Crime prevention on railway transport facilities

From February 1 to February 28, 2026, crime prevention measures are being carried out in the Vitebsk region at transport facilities.

The main objectives of these measures are to stabilize the crime situation in transport, prevent injuries at railway facilities, and inform the public about personal and property safety measures at transport facilities.

In 2025, 8 crimes were registered in the Vitebsk region on international trains, including 2 thefts and 1 instance of drug trafficking across the state border. One crime was registered in the sphere of railway transport safety threats.

Most thefts occur due to passengers' negligent attitude towards their property. They leave their belongings with unfamiliar individuals while purchasing tickets or attending to other needs, and upon returning, they find neither their belongings nor the aforementioned individuals. On trains, passengers leave their belongings on wagon shelves instead of in luggage compartments, and mobile phones and other valuable property are left in easily accessible places, which can subsequently lead to their theft.

Furthermore, consuming alcoholic beverages, especially with previously unknown individuals, is another prerequisite for becoming a victim of criminals. After consuming alcohol, victims typically lose vigilance or fall asleep, and the perpetrator takes advantage of this to steal their belongings.

Employees of the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs remind that observing simple rules and exercising vigilance while traveling by train and being at the railway station will help avoid unpleasant situations and prevent thefts, fraud, and other crimes against you and your property.

Be careful with casual fellow travelers who try to gain your trust or offer to drink alcoholic beverages.

Do not respond to dubious requests to hand over parcels or other items to unknown persons in another locality. They may contain drugs or other prohibited substances and items.

Do not leave personal belongings unattended while at stations and while traveling on a train; do not entrust their safety to strangers.

Do not place documents, money, phones, and other valuable items in an easily accessible place in plain sight of other people. When exiting the carriage, check for their presence.

Do not put all cash in one place. Keep money for small expenses separate from a large sum.

Before traveling, fully charge your mobile devices, and if you couldn't do so, do not leave these devices unattended when using public outlets for charging.

When traveling on regional trains in the evening and at night, sit in well-lit carriages with other passengers, or in the head carriage of the train, where you can more quickly seek help from the driver if necessary.

Do not consume alcohol while traveling.

Do not cross railway tracks in unauthorized places.

If an unlawful act has been committed against you or you have witnessed a crime, or if you have found suspicious unattended items, you must immediately report the incident to law enforcement officers or railway employees.

 

Senior District Police Inspector

Department of Law Enforcement and Prevention

Postavy District Executive Committee Department of Internal Affairs

Evgeny Malikov