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[Zhu Su @zhusu]

Didnt have too many expectations for Brussels but was pleasantly surprised

Weather is great aside from pockets of rain, uber 2 wheel (scooter and bike) is awesome for getting around, and everyone speaks English or French so its easy to communicate. Uber drivers were mostly from Syria

Quite a few of my friends got pickpocketed or robbed, wanted to share three anecdotes and some advice

1) just outside airport, someone bumps into him and spills a drink, then offers tissue to wipe it off. Accomplice takes his luggage

2) on the street walking alone, carrying backpack and luggage. Late afternoon, no weapon used just simple grab and go

3) from sports car, parked outside a home. Broken window, rear corner cut out, thieves went for a luxury bag visible from outside

My thoughts: firstly there are organised groups conducting these activities. They are focused on low hanging fruit petty theft that is difficult for police to track down bc of lack of force used

The best rule is the simplest: to not get robbed, simply have no money; dont bring valuables or cash on trips, dont flex jewelry, dont wear touristy or crypto shirts. If you bring attention on yourself you generally need to be prepared for what that means

Try to travel in groups, im not aware of a single instance targeting a group yet. Groups introduce too many uncertain variables, the odds of one person in group being a vigilante goes higher, etc. Theyd much rather wait for an easier target. This is also why youre less likely to get mugged when drunk. They dont want to fight you

Do not walk around while on your phone. This used to be common sense, am a bit in disbelief how many ppl do this. Youll basically have no awareness of whats around you if you are walking while texting. In many cities around the world a phone can be snatched out of your hand before you realise whats happening. If youre Asian you are at higher risk of being targeted not bc theyre racist but bc they think you are more likely to be oblivious to surroundings and to carry more cash, have nicer phones

Its generally a misconception that touristy areas are safer than say “ghetto” areas. You are far less likely to be robbed in less wealthy neighborhoods, for the simple reason that the odds you have anything worth robbing is much lower. The ppl who live there are more interested in selling you drugs probably, and also appreciative that you are hanging out in their bars or restaurants. They act as natural innoculation vs other potential thieves, think of it as self-policing. You are infinitely safer as a poor student in a ghetto than as a rich oblivious tourist at the train station

Do not leave valuable looking stuff in cars in plain sight, do not park nice cars on the street. Take uber whenever you can so that its easier to kyc your driver. Book hotels instead of airbnbs, in some cases airbnb hosts can collude with robbers to ransack while you’re away

The mentality that you can behave same as your home country is wrong; when in Rome do as the Romans. Ive seen some heated discussions last day or so where some ppl bash Brussels for being unsafe and others then bash victims for being weak. Truth is somewhere in the middle. To bash a place just bc it is less safe than a very strict ultra-rich city-state is silly, otoh victim-bashing is also not ideal