That's remarkable. I've been to Italy at least a dozen times and have never had a single thing stolen. My SO's son lived in Italy for 6 months last year and never had a single incident.

Do the police where you live speak Italian? I didn't think so.

Crime happens everywhere, most often to people who aren't aware of their surroundings and who aren't protecting their valuables properly.

So you were with a group of tourists and 10% of you were pickpocketed or purse-snatched (3 out of 30). I'll bet the odds are the same, if not worse, in any major city in the world. One of the reasons I use a cross-body purse almost anywhere I go is to avoid losing my purse to someone walking or riding by.

Of course the police don't speak English - you were in Italy. As with any major city in the world, the police have much more serious crime to deal with.

First and only post, hmmm....

I Googled "Robbed in US" and got over 86 million hits then Googled "Robbed in Italy" and got around 5 million hits.

Does that mean one is 17 times more likely to be robbed in the US as opposed to Italy?

A couple of notes:

1) Why should police in Italy speak English? Police in the US don;t speak Italian.

2) I have been to Italy 17 times - as close as I can count - and have never had anything stolen there. Nor have any of my companions.

However, like any country with a large number of tourists - if you spend time in airports, train stations, and other tourist venues - and don't watch your belongings like a hawk every second - yes, someone may steal something. This is true everywhere in the world - and frankly a problem of tourists not being careful with their valuables.

Caveat: I'm a native New Yorker and was taught from the time I was a small child to always take care of my belongings - since there are thieves everywhere.

As we walked around Italy and visited the castles and museums and tourist attractions there were informational "placks' all around.. most of the time one was written in Italian which of course you expect and then next to it would be another written in English. So if the museums and tourist attractions have these informational placks / guides in English would you think that English was a prominent language enough so that maybe the police would speak it.

You ask DID WE WATCH OUR BELONGINGS?? We were driving in our rental can and had just gotten in and went about 1 block when a motor scooter person pulled up beside us and pried open the door and reached in and took my wife's purse.. It happened so fast we did not realize what was happening..

Oh dear,

another post that draws out all the "Fodorites" to talk about themselves and how wonderful they and smart and gosh-darn perfect they are!!!

What a surprise.

It is not at all unusual for people to make their first post on a public message board a bad experience of being robbed. (You'd think Fodor's zillion-post "experts" would see that by now, but when do they ever notice anything fresh? Their minds are so cluttered with their past.)

People traveling in large tourist groups in Rome and Naples in particular need to be extra vigilant about becoming the target of thieves, but it can happens in lots of cruise ship destinations.

Blame the messenger for bursting your bubble about Italy -- and yes, it can happen in other countries -- but ratcheting back the circle-the-wagons-against-disturbing-our-fodorite-daydream would be interesting for a change.

one searcher,

Thanks for posting. It will remind others to be careful and not take anything for granted. It's unfortunate you had a bad experience in Italy. Some parts are more thief-prone than others, but tourists can be targets anywhere, especially in large groups.

Best to keep anything tempting well out of sight.

I had a car broken into in Italy. My wife, as a student, had some jewelry stolen at a friend's house in Italy. A military family we knew, had their Italian apartment ransacked. It can happen.

Still, Italy was my second most favorite destination to visit in Europe. The people bent over backwards to be helpful and friendly. Towns like Lucca, San Gimignano, and Florence gave us some of our favorite memories of anywhere in Europe. Amalfi might have been the most beautiful place that I have ever visited.

Screw the odds, take the chance and visit Italy.

Regards, Gary

It happens all over, I have been many times in Italy and never robbed, but once in the hotel in Firenze, the thieves are probably a mixture of many nationalities since globalization, EU etc. Most likely those thieves are present where more tourists are around, mind you they can also rob locals too.
This is the new world we live in, a political correct world , just saying this because I am not supposed to say there might be more thieves from some group or other.
I think from personal experiences that most Italians probably are very honest and nice people, once we found a wallet in the Roman Forum behind some rocks full of documents, no money of course we phoned the owner , an old Italian lady and her greatest concern was that we might think Romans were thieves....I guess we all must be very alert at all times all over.

I think the Italians are being thoughtful to include English explanations on plaques at tourist sites for those who would like to know what they are looking at. That does not necessarily mean the police, shopkeepers, or workers in Italy will speak English to accommodate the English speaking tourist. As pointed out, in the US our police are not usually able to communicate in other languages ....with the possible exception of Spanish.

When one travels it is necessary and important to always be on guard of ones possessions and never assume that English will be spoken everywhere. You might prefer to travel next in Great Britain to remove at least that issue.

An unfortunate situation for you.

Usually the only real purpose in reporting such thefts is that a police report is required for making a claim on travel insurance. I have known of a few travellers who have suffered thefts in Italy - usually after being distracted or just generally being inattentive (very easy in those places where one just wants to look around and say WOW!). In each case they were able to make police reports, but it often was not a quick process.

