Although my personal experience with pickpockets is not as adventurous or lucky, it also gives an indication of the deteriorating law and order situation in Europe. A couple of months ago, I was checking my cellphone for important information and dates while taking a ride on the Brussels subway. Emerging from the metro, I realized I had lost my wallet which contained my ID and credits cards. I immediately reported the matter to police, but I am yet to get any response from them.

This week, European leaders will meet to discuss ways to fight terrorism in the aftermath of the attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris a month ago. Terrorism is indeed a threat to European society but so is the rising graph of petty and not-so-petty crimes across Europe.

The rising crime graph in Europe can be attributed to the EU's struggling economy and the resultant high rate of unemployment over the past six years or so, say many experts. While that may be true, Europe remains a magnet for people across the world, especially Chinese tourists. Perhaps the robber and the pickpockets that targeted the three Chinese women believed they were tourists and would not be very careful with their belongings. The "poor guys" were right that Chinese tourists are not very careful with their belongings but wrong in assuming that the three women were tourists.

Many Chinese and other nationals might have been targeted by pickpockets and robbers and not reported the incidents to police. But going by even the recorded cases, Europe is becoming increasingly unsafe for foreigners, especially Chinese tourists and businesspeople.

The challenge for EU politicians could not be more clear - they have to clean their house before seeking to clean the Augean stables.

The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels. fujing@chinadaily.com.cn