A Singaporean man lost around S$1,000 (approximately RM3,500) worth of cash and valuables after his specially designed anti-theft backpack was stolen while travelling on a train in Europe.
The 42-year-old, identified as Chen Yuneng, had been on a trip covering New York, Frankfurt and Brussels, departing on April 19. The incident happened six days into his journey while he was on a train from Frankfurt to Brussels-South station.
Chen said he placed his backpack on the overhead luggage rack and only noticed it was missing about 10 minutes before the train arrived at its destination. The bag contained around S$500 in cash, several bank cards, his identity card, earphones, a jacket and medication.
Although he immediately contacted authorities and froze his bank accounts, fraudulent transactions had already been carried out, leading to an additional loss of about S$315 (around RM1,100).
Despite the incident, Chen said he was relieved that his passport, phone and laptop were still with him, allowing him to continue using Apple Pay for transactions.
He added that he had taken precautions before the trip, including purchasing a specialised anti-theft backpack and remaining alert throughout his journey. However, he said the theft still occurred despite his efforts.
Chen believes the theft involved a distraction tactic, after an elderly passenger reportedly engaged in conversation with another traveller before leaving the carriage with a backpack, which he suspects was used to divert attention.
After leaving the train, Chen said he heard a public announcement warning passengers about pickpockets operating on board and urging travellers to stay vigilant.
Travel experts from the Society of Tourist Guides Singapore (STGS) advised tourists visiting Europe and the United States to keep a low profile, secure valuables properly, and take extra precautions when using public transport.
They also noted that such thefts are often carried out by organised groups, adding that while police reports are important for insurance claims, recovery of stolen items remains unlikely in many cases.
