Girlfriend in Switzerland had handbag stolen
Jun 18, 2011, 11:03 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2008
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For starters Switzerland isn't in the EU.
And this sort of thing can happen anywhere. Plus isn't it laptops that disappear in the US when people's hand luggage goes though x-ray screening, some sort of scam of stalling the line and then *bam*, no more laptop on the other side once you step through the metal detector?
And this sort of thing can happen anywhere. Plus isn't it laptops that disappear in the US when people's hand luggage goes though x-ray screening, some sort of scam of stalling the line and then *bam*, no more laptop on the other side once you step through the metal detector?
Point well taken.. Well, I suppose does happen everywhere..
Jun 19, 2011, 1:51 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
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Switzerland usually is very safe, but unfortunately our 3* hotels, errr I mean prisons, and generally a very lax law has made it incredibly attractive for criminals in the bigger cities. Still, compared with most parts of the world, very safe, but it used to be better. If we could only get our standards up to Singapore levels, it would be splendid, but that's probably only going to work in a semi-democracy.
Jun 19, 2011, 2:46 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2008
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I'm quite astounded by this - I can only hope it's ironic.
To OP - Moneygram or Western Union might be able to help you get cash to her if needed, although may be difficult without ID
Jun 19, 2011, 5:02 am
#19
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Jun 19, 2011, 11:49 am
#20
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Make sure you talk to her, not just email. If that's somehow truly impossible, ask her something only she would know the answer to.
Jun 19, 2011, 11:59 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Well, it was what it was.. Inside a hotel room, presumably by the cleaning lady but even the hotel management turned a blind eye..
That's the perception I received from my mom's incident.. Hence everywhere I go at the minimum my bags are always locked.
That's the perception I received from my mom's incident.. Hence everywhere I go at the minimum my bags are always locked.
Jun 19, 2011, 12:08 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
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In the mid 90s, my dad had a small bag stolen from the Geneva train station... while it was sitting on the ledge directly in front of the ticket window, while he was buying a ticket. Geneva is generally quite safe, but the train station is a place to really be on guard.
Jun 19, 2011, 12:23 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Thanks to everyone who provided helpful advice. My girlfriend emailed me again and said that she will be going to Bern to the Embassy to get a temporary passport in order to return home as scheduled. She is continuing her itinerary. Her kids will be paying for the rest of the trip with their credit cards. I will be speaking with her tomorrow.
Jun 19, 2011, 12:30 pm
#24
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Thanks to everyone who provided helpful advice. My girlfriend emailed me again and said that she will be going to Bern to the Embassy to get a temporary passport in order to return home as scheduled. She is continuing her itinerary. Her kids will be paying for the rest of the trip with their credit cards. I will be speaking with her tomorrow.
Jun 19, 2011, 2:24 pm
#25
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
I don't believe that it is. After years of reading leisure travel websites it seems that some travellers are rather paranoid about the 'high rate' of pickpockets and theft in Europe. We were just discussing this at work this week and how we had never been pickpocketed and couldn't really recall any stories of anyone else having that experience.
I did have to chuckle this week as I saw a sign in the walkway at a German airport warning in English for travellers to be aware of 'confidence tricksters'.
The reality is that scams and theft are not unique to one country, but rather travel causes many people to become distracted or not practice their usual common sense which they would use at home.
I agree to confirm that it was in fact the friend making contact; there have been many threads here over the years of email scams claiming to be the 'friend' without money/passport etc.
of pickpockets and theft in Europe. We were just discussing this at work this week and how we had never been pickpocketed and couldn't really recall any stories of anyone else having that experience.I did have to chuckle this week as I saw a sign in the walkway at a German airport warning in English for travellers to be aware of 'confidence tricksters'.
The reality is that scams and theft are not unique to one country, but rather travel causes many people to become distracted or not practice their usual common sense which they would use at home.
I agree to confirm that it was in fact the friend making contact; there have been many threads here over the years of email scams claiming to be the 'friend' without money/passport etc.