Gassing and theft on Italian night trains

[Pinch]

Anyone have any first hand experience (or know from reliable friends/relatives) how safe Italian night trains are?

We are planning our first overseas holiday to Italy and were thinking of taking a night train from Venice to Paris in a private sleeper compartment.

There are all these stories on the net about thefts on trains, gassing compartments to knock victims out then ransacking their stuff, train staff on the take using or giving thieves staff keys to access locked compartments etc.

There are also people saying its all myth and they haven't had any drama's.

Any first hand experiences?

Also any issues with other petty crime in Italy/France?

Cheers

Pinch

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Pinch

Any first hand experiences?

I tend not to use gas. It’s very hard to get the bottles through customs. I take a baseball bat. No one suspects a thing when they see a bloke walking through a train wearing a team shirt holding a bat. Just be sure to wipe of any excess blood and hair from the bat before returning to your seat, otherwise some of the other passengers might suspect something.

Cheers

[|||]

i had some nasty gas departing flinders street station once. i blame the onion rings from hungry jacks

[Dave_au]

One of my mates had his rugsack taken off a train in France I believe - just keep everything of any value on you, have travel insurance etc.

Also beware that a lot of these urban myths make matters sound worse than they really are. It's not exactly easy to go around gassing people, sounds a little too much like the movies.

That said, thieves are professionals, if they really want something, they will get it - so the best thing you can do is try to keep your eye on your belongings as best as possible, don't take any expensive jewerly etc with you to Europe, and for what you do take, make sure you have insurance. Use plenty of commonsense, and don't get too hung up when it happens, most frequent travellers have been pickpocketed at one point or another.

I can recommend for credit cards and mobile phones to use a company called secure sentinel. The idea is you list all your details with them before you go, and if you lose your wallet or phone, its just one call to get it cancelled. My mobile phone was stolen in Milan and I was able to get the phone cancelled and locked out in a short time after having the phone stolen by using a reverse call to these guys, which was quite lucky because apparently Vodafone AU's lost/stolen phoneline was down.

[The Yeti]

Easter last year I sent a month all over there, Reggio Emilla - Rome, Rome - Florance Florance-Venice, Venice-Padoa-Venice, Venice-Viena, Viena-Slovakia Slovakia-Prage, Prage to god only knows where on a bus casue it was flooded, then from god only knows, to Francfurt, francfurt to Wurtzburg.

All over the bloody shop really, the only trouble I had was a caby trying to crage me 25 Euro for a cab trip that lasted 2 blocks and took less than 5 mins and some gypsy lady falling asleap on my sholder on the train from Prage to god only knows where as there was no 1st class seating on that train.

just use abit of common sence dont keep valuables in your bagage and keep cash to a minimum, your savings accont key card (metrocirus) will work in most banks arround the world

Basicaly follow every thing Dave AU has said above me and you will have a great time

[SB076]

Many years ago I was on a train from Switzerland to Italy (Milan) and we were told by the Swiss guards to be very careful with our goods and never leave them unattended. They informed us that most thefts occured when people left the sleeper and went to the lounge car for dinner or meals. Therefore make sure someone stays with your goods at all times. The other thing the Swiss guards told us is that if any of your stuff goes missing go straight to the Italian guards as chances are they have it.

[sfr rob]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I tend not to use gas. It’s very hard to get the bottles through customs. I take a baseball bat. No one suspects a thing when they see a bloke walking through a train wearing a team shirt holding a bat. Just be sure to wipe of any excess blood and hair from the bat before returning to your seat, otherwise some of the other passengers might suspect something.

Cheers

I usually chuck a plastic bag over the passengers to keep excess "over spray" to a minimum, it cuts clean up time by 75%!




I think you may find most, if not all the stories about gassings and being robbed are myths.

[351capri]

just got back from europe a few weeks ago. did the venice to paris train trip.our train had compartments which converted to sleep six. the trip takes approx 12 hrs. the guard will take and hold on to your passports for the overnight border crossings so dont panic (you are always told not to let them out of your sight) . its a long ride, if you can get a flight 1 hour do it. didnt have a problem with theft anywhere but do recomend a money belt. if you have any questions give us a yell..

[V3RSAC3]

look seriously, Italian Jobs are not that secure or trustworthy as of over here!! ... there are ALOT of things you have to watch out for, Theft is a major problem!!

i went to italy with my mates for a school excursion after easter this year, whilst it's a great experience, there is ALOT of things you got to watch out for, as well as not letting your wife go off on her own!!

BY THE WAY ... if you ever get sick or injured, NEVER i say NEVER go to an italian hospital!!!!! go over the border to france!! you will be much more looked after and safer!

if you have any questions about italy or the customs feel free to PM me, im more than happy to help!! ... being Italian and knowing everyone who has been there, i kinda know what to look out for!!

enjoy your trip, you will love it!!!

