MY UNFORGETTABLE ROBBERY EXPERIENCES IN LONDON AND BRUSSELS, BY ENYINNAYA APPOLOS

When people dream of visiting Europe, they often imagine scenic train rides, iconic landmarks, and smooth airport arrivals, secured corners and what have you. But sometimes, the journey takes unexpected, and unsettling, turns that will leave you wonder if you were in a dream world. During a recent trip from Washington, D.C., through London, Paris, Brussels, and onward to Munich, I had two unforgettable experiences that reminded me just how important vigilance is, even in the most sophisticated cities.

London: First Shock

Now, this is my story. I arrived at Heathrow Airport in London from Washington D.C. aboard a British Airways flight. After completing arrival formalities, I made my way to the Terminal 5 car park to order an Uber to my next destination in the city.

As I waited with others in a designated ride-share queue, I received a notification that my driver had arrived. Just ahead of me, another passenger spotted his Uber pulling in. The driver opened the trunk, the man quickly placed his luggage inside and was just about to enter the vehicle, when, in a shocking instant, the driver hit the accelerator and sped off with the bags still in the trunk.

I watched it happen in disbelief. The man stood frozen, stunned and visibly shaken, unsure what had just occurred. He looked around in confusion, but no one seemed to care. Everyone carried on as if nothing had happened.

I walked up to him and asked, “What just happened?”
He replied bitterly, “He made away with my belongings.”

“What?” I thought. I couldn’t even process it. I felt sorry for him, but I just couldn’t help. Just then, my own Uber driver arrived and gestured for me to come over. I refused. Instead, I walked up to the car and asked the driver to step out and open the trunk before I even considered getting in. I wasn’t about to be the next victim.

He complied without protest. I told him what had just happened to the other man. He shrugged and said casually, “Oh, that happens a lot here.”
He turned to the victim and asked if he had booked the ride himself. The man nodded. The driver advised him to call the number provided in the Uber app.

To our surprise, the ‘driver’ picked up the call. But rather than apologize, he accused the victim of “wasting too much time” getting into the car, and hung up. All further attempts to reach him failed.

My driver told the man to report the incident through the app. I got into the car, deeply unsettled as we drove out. I couldn’t believe that such a blatant robbery could occur at one of the most secure airports in the world—with CCTV cameras, constant patrols, and thousands of people moving around.

Brussels: Second Shock

Five days later, I left London for Paris via the Eurostar from St Pancras International to Gare du Nord. After a few days in the French capital, I traveled to Brussels by FlixBus, departing from Paris-Bercy Seine and arriving at Brussels South (Gare du Midi).

I spent a few nights at Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Place, a quiet, well-located hotel in the city center with heavy pedestrian traffic. From there, I planned to continue my journey to Munich, Germany, by train, connecting through Frankfurt.

On the day of my departure, I arrived early at the Bruxelles-Midi train station. I’m the type who prefers to be early than risk missing a flight, train, or bus. I also travel light, just a small suitcase and a carry-on bag.

With some time to kill, I decided to get coffee from a café inside the station. I chose a corner seat near the entrance, placed my small carry-on and a smaller bag beside the chair, and walked to the counter to order.

I felt comfortable, too comfortable. The setting felt safe. I had let my guard down, mistakenly thinking that broad daylight and a busy public location offered some kind of safety net. I had forgotten the Heathrow lesson too soon.

By the time I turned back from the counter, my small bag, tethered to the larger one, was gone.

Gone. Just like that. I stood frozen, trying to comprehend what had just happened. It felt surreal, like a magician’s trick. But it was real. Just like the Heathrow victim, I was dumbfounded and unable to process what had happened to me.

Thankfully, I had removed my passport from that bag earlier and kept it in my jacket pocket. That decision saved me from being completely stranded. But it didn’t stop the pain. That bag held important personal items, including one of my iPhones.

I looked around, no one said a word. No one asked if I needed help. Everyone just kept sipping their coffee, scrolling on their phones, as though nothing had happened.

When I alerted the lady behind the counter, she offered no sympathy. “I can’t help,” she said flatly.

I asked if she could check the security camera footage. “Only the police can request that,” she replied.

Eventually, she called for station security. Three personnel arrived and listened to my complaint. Their response? “You need to report this to the police.”
I told them I was in transit to Germany, and my train would soon depart. They told me I could also report it in Germany.

At that point, I realized no help was coming. I picked up my remaining luggage and headed to the platform to board my train, which was arriving in just a few minutes. I was shaken and angry, but mostly disappointed.

Later that day, in Munich, I used Apple’s “Find My iPhone” feature on my remaining device. It showed the stolen phone still pinging from Brussels. A few days later, the location changed—it was now in Casablanca, Morocco. Yes, Casablanca.

I quickly activated “Lost Mode” and reported the device as stolen.

A Word of Caution

I’m sharing this not to scare you from traveling, but to remind you: safety is your responsibility. The world is beautiful, but it’s not always kind. Thieves know when your guard is down, and they don’t need a weapon to rob you. All it takes is a second.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from these two experiences, it’s this: never let your guard down while traveling, no matter where you are. Major cities, airports, and train stations are hotspots for smart, swift, and silent thieves. They count on your distraction. They work faster than you can blink. And they often don’t work alone.

Stay alert. Hold onto your belongings. Don’t assume anywhere is safe.

It only takes a second of carelessness to lose what took you years to earn.