katie@camino
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF, SJPDP-Finisterre 2016;CP (Central) Porto-SdC 2017;CP (Coastal) Porto-SdC 2018;CF Leon-SdC 2019
After getting off the bus from Logroño to Burgos, I realised I didn't have my small cross-body satchel, containing passport, money, bank cards, credencial (Zpacks, a tip from @davebugg) that I always wear. I had stupidly placed it on the seat next to me.
I asked 2 fellow passengers (we'll call them A and B) who had aso just disembarked if they had seen it, they said no but were very kind and advised me to speak to the (grumpy) bus driver. The security guard at the bus station called the police, who swiftly arrived and took me to the police station. Frantically, I cancelled one of my bank cards (thankyou UAE, for making it so easy to do via whatsapp) and initiated cancelling another card. The consula office told me I would need to go to Madrid to get a new passport. On the way to the police station, police noticed A and B (based on my description) walking along a street and stopped to ask them questions about other pasengers on the bus and assured them that they would be looking at cameras to find who had taken my satchel.
I arrived at the police station and was about to make a statement, when one of the police officers told me not to get too excited but they had received a call from A and B who may have found my satchel.
I got back in the police car and we drove to an apartment. Out walked A and B, with my satchel, who reported they must have accidentally picked it up when they were gathering their belongings. They were profusely sorry.
Now, who knows what really happened.
But I wonder, IF they did something nefarious, perhaps a) the quick and serious response by the station security guard and police, b) the seriousness of taking a passport as opposed to solely some money, c) learning of the presence of cameras made a difference.
If the security guard hadn't called the police to come to the station, instead of directing me to go to the station by myself; if police hadn't responded so swiftly and if police hadn't been so observant and proactive in noticing and approaching A and B while driving from the station, this would be a much worse story.
As it is, it has a, if not quite happy, very relieved ending. I am aware that very few stories of theft/loss would have an ending such as this and I am so so thankful that I can continue without inconvenience.
I am grateful for A and B's bravery in coming forward and returning my satchel, regardless of whether it ended up in their hands by accident or opportunity.
So, yet another warning - please do take care of your belongings!
I asked 2 fellow passengers (we'll call them A and B) who had aso just disembarked if they had seen it, they said no but were very kind and advised me to speak to the (grumpy) bus driver. The security guard at the bus station called the police, who swiftly arrived and took me to the police station. Frantically, I cancelled one of my bank cards (thankyou UAE, for making it so easy to do via whatsapp) and initiated cancelling another card. The consula office told me I would need to go to Madrid to get a new passport. On the way to the police station, police noticed A and B (based on my description) walking along a street and stopped to ask them questions about other pasengers on the bus and assured them that they would be looking at cameras to find who had taken my satchel.
I arrived at the police station and was about to make a statement, when one of the police officers told me not to get too excited but they had received a call from A and B who may have found my satchel.
I got back in the police car and we drove to an apartment. Out walked A and B, with my satchel, who reported they must have accidentally picked it up when they were gathering their belongings. They were profusely sorry.
Now, who knows what really happened.
But I wonder, IF they did something nefarious, perhaps a) the quick and serious response by the station security guard and police, b) the seriousness of taking a passport as opposed to solely some money, c) learning of the presence of cameras made a difference.
If the security guard hadn't called the police to come to the station, instead of directing me to go to the station by myself; if police hadn't responded so swiftly and if police hadn't been so observant and proactive in noticing and approaching A and B while driving from the station, this would be a much worse story.
As it is, it has a, if not quite happy, very relieved ending. I am aware that very few stories of theft/loss would have an ending such as this and I am so so thankful that I can continue without inconvenience.
I am grateful for A and B's bravery in coming forward and returning my satchel, regardless of whether it ended up in their hands by accident or opportunity.
So, yet another warning - please do take care of your belongings!