Managing the risk of theft when travelling

Unfortunately this is an incident investigation rather than a pre-activity risk assessment.
Scenario:
2 adults & 2 children disembark at Madrid after an overnight train trip from Paris. To get to Toledo the family have to get from Chamartin station to Putra Atocha station.

The information officer says it's only a 20 minute walk or if we must we can catch a bus from over there (with a general wave of the hand that could indicate anywhere within 270 degrees). He then terminates the conversation by having one with another person.
Out the family trudge to a bus waiting area. Are there signs indicating which bus to catch or what part of the waiting area to catch one from? No.
Male returns inside the station area to find a better informed information officer. Wo and behold we can catch the metro from station 2!
Containing his temper admirably he returns to the family. To find them in a great state of distress. A bag had been snatched.
Three men had walked close to the mother and children (who were the only people waiting for a bus). One man drops a bunch of cards, another encourages the young girl to help pick up the cards. During the distraction the third man pushed the young boy out of the way and snatched a handbag.
The incident is distressing on a number of levels: 3 men against a woman and two children, pushing one of the children to get to the bag. The loneliness of the event no one around to help or witness.

 What risk factors can we control in some way to reduce our risk exposure again:

• Travelling in unfamiliar places would eliminate the risk. Hardly an acceptable or even reasonably practical action (from this families point of view anyway)
• Being isolated - this risk is usually avoidable - the thieves obviously had the family under some sort of surveillance. While not palatable at the time due to fatigue and some fraying at the edges, it is a reasonably practicable risk control for the whole family to move back inside so no one is isolated.
• If for some reason one parent has to make an enquiry etc it may be better if the male stays with the children and luggage. Not meaning to be sexist the thieves may have had second thoughts if a male was present.
• Hand luggage put on the ground. It may seem tiring to hang on to hand luggage but putting hand luggage down makes it easier to thieve.
• Not being fully informed or fully planned. The Family had an idea there was a bus to the other station but didn't know the stations had a metro connection. Being better informed would have avoided the isolation scenario.
• Electronic aids not fully functional. The itinerary with street map overlays had been programmed into the iphone. But the roaming sim was not data activated and all the info wasn't available.

So future risk controls will be:

• Avoid isolating situations (though there is also the risk of the hit and run bag snatcher in crowded situations.
• Avoid leaving all the luggage and children with one parent esp the mother.
• Being a bit better organised about connections etc.
• Trial the electronics before leaving. This would have helped greatly as so much detail is easily stored and accessed when done properly.
• Put it behind you as quick as you can. Do something fun.
• The holiday had been a spectacular success up till then and is continuing to be so. Keep a perspective.
• Have a partner who is good at doing the last two points is also a great risk control and no you can't have mine.