Jakarta. An Indonesian citizen lost 10 suitcases that were left inside a car while vacationing in Rome, Italy, in an incident that quickly went viral on social media and captured public attention. The unpleasant experience was shared by Instagram user @mrsgracie__ on Tuesday.

In her post, Gracie, the account owner, recounted how her family’s suitcases vanished while they stopped by a church in downtown Rome before checking into their hotel.

“Since we hadn’t checked in yet, we left 10 suitcases inside the car parked in front of the church. After spending an hour inside, we returned to find our car’s window smashed and all the luggage gone without a trace,” she wrote.

Gracie reported the theft to the local police, but said the authorities appeared indifferent. She felt ignored and that the incident wasn’t handled properly.

“They didn’t care at all. Let alone visiting the scene, even getting a police report was unnecessarily complicated,” she said.

Cases of theft from rental cars are not uncommon in Europe’s major tourist cities. Similar incidents have previously gone viral in Paris, Barcelona, and Milan.

While Europe is widely regarded as safe, tourists often become easy targets for street crime, particularly when visibly carrying a lot of luggage or appearing unfamiliar with the local environment.

“The bottom line is,  wherever you are, always stay alert and don’t let your guard down,” Gracie said.

Tips for Travelers Visiting Europe

Following the incident, Gracie shared several important tips for Indonesian citizens planning to travel to European countries, urging increased vigilance against theft, especially in major cities like Rome. Here are some of her key suggestions:

• Never leave belongings inside a car, especially in free public parking areas.

• Use official paid parking services that can be booked online, though even these are not 100 percent secure.

• Understand the details of your travel insurance policy, which is mandatory for a Schengen visa, including the maximum claim limits.

• Keep your luggage tags and boarding passes throughout the trip.

• If renting a car via third-party apps, purchase insurance directly from the rental company to simplify claims in the event of theft or loss.

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