Sharp increase in opportunist thefts from trains

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

A note to all travelling: there has been a dramatic rise in opportunistic thefts of luggage from trains operating out of Paddington lately.

Theives are becoming more prevalent in boarding trains on non-barriered platforms at Paddington and making off with stowed luggage; they have also been known to travel between Reading and Paddington, taking luggage with them when they disembark at Reading.

Unfortunately, the design of train luggage storage is making these thefts extremely easy.

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR LUGGAGE AT ALL TIMES. 
DO NOT STORE VALUABLES IN LARGE LUGGAGE THAT YOU INTEND TO STORE IN RACKS THAT ARE REMOTE FROM YOUR SEAT.

[broadgage]

Two partial solutions to this growing problem.

1) Harsher punishment for the thieves when they are caught.

2) CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) that not only records a good view of the luggage racks, but that also displays this view in clear view of the passengers.
"keep an eye on your luggage" by use of the display screen if no direct view is available.

Consider offering legal assistance to any passenger or employee who tackles a thief and injures them. Older members may recall a younger broadgage tackling a thief and potentially hurting them.


http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8192.msg84378#msg84378 This famous incident is mentioned in the last few posts of the linked to thread. It was nearly 15 years ago !

[grahame]

A note to all travelling: there has been a dramatic rise in opportunistic thefts of luggage from trains ...

Unfortunately, the design of train luggage storage is making these thefts extremely easy.

Not a new issue, sadly, but thanks for the new hot-spot warning.   Something Lisa and I when travelling with cases are aware of, keeping an eye on any luggage that is such that it can't be with us at, under or above our seats and ensuring that valuables, vital papers and medications are close / with us at all times.    Of course, if we plan to be able to manage without the luggage if it gets stolen, we need to ask ourselves "why are we taking the luggage in the first place ..."

[Ralph Ayres]

Better luggage security was one of the many advantages of back to back seats at tables. There was space for most luggage behind the seat backs close to the owner, with only the largest - and so hardest to make a quick getaway with - suitcases put in the racks near the coach ends.  If we must have the euphemistically-named airline style layout (actually just as much bus-style but that perhaps sounds less glamorous), then they should ideally face the luggage racks to make it easier to spot anyone trying to nick stuff.
I do worry about bike theft now main line trains have racks in the vestibule rather than depositing the bike with the guard. I sometimes lock the bike to the rack if I can manage it, otherwise consoling myself with the fact that it's taken me 10 minutes to wrangle it into the poorly-designed rack so it will take someone trying to steal it about as long to remove it and they probably won't bother.

[broadgage]

Careful now, or you will start to sound like me ! I have been criticised for referring to bus seats, by those who insist that they are preferable and that facing seats at tables are not needed these days.

[Marlburian]

Opportunistic theft is definitely on the increase: shop-lifting, snatching mobiles from users' hands, taking parcels left on doorsteps, cyclists being mugged for their machines, car doors being tried ...

Dunno what the answer is. Intervene or protest, and one risks the situation escalating, possibly into knifings. (Some cyclist-muggers have been said to have been flaunting machetes.)

[broadgage]

Legalise more vigorous defence of ones person or property. Giving the thief a good kicking or thumping should be legalised.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Be careful what you wish for. 

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn33zyl27jvo

A burglar who suffered a "significant" injury from being bitten by a police dog following a chase has been given the go-ahead to bring a legal challenge against a police force.

Thomas Ward was bitten on the lower leg by a dog named Jerry while being arrested in Manchester on 23 October 2015.

He claims the bite left him with long-term nerve damage and chronic pain.

In a High Court ruling on Wednesday, Judge Lisa Sullivan said a legal challenge against Greater Manchester Police could be brought as Ward’s case had a “real prospect of success”.

The story continues in that BBC news link.

 

[infoman]

Maybe the luggage storage area should be in the center of the coach?

[broadgage]

Be careful what you wish for. 

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn33zyl27jvo

A burglar who suffered a "significant" injury from being bitten by a police dog following a chase has been given the go-ahead to bring a legal challenge against a police force.

Thomas Ward was bitten on the lower leg by a dog named Jerry while being arrested in Manchester on 23 October 2015.

He claims the bite left him with long-term nerve damage and chronic pain.

In a High Court ruling on Wednesday, Judge Lisa Sullivan said a legal challenge against Greater Manchester Police could be brought as Ward’s case had a “real prospect of success”.

The story continues in that BBC news link.

 

That is precisely the sort of news story that annoys me. Being bitten by a police dog, or suffering other injury whilst committing burglary should be regarded as a risk willingly taken by the thief and certainly not as a reason to take legal action against the police in the hope of a large pay-out.
What next, luggage thieves taking legal action because the stolen property was too heavy and they hurt their back.

[CyclingSid]

Legalise more vigorous defence of ones person or property. Giving the thief a good kicking or thumping should be legalised.

(In)famous case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Martin_(farmer)

[grahame]

Maybe the luggage storage area should be in the center of the coach?

There ARE places that's done ... but if the doors are are at the end of the carriage, it can then be a slow and awkward (and painful for people hit by passing luggage) process as people get in and off.

[broadgage]

Legalise more vigorous defence of ones person or property. Giving the thief a good kicking or thumping should be legalised.

(In)famous case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Martin_(farmer)

My sympathies were with Tony Martin, a victim of repeated burglaries and police inaction.

[infoman]

Grahame,how often have any of us arrived at London Paddington as a single passenger (without luggage)
 and have to wait for alighting passengers to "find" their luggage underneath other passengers cases.

If those with cases had them in the middle of the coach,then that's where they would head too.

Leaving those without luggage to alight in peace and more quickly.

[grahame]

Grahame,how often have any of us arrived at London Paddington as a single passenger (without luggage)
 and have to wait for alighting passengers to "find" their luggage underneath other passengers cases.

If those with cases had them in the middle of the coach,then that's where they would head too.

Leaving those without luggage to alight in peace and more quickly.

No "one size fits all" answer. Paddington is a terminal - different metrics to intermediate stations where only a percentage are leaving the train, and unload / dwell time is of the essence.