Pickpocketing in Luxembourg City: police launch campaign after rise around tram stops

Luxembourg City and the Police Grand-Ducale launched a joint pickpocket prevention campaign on 13 May after what officials describe as a strong increase in thefts in the capital. The campaign focuses on the tram network, where police say platforms, boarding moments and crowded carriages have become especially attractive to thieves.

The warning matters because the pattern has moved beyond occasional spikes around Christmas markets, the Schueberfouer or major city events. Police now describe pickpocketing in public transport as a permanent risk, not a seasonal inconvenience.

RTL reported the broader scale of theft in the capital: 7,704 simple thefts in Luxembourg City last year, 434 thefts with violence and more than 20,000 thefts nationally. Those figures include more than pickpocketing, but they explain why the city is putting the warning directly where commuters will see and hear it.

The advice is practical rather than dramatic. In crowded trams, keep distance where possible, watch bags during boarding and exiting, keep phones and wallets in inner pockets, keep handbags closed against the body and do not leave belongings out of sight.

Victims should file a complaint with the Police Grand-Ducale. Suspicious behaviour linked to pickpocketing in public transport can be reported by calling 113.