On our recent trip we were very aware of theft and cons from reading various sources about "dangers" in Italy and France.
We did not suffer any losses, but were vigilant - travelling as a family group meant that we had enough people to watch bags, etc when getting organised in stations and other places.
However we were also alert to possible scams, and it actually became quite fun watching the old women in Paris who would bend down and pick up the big, gold ring that my wife or numerous other women must have just dropped - we even managed to "rescue" one tourist who looked like she was about to fall for it.

As a couple of side notes, the only time (so far - touch wood) that I have had something taken when travelling was from a locked car in broad daylight in the middle of a busy shopping street in Port Moresby (PNG). When we reported this at the police station it seemed like the local commander was yelling at his staff to try to get them to go out on the street and do some police work.

Also, even when at home, I have ALWAYS travelled with doors of my car locked if there was not a passenger in that seat. With my new car, all doors, including driver's, lock automatically when I get to a speed of about 10 kmh - so this is something that car manufacturers obviously see as important in one of the safest countries in the world (Australia).

I hope your insurance covers your losses, and that these experiences don't discourage future travel, but pehaps make you a little more street and world-wise.

I am sorry you had things stolen. But it can happen anywhere, especially to tourists. I have been to Italy about 15 times, or so, and have never had a problem.

golden autumn is the Italy Forum's scold, who specializes in putting down everyone else who posts here, but on a different occasion may totally contradict herself, so we don't listen to her.

Overall, I feel more safe in Italy than I do at home in the United States.

"another post that draws out all the "Fodorites" to talk about themselves and how wonderful they and smart and gosh-darn perfect they are!!!"

Whoa! What a post from a brand new poster as of December 2012.

Toxic much?

"There are nicer places to visit where you will be safer..."

You never even mentioned where you were in Italy. I've been to Naples many times and somehow kept managing to squeak out alive. But this detail is irrelevant since you're referring to the entire country...

Advice like this always makes me laugh. Don't go to Italy. Don't go to France. Ok, stay home.

<< Whoa! What a post from a brand new poster as of December 2012. >>

This is an old poster under a new name. Taking the contrary view, as usual.

<<Taking the contrary view, as usual.>>

Not so much the contrary view as using the post as a vehicle to play "hall monitor" and berate Fodors posters as ignorant and uninformed and "living in the past," whatever that means.

She's just a pestilence. Has some interesting, though not always useful, information about Italy, but as her posts are inevitably vehicles for derision about anyone else's experience, pretty useless at the end of the day. And yes, it's about screen name number 10 or so at this point. You'd think, since she's been banned from this and other sites for being the obnoxious twit she is, and because hardly anyone listens to her, you'd think she'd just stop posting here. But no...some deep-seated desire to be superior to others seems to motivate her.

You have to love the way she sneeringly derides advice from many of us, then turns around and offers the same advice. It's a good thing Italy has great mental health care.

"So if the museums and tourist attractions have these informational placks / guides in English would you think that English was a prominent language enough so that maybe the police would speak it."

Travel much?

People on tours are usually not travel savvy and usually become victims, thinking they are safe because in a group.

"Whoa! What a post from a brand new poster as of December 2012.

Toxic much?"

She'll be gone soon enough (well maybe not quite soon enough). She has broken the rules under each of her previous screen names. Just can't help herself. Its only a matter of time before this one is nuked too . . .

one_searcher: Pickpockets/petty thieves are maybe more common in some parts of Italy than you are used to back home. That is why so many threads talk about being aware of your surroundings. And you really need to keep your car doors locked - but then you should in many parts of the States too. If you have trip insurance - that should cover your losses.

Expecting Italian police officers to speak English really not reasonable IMO. Did you have an Italian/English phrase book or translating app? That would have solved that problem . . .

Janis, Adrienne, StCirq and everyone...Miss Golden Autumn of 2012 has posted on over 60 threads in 8 days...leaving precious little time for her venom transfusions.

Hi Stu - love your humor. Happy New Year!

StCirq - love your "pestilence" comment - quite accurate!

I think it is always worth posting about untoward incidents. If you read a lot of travel stuff, you know about snatches from scooters and bicycles. But if you don't read a lot of travel stuff, you don't know. It happened to a friend whose gold necklace was snatched in Boston and to a different friend whose camera was snatched in Barcelona.

It is always worth waiting until you are calm to post since we can and possibly should be merciless about diatribes.

There is a lot of discussion on here about whether to travel individually or in groups. This poster seems to have had the worst of all possible worlds: 30 people traveling in rental cars. If ever there was a situation that resembled herding cats, this is it. You are always at the mercy of the lowest common denominator.

ekc has the right perspective: what's the base? In a group of fairly clueless tourists, most of whom were probably not familiar with urban areas, 10% were robbed. That's not terrible, since a few elementary precautions might have cut the number to 3%.

I really am sorry you had anything stolen...i was lucky in Rome recently to get a pair of Ferragamo sunglasses left behind (and overnight) returned. They could have kept them but they didn't. I also left my camera in a public area at our hotel and git it back. Crime does happen everywhere and there are honest people everywhere, as well. Try not to take it out on an entire country. I have been to Italy twicw without incidence.