[Rob993]

Did the overnight train trip from Paris to Italy the city of Bologna.
Not a problem. Traveled through Italy on the public transport system.
Recommend a money belt and watch for obvious scams especially if you are being crowded as you get into buses trains. That is when the pick pockets hit. Be tough on beggars and the like . Just walk away or pretend not to understand. Worked for me and I am fluent in Italian..
Never leave your belongings unattended, asking for trouble.

otherwise enjoy it is a beautiful place.

Rob

[Yellow_Festiva]

I have done half the world overland by train / bus / ferry etc.

My advice to you is to be up to date with all insurances etc. Read the fine print in regards to large value single items like laptops, as usually they are not covered unless worded accordingly.

Have trained it in Italy, and have always felt safe, but thats because I know the ropes so to speak. Look cheap if you have to, and don't be stingy with the locks. Keep ANYTHING of value in a back pack the size of carry on luggage and never let it leave your sight.

I also travel with a 1m length of light chain. It may weigh 700 grams, but in all my travels it was the single most valuable security device you can carry. Don't be shy or afraid to chain your belongings to your bed or to a pole. It works like a steering lock, a cheap visual deterent that will scare off 99% of would be theives.

As for gassing. Not an urban myth sorry to say. My friend and his partner were travelling on a bus from 1 city to another and the whole bus was gassed. The windows were glued shut and the driver was sealed off. This happened in Thailand however.

The bad thing was, they were getting robbed while still semi conscious! but were powerless to react. Imagine that, actually watching a guy pick your pockets and empty your bag but not be able to do anything!

Good luck with it

[GRNKPR]

Originally Posted by Pinch

Anyone have any first hand experience (or know from reliable friends/relatives) how safe Italian night trains are?

We are planning our first overseas holiday to Italy and were thinking of taking a night train from Venice to Paris in a private sleeper compartment.

There are all these stories on the net about thefts on trains, gassing compartments to knock victims out then ransacking their stuff, train staff on the take using or giving thieves staff keys to access locked compartments etc.

There are also people saying its all myth and they haven't had any drama's.

Any first hand experiences?

Also any issues with other petty crime in Italy/France?

Cheers

Pinch

i just got back from a 3 month holiday you have piked the 2 hotspots for crime ,more paris than italy but havnt got time to tell you know on way out will get back on later Cheers

As a European on the board I can honestly say you'll be fine, been to France and Italy loads of times, I've never had any trouble in Italy, but Paris you'll need to keep your wits about ya.

Was in Bergamo for the Italian GP a few weeks ago, we got the train, tube and bus to Milan and Monza every day and had no issues.

Paris is like any other big City, it has a crime problem, I've been pick pocketed and on another trip had things stolen from my hotel room by cleaners, but that could happen anywhere.

The only city in Europe I've ever felt venerable was Prague!.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Gaza_r

The only city in Europe I've ever felt venerable was Prague!.

That's funny, I felt younger in Prague!
(and safe too)

[Ringo]

Did Europe by rail last year. Did a train from Pisa in Italy to Nice in France and it was OK.

We didn't get robbed or anything but being backpackers no-one expects you to have any money anyway.

When we crossed the border no-one checked our passport.

What I found amazing was how stoopid people were with their belongings. Wallets in back pockets, $2500 digital camera slung around their necks, obvioulsy looking like lost tourists etc....there were people just begging to be robbed.

I felt much less of a target around these people....they were the easy prey for a theif.

Had our closest call in Paris public transport at around dusk when we were followed for a few hundred metres...we both noticed the follower and then on the count of three we just turned around and walked back the way we had just came and stared him in the eye..

We had big bright luggage locks and a lockable luggage strap as our visual deterents

[normxb]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

One of my mates had his rugsack taken off a train in France I believe - just keep everything of any value on you, have travel insurance etc.
Also beware that a lot of these urban myths make matters sound worse than they really are. It's not exactly easy to go around gassing people, sounds a little too much like the movies.

I was just talking to daughter No 2 , she was in the UK, France , Italy & Spain in April / May ( had her 18th at the Eyefull Tower) she said it's basically like any city here , As Dave said , Keep valuables on you , keep hold of your luggage and be aware , just like Sydney , Melb or Brizzy .

She had no problems at all .

Norm

Daughter just called out " Get a Travellers Passport" for cash , she just applied for one at the Credit Union , you can use it Worldwide .

[Pinch]

Many thanks all.

Some good ideas - will take on board (no pun intended!)

I guess I can be a bit too willing to believe people are all law abiding and can be a bit naive that way. Might have to wake up to that me thinks...