<p>He’s had a wonderful seven-week trip to Europe, traveling both by himself and meeting up with friends. When he got off the train for his last week in Spain, someone threw ketchup on him. He put his bags down to clean it off, and someone took one of the bags and ran off with it. Passport, wallet, Kindle, iPod, train pass, camera and journal.</p>
<p>He’s a 26-year-old man, but he’s still my baby, so I feel awful for him. </p>
<p>He’s off to the US Embassy to get a new passport. Sigh. Live and learn.</p>
<p>Veryhappy, I’m sorry to hear about this and I absolutely understand how you feel. We hurt for them, no matter how old they are! I’m glad that he’s okay and I hope he can get what he needs replaced without too much trouble. One of my Ds spent a summer studying in Spain a few years ago. Although she never had a problem, several of the kids in her program had similar ‘pick-pocketing’ incidents happen to them while there.</p>
<p>Damn. So sorry. I am sure he realized the moment it happened he was set up and it was too late. It really is a shame. I was so afraid of that happening my one trip to Europe that I kept all the valuable stuff under my clothes in one of those body things, and the rest in a backpack that I never let go… My D’s were annoyed, until it happened to someone we knew. I think Barcelona is particularly known for this. If he is OK, it will be OK.</p>
<p>That really sucks. I’m so sorry. He’ll figure it all out and be a little wiser for it. FWIW, I think that’s one of the reasons that when we were backpacking through Europe back in the day we were literally backpacking through Europe. One of those big packpacks with the hip strap. Whenever we were out in public we had everything on our backs. You did hear it was a bad idea to put anything down in a train station.</p>
<p>Give him an extra big hug when he gets home. (As if I had to suggest that. . .)</p>
<p>I’m glad he’s had a wonderful trip so far, but that’s a bad way to end it. My 16 yr. old is traveling to Spain by himself, but will meet up with a host family, after two airline connections. I’m already worrying about him and have been reading all the travel forums on Spain. Barcelona seems to have the worst reputation for those types of crimes. Many people report being pick-pocketed as they are entering/leaving trains or just after they have withdrawn cash from an ATM. They watch where you put your wallet. On trains, the normal mode of operandi is that one person blocks the doorway, while the other makes the grab. It seems they often work in pairs. Many victims have advised that you should never trust anyone that approaches you, offering to help with anything, including children. All of this is easier said than done, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Spain has long had a bad rep for these kinds of crime – their 21% unemployment rate doesn’t help. I hope he found sympathetic police officers. It’s hard to restrain your normal reactions when something like this happens, esp. when you are tired, but when I last traveled there we were warned that these scams (like the bird poop on the shoulder one) are a common technique of thieves. </p>
<p>Anyone who is traveling or knows someone who is traveling to Europe should be reminded to hang on to their bags <em>no matter what</em>. Ketchup and bird-doo can wait. Keep aware of your personal space and if someone stands too close – like on the otherwise deserted escalator in Madrid – move away. Do not accept ‘gifts’ like lavender or rosemary sprigs from the gypsies.</p>
<p>Thank goodness he wasn’t hurt! The only way to travel is with valuables in waist belts under your clothes. It’s inconvenient but a whole lot easier than getting passports and credit cards stolen. I insisted on it and yeah my kids complained too right up until someone pickpocketed my husband and they came away empty handed. Read Rick Steves travel site–he has all sorts of wonderful advice.</p>
<p>Spain is where I was pick pocketed and lost my credit cards. Only time in my life and hopefully I am wiser and the last time…it happened on the underground from the airport to the train station. We saved a paltry $10 instead of taking a cab. Never again.</p>
<p>He wasn’t hurt and that’s the most important thing! Years ago, I was robbed when traveling as a student in Italy—it happens to the best of us. In a way, your son got the quintessential European experience and he’ll have a story to tell for years.</p>
<p>What a horrible phone call to get as a parent! So sorry. It just gives me the icks.</p>
<p>When D1 was studying abroad and they traveled to Barcelona, one of her friends was robbed. I was the only parent of the group of girls they could get a hold of at the time, so D had me transfer some funds into her bank account so she could loan some money to her friend until they could reach her parents. When I met her a year later at their graduation, she immediately came up and gave me a big hug and was so appreciative for helping her out.</p>
<p>I was mugged in Austin, Tx. I can tell you it’s a horrible experience no matter where it happens. I didn’t have to get a new passport, fortunately, in order to get home. All I had to do was get a new driver’s license and stay with a friend until I could get another copy of my apartment key. Then I worried the mugger would come to my apartment, so I had to pay to have the locks changed. To this day my heart ends up in my throat if anyone ever runs up from behind me.</p>
<p>Glad he is merely inconvenienced vs. injured.</p>
<p>VeryHappy, I am so sorry! It is such a shock to him and for you! Nrdsb4 is right about inconvienced vs. injured (although I am sure it took a lot of your son to have this happen).</p>
<p>My mother got a call years ago from a police officer and a hospital (across the country for her) because my brother had been assaulted in a robbery and he nearly did not make it. He is alive and healthy today (very very lucky that the best surgeon for my brother’s type of injuries was in that hospital at the time my brother was brought in. We were told that he saved my brother’s life), but recovery took a long long time. I feel that if you survive these type of horrible situations physically intact you are truly blessed!</p>
<p>This really sucks. I’m glad he’s okay but so hard to watch your kids get hurt. In a way, maybe it’s good it was near the end of the trip rather than the beginning…it could have soured everything and for the rest of the weeks there he’d be bummed about not having the things he brought. </p>
<p>I like someone’s suggestion that it will make for a good story later on. Hopefully a good story will eventually merge, and not a permanent bad association with Spain. It’s not just Europe (except their approach to these things is more memorable to tourists). Everyone I know was mugged at least once when we lived in Chicago and theft is a big thing in the lovely expensive city I live in now. Crime happens everywhere unfortunately.</p>
<p>Barcelona! What a great place!
But my daughter’s backpack was also stolen there while we were sitting at an outdoor cafe. Mine was strapped in my lap—she put hers down on the ground next to the chair----we saw NOTHING happen! Spanish thieves are BRILLIANT! Too bad they can’t get a better job!</p>
<p>We lost both cameras–and the pictures, that was the worst part (happened on the last day of the vacation!)—my D was also carrying her cell phone (which did not work there) & $100 US (which she could not spend there)! Lesson learned for her. Thank God I had the passports.</p>
<p>Definitely file a police report. It was actually our last interesting sight seeing moment in Spain! The cop was darling and we walked to the local precinct with another couple from the hotel who had also been pick-pocketed!</p>
<p>Bottom line- our travel insurance covered about 75% of what we lost. The lost photos was the saddest part—I recommend downloading your pictures each night or at least putting in a new card in your camera and putting the used ones in the safe at the hotel!</p>
In a way, your son got the quintessential European experience and he’ll have a story to tell for years.</p>