless to say, I will be on high alert from the moment I get off the plane from now on.
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What an awfull situation. I am so sorry. This is again another case of how lurking these robbers are.Just waiting and hunting for their prey.
I am been mugged three times ( my laptop, my wallet, my keys, passport, visa card and documents all stolen and bag )and I want to tell the world how bad it is in Brussels for tourist with travelling bags.After being robbed two times, both in Brussels Midi and Central Station I become so virgilant.Those two cases was again with aggresive distraction of my attention.And again the third time in Midi last month.Putting your bags between your legs while sitting on the terrace or standing is not a very secure way.Because they can always distract your attention and move you to another position.
I think the best way is put the light little bag over your shoulder and always keep it with you. CHAIN the big trolley around your belt or body.It is ashamed that one have to travel this way.I don%26#39;t see any other safe way of travelling through Brussels.Do you ??
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%26quot;I don%26#39;t see any other safe way of travelling through Brussels.Do you ??%26quot;
Well, not discounting your experiences or anything. But so far I%26#39;ve managed three trips to Brussels, including both Midi and Central stations, and never had to consider chaining my belongings to my body!
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miriam X
please exercise a little caution in your ethnic and racist sterotyping.
incidents happen in all capital cities,nione of your reports is unique to brussels, or belgium but tens to be the kind of thing that happens in transit areas with large numbers of disorientated people.
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.....But so far I%26#39;ve managed three trips to Brussels, including both Midi and Central stations, and never had to consider chaining my belongings to my body!
You are lucky so far. I am not. These three cases are over a period of 4 years with a travel frequency of 50 times a year forward and backward. According to the Federal Police statistics the average bag snatching in the Midi and Central is 40 per day.
90 percent are from Eurostar travellers.
Of course not every Eurostar traveller will be mugged. Its a lottery , who is next.......
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I find it %26quot;interesting%26quot; that someone would join up to Tripadvisor and post just 4 posts, all about the same negative experience...have you no other travel advice or topics to discuss?
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I agree completely.I was travelling from Brussels Midi Railway Station two days ago and have had my bag stolen with all my tickets and passports.We were sitting with our bags carefully at our side yet did not nortice that one had been stolen until too late. The theft was highly skilled and was accomplished by one member of a three person team distracting our attention whilst another stole the bag. The distress felt by victims of such crimes is not helped by patronising comments by those who have not been victims.
Beware when travelling in Brussels it is not traveller friendly.
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Indeed very strange that all %26quot;new%26quot; people are reacting here. I am moving around in Brussels every day and I travel a lot for work and leisure.....of course things are happening in all big cities.
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grahamthefez....
You are right.This forum is only for people who have something to say about the situation in Brussels Midi.
It makes sense to make travellers with bags aware of how vulnerable they are when they are in the hall waiting for the train or for whatever reason. Waiting in the big main hall is not a good idea.Much better is to wait inside the departure hall of ES.
Don%26#39;t hang around in the main hall with your BAGS.Leave the main hall as quickly as possible with your bags.
Don%26#39;t talk to strangers. Just ignore them COMPLETELY.
Brussels stations are not safe for travellers with big bags.
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