<p>When my daughter was studying (and traveling) abroad last year, one of her travel companions had her luggage and purse stolen, in Spain (I think it was in Barcelona’s train station). Whoever stole it, took what they wanted, dumped it, and someone else found it. The person who found it was Italian, and called the girl’s home here in the states. Believe it or not, this girl’s mom speaks Italian, so they were able to work out a place to meet to get back the stuff the thieves didn’t take. They didn’t ‘take’ her passport, but they did rip it in half. I think money wise, she had quite a loss, but she still had her student ID, and a ripped up passport which was easily replacable the next day at the embassy. The girls all loaned her some money until her parents could get a replacement credit card/ATM card to her.</p>
<p>Yea, it’s scary, but I guarantee, she has learned a lesson that she will benefit from for the rest of her life. And she will tell all her friends, who will also learn a good lesson.</p>