I just survived an attempted scam. Feel pretty stupid about it now but was able to get my things back ^^^ due to dumb luck.

As I exited the train Brussels Central Station somebody squirted a milk like substance on the back of my jacket. A "do-gooder" told me about it and asked me if I wanted some tissue. I said thank you and kept walking for about 50 yards and then stopped by a pillar in the station to check my jacket. My Tumi roller bag and the laptop bag with the passport in it right by me. I looked at my jacket decided to ignore the squirt and turned to het my bag - the laptop bag was gone....

After looking around like I imagined Jason Bourne would I of course did not see anybody with my laptop bag. A lady asked me if I wasmissing a bag and told me that the guy had headed off into one of the tunnels in the station. I ran wildly and chose 1 random direction and as luck would have it saw the guy about 50yards ahead. Shouting the choicest American profanities I could comeup with I followed the guy. The guy saw me, dropped the bag and ran away.

I got my bag back with all its contents.

FYI: Please beware when you arein Belgium specifically as I guess they have a serious petty theft and bag lifting problem.

FInally, as someone who travels to Europe about twice a month and then some to Asia, I feel pretty stupid about having fallen for it.

Now I have endless debate going on in my mind. Safer to keep passport in pocket or in laptop bag.