Warning if you're traveling in Europe, especially Belgium

[DFW]

This used to be a favorite tactic of Moroccan thieves a few years ago, and yesterday a group of Romanians tried it on me, so apparently it's in fashion again.

This usually happens when you are carrying a bag or two, and are alone. There are usually three of them, but sometimes two. You may or may not feel a tap on your shoulder. Someone comes up to you, asks if you understand English, and then tells you that you have a big glop of goo on your shoulder or back. They're not lying. Either that person or an accomplice put it there. The normal reaction is to put your stuff down, take off your jacket and look. That's when their accomplice takes off with your stuff. It's always done in a crowded street or public transportation, like a metro (me yesterday), tram or bus.

When it happened to me yesterday, I knew what was happening, so I calmly thanked the thieves for their telling me about my jacket and didn't budge. They got off at the next tram strop el rápido. A British colleague who was not aware of how this worked got his briefcase with all his work stuff and his small suitcase stolen in Brussels in this same fashion a couople of years ago.

So, if, you're in Europe and someone tries to be "friendly" and tell you that you have some glop on your back or shoulder, they're probably right. Just thank them and then ignore them. Cleaning your jacket or replacing it is a LOT cheaper and less time-consuming that replacing everything else you have with you.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. What kind of "glop" are we talking about here?

Stuff that comes from nasal passages?

[DFW]

4. Similar in consistency, but white

Sort of like diluted water-soluble elmer's glue.

[marzipanni]

2. Clever bastards

Last edited Fri Jun 29, 2012, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

It would be fun to say, as they left the metro car, "You have egg on your face!". They most likely wouldn't be familiar with that colloquialism and would be puzzled.

[DFW]

5. I just said "multsumesc"

That was enough for them to quit bothering me and get off quickly at the next stop.

I tried to post the original, but the Romanian letter didn't post. Maybe here? Mulţumesc.

[DFW]

7. I have Romanian-speaking friends. I'll ask the equivalent. Good idea!

I know some rudimentary Romanian, but not enough to come out with that one on the spur of the moment.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Oho noes! I have Santorum on my shoulder!

[DFW]

6. It was white enough.

And disgusting enough. You might be right.

[Major Nikon]

8. I've encountered scam artists and thieves in many European cities

They often prey on tourists because the local population doesn't care much if the tourists are fleeced a bit. Just so long as it doesn't start affecting the tourist dollars rolling in, nobody seems to mind much. If telling them to fuck off doesn't work (yes I use those exact words), the best defense against them is usually to just start making a ruckus. Once you start making noise, they disperse pretty quickly as they don't want to tangle with local law enforcement.

[DFW]

13. They disperse pretty quickly, too, if you address them in their own language

Not too many average tourists (I'm there for work every week, not exactly a tourist) speak Moroccan dialects of Arabic (I don't) or Romanian (I do a little). I speak the major languages of Belgium (French and Flemish) well, but the thieves usually don't.

[Major Nikon]

15. English cursewords are universal

[DFW]

16. Most are, agreed, but

Someone who is obviously NOT Romanian telling a Romanian off in Romanian throws them off balance pretty effectively.

[hlthe2b]

9. I'm aware of this happening in the US, as well...

There are frequently "helpful" individuals on the trains to the airport (MARTA, in Atlanta most recently) where "helpful" passengers offer to hold a bag in their seat for the rider ladened with a couple of bags. Yeah, right. Sometimes they even try to infer (in an authoritative manner) that bags are not allowed on the seat beside you.

Not sure I've seen anyone try the "muck" on the back of the jacket trick, though. But the point is that these little thievery scams are not so rare.

Don't let your bags out of your hands, is always the best advice in public places--no matter what.

[Chan790]

10. In DC, they're actually not allowed on the seat next to you on WMATA(1), VRE or MARC vehicles.

which is inconvenient because there's not really any other place to put them except in the aisle, in your lap or under the seat...and the last two won't work with a normal-sized suitcase. Transit cops will fine you for the aisle too if it's impassable or deemed to be an obstruction. (more often on buses) I guess if you're concerned about valuables, the risk of a $50 fine and being booted out of the transit system might be worth it though; it's not like you can't almost immediately reenter.

¹-WMATA, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: runs Metro, Metrobus and DC Circulator.

[hlthe2b]

11. why don't the business traveler crowd pitch a fit?

Everyone rides Metro to National (no, I'll NEVER said Reagan) Airport. So what are they supposed to do with bags?

Traveling in Europe is so much nicer.. They seem to actually give a damn about serving the needs of the rider.

[hedgehog]

12. Why isn't the WMATA more reponsiove to actual passenger needs?

I understand you can't eat on the subway,either!

[MiddleFingerMom]

14. I rely on the bus here in Tucson and see LOTS of self-important types...

.
.
.
... hog up a three-passenger bencb seat by placing their laptop on one seat and
their little backpack on another. The transit companies actually ARE looking out
for the needs of their riders. Those seats aren't luggage racks for inanimate
objects -- they're for human beings to sit on. On a plane, you would be charged
full-fare for a guaranteed 'suitcase seat'.
.
Almost guaranteed? The offender on the bus will be wearing headphones/earbuds
and will pretend not to notice you (or the pregant woman, etc.).
.
I simply announce my intention to sit down and slowly lower my not-insubstantial
ass towards the offending object.
.
You'd be surprised at the RAPIDITY in which said self-important person finds an
alternative resting spot for their gear.
.
Extra bonus points if I can then get up and offer my seat to the pregnant woman.
.
.
.

[bikebloke]

17. Same ruse in Argentina.

Down there it's bird shit. I've heard of it in other places, too. It hasn't happened to me, though.