Bedar

On our recent trip, if we wanted to go into the center of Petersburg from where our ship was docked, we'd have to take the metro (cabs being quite expensive). This was interesting and fine for us, but about 10 people from our ship were pickpocketed, relieved of their money and credit cards by gangs of ruffians. No one was hurt but ... We were told that Moscow would be better, and it was. There the metro was all business, people going to work, etc. Much more of a feeling of security. As someone said, the police in Petersburg are going to have to do something about this problem if they want tourists to come visit their lovely city and spend money (which everyone wanted to do). After these robberies, people would go into the center with very little cash and no credit cards. What a shame ! Petersburg seems to (still)be a city of petty criminals.

katya_NY

I have to wonder how this group was traveling in the metro. Did they have on fanny packs and book bags, with their video cameras rolling the whole time?

I have spent quite a bit of time in Russia, and I have never heard of anything like that. In fact, I bring a group of high school students every other year to StPb.

Just like any other major city, there is crime (I should say that every city has crime). You have to be vigilant and aware of yourself at all times.


Were these "gangs of ruffians" children? It sounds like a gypsy tactic, where they surround a person and "scare" them. I have seen it happen to people who were obviously tourists, but that was on the street, not the subway. Interesting.


It is sad to think of anyone being robbed, period. But I have to wonder if these people were truly being careful. If someone was pick"pocketing", and they chose a well prepared traveler, they should have found nothing. Careful travelers don't carry $$ in their pockets.

KT

I just spent a week solo in St. Petersburg and saw several stories in the English-language press about pickpockets surrounded in this way getting on or off the subway. I was also warned about it, not only by the staff at my hotel, but by a couple of other St. Petersburg residents. Apparently, it is pretty endemic at the moment.

However, that being said, I carried most of my cash, my credit cards, etc., in my money belt, and continued to go about the city. And I'd go back in a minute.

KT

Sorry, I really should have edited first. Of course, I didn't meant to say "pickpockets surrounded in this way getting on or off the subway," but "pickpockets surrounding people in this way."

Bedar

As I said, robbery did not happen to us. I'm not sure exactly what happened to those who were robbed, but, like us, they were a pretty savvy group of world travelers. I myself carried my money, credit cards, and passport in my bright red, leather, long shoulder handbag so ... and my husband carried our large denomination cash in a zippered money belt that looks like any old belt.
Such robbery can occur anytime, anyplace. That's why churches in Madrid have ATMs inside - so Madrilenos don't have to carry money on them if they want to make an offering !
Peter is still the city of Dostoyevsky ! We much preferred Moscow.

katya_NY

I <b>wish</b> StpB were still the city of Doestoevskii! The ruble went much farther then!



I'd be curious to know- what did you prefer about Moscow? (Most people feel the opposite way...)