July 29, 2026, 10:25 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Frequent travelers with Deutsche Bahn may currently fear delays and train cancellations the most. However, as employees of DB’s onboard catering service know from their daily work and sometimes personal experience, there are other, often underestimated dangers lurking on the train. In a conversation with TRAVELBOOK, they report that many passengers are surprisingly careless with their valuables–and thieves take advantage of this.
You might be one of those people who are a bit too trusting when traveling. After all, anyone traveling for several hours on a train will eventually leave their seat–whether to go to the restroom or to grab a coffee in the dining car. And let’s be honest: Do you really take your laptop, bag, or all your valuables with you for every short trip? Employees of the company, in this case, DB’s onboard catering service, would definitely advise doing so. “I would never leave my laptop unattended,” says a train stewardess in a conversation with TRAVELBOOK. She reports there’s a good reason for this.
DB Employees Warn of Thieves on the Train
As the informant–who wishes to remain anonymous–reports, thefts occur repeatedly on trains. One reason for this: Unlike air travel, where passengers are checked for more than just a valid ticket, there is no access control before boarding long-distance trains. Essentially, anyone can board a train–with or without a ticket and regardless of their intentions. Some perpetrators take advantage of this.
Often, there’s a system to it. Thieves board at a station, walk through the cars, and look for unattended luggage or valuables. If they find something, they often get off at the next station.
For Many Petty Criminals, Stealing Is a Hobby
One situation particularly stuck in her mind. Two teenagers boarded a train and showed a suspicious interest in passengers’ luggage. Eventually, they grabbed a suitcase. She and a colleague intervened, and the police were notified.
However, this hardly impressed the young hobby thieves. They looked at the employee provocatively–in her view, with a clear message: We don’t care at all. “Even if they got caught this time, they could just try their luck on the next train,” she believes. The two were minors and apparently had little fear of consequences.
Passengers often make it very easy for such petty criminals. “I repeatedly observe passengers on the ICE leaving their laptops on their seats while they briefly go to the restroom or get a coffee. Many passengers are very careless,” she says.
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Thieves Also Target Train Employees’ Belongings
Interestingly, not only travelers fall victim, but the valuables of the staff also repeatedly come into the thieves’ sights. “They want our bags, even our work phones! But they can’t do anything with them.” The onboard staff’s devices are specially configured for railway operations. They are used for internal communication and access to operational applications. Therefore, they are hardly of interest to thieves.
Apparently, some perpetrators’ motto is still: take it first. Maybe there’s something valuable inside. A colleague once had her overnight bag stolen. She needed it because she is one of the DB employees who have multi-day shifts with scheduled overnight stays away from home. Deutsche Bahn books hotel accommodations for its employees in such cases. “In this bag were all the important things for my colleague: her wallet, which contained not only credit cards but also her ID, her keys, and so on. The thief could have broken into her home,” the employee reports. The woman had the locks changed at the next opportunity.
A colleague, who also spoke with TRAVELBOOK, had his wallet stolen–from his backpack, which was in the staff compartment. This shows how fearless the thieves are.
No Security Personnel Standard on Trains
Contrary to what many travelers might assume, not every train has security personnel on board. In case of an emergency, officers are notified. They then board at the next station along the route. According to the two DB employees, security personnel usually only travel on night routes or certain routes known for problems. “Most of the time, police officers are on board by chance,” the train stewardess reveals from her daily experience.
But given the increasing violence against DB employees, staff should not have to rely on chance. As TRAVELBOOK recently reported, attacks on Deutsche Bahn employees are on the rise. These are not always limited to verbal abuse. As part of a pilot project, employees in customer contact are being equipped with bodycams upon request.
Our informant has also been repeatedly yelled at and insulted, she reports; however, she has not yet experienced physical attacks or threats. She still rejects bodycams. “I don’t want to live in fear,” she says. After all, she works in catering, not security.
The most important advice from the two to travelers is simple: never leave valuables unattended. Laptops, handbags, or wallets should be taken even for a short trip to the restroom. Because those who believe nothing will happen on the ICE might be mistaken.