I do think it is unrealistic to expect English speaking police in Italy. Tourist areas will cater to visitors because they pay and bring money into the economy. The police are not there to cater to tourists no matter what language they speak. I do recall two officers in Trastavere who managed to give us directions to our restaurant in broken English. We were glad for the help, but did not expect them to speak English.

I hope there were some enjoyable parts to the trip.

one_searcher welcome to Fodors, what a nasty experience. I hope you are calm now, I know that it can be very disturbing and the same "mirror" emotions can be triggered many times later.

Generally this site does not do much SHOUTING as it generally does help calm discussion.

What is a "plack" it is not a word I've come across?

I've never done a multi-person tour so I wonder if this is an issue? I've certainly never been robbed in Italy but I am normally on my own or in small family groups, maybe tours attract more action. Which city were you in? I guess you know that stuff varies by regions and I've been on business to Naples' back streets where my host's security staff would not let me get out of the car without checking first. If you could advise where that would be a real help.

I for one will not stop visiting because of robberies, though knifings would worry me and the general level of gun ownership and murder in the States always puts me off (a tad) from going there on holiday. Still just back from Egypt which proved very safe and pleasant.

"plack"?

The OP probably meant plaques

One_searcher sorry about your experience. Like bilbo burglar above, I would find it useful to know where these incidents happened. The only place we have had any problem was in Palermo, where a man tried to pickpocket my husband on the bus. He did not succeed, though.

Dies anyone wonder if the pestilence invents posts to bait Fodorites to comment? I have suspected this a few times myself.

Oops sorry bilbo my iPad ID'ed you as the burglar.

I think people do a lot of careless things in their regular lives, and don't know how to behave in more urban environments. I never drive around, even at home, with my car doors unlocked, that is as much common sense to me as having my seat belt on. I've always lived in big cities my adult life, it's just pretty normal, I thought. I suspect that's what the OP meant about prying open the door, that it wasn't locked.

I don't think it's useful to pretend there aren't places with more crime than others, though, because there are, and that's just a fact. It is sticking your head in the sand to not recognize that and just say "oh, it can happen anywhere." That isn't useful because there are some places you really do have to be more cautious.

I travel to Naples practically every year. The only thing I have had stolen is my heart!

not yet mentioned here is the europe wide emergency no, 112, on which one should be able to obtain help in one's own language - here's the link:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/index_en.htm

fortunately i've never had cause to use it yet in many visits to the "continent" but carry it just in case.

Appreciate the post as I've only just fallen victim to a steal in Naples, Italy. I'll post more upon my return in a trip report but I do think it's helpful for other travellers to read about without needing to specifically search about the topic. I might have avoided this incident if I had read more about it beforehand.

I am surprised about the low level of English knowledge in Italy. No your local country community might not have much knowledge of Italian, but it does for English. Travel to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong - none of which locally speak English - and they all have a significantly better grasp of English than in Italy.

One searcher -

No - the plaques are in English because that is the language most likely to be spoken by the foreign tourists - not by the locals.

And police typically speak English only in countries where that is the native language - being law officers - not linguists or tour guides.

And I don't see how anyone could "pry" your car door open if it was locked. And if it wasn't locked - then you're not taking basic precautions. And if they pried open a locked door - you certainly had time to move the car.

I don;t want to seem critical - but you really should not lambaste an entire country due to one poor experience.

<<and they all have a significantly better grasp of English than in Italy.>>

I think your experience in Italy is severely limited - maybe one or two trips? I've been to Italy many, many times, and while I speak Italian very well enough to get around without resorting to English, I have found plenty of Italians, even in small towns and villages, who speak at least rudimentary English.

Wow, I really didn't realize how cliquey this fodars board is, you all seem to know each other and posters alternate names ( this is the second thread today where someone has said some one is actually someone else, so confusing).
Frankly Golden whatevers post was a bit snarky but she did make some valid points

And Searcher, purse would have been safe if it had not been hanging over shoulder but worn cross body, its seems as a group your group was not prepared for Europeon travel, assume you are all new to travel and thought a group would be safe.

And to not like a country because of one bad experience is laughable, and I mean that most sincerely. My best friend was MURDERED in your country, but I don't dislike it, so please grow up.

And finally, why on gods name do you think Italian police officers should speak english, thats ridiculus, you were a guest in their country , why didn't YOU learn Italian.

We had two pickpocket attempts against us in Italy. You people can talk and talk and talk about it all you want. The next time I am in Italy I am robbing one of them.

cold...fair warning...Italian jails make Canadian jails look like Ivy League college dorms.

visiting a country not your own, makes sence to learn the basics , hello, good bye, where is the toilet etc. If you as a foreighner who didn't speak English, you'd have worse time here where few try to learn the basics of a tourists language.

sense

One word: moneybelt.

Some great points made about globalization, travel awareness and caution, and reading up on the latest scams. This thread is a good reminder.

PS -- never been a victim of crime in many travels to Italy; most people are surprised to hear I was robbed in Brussels (chain and small pendant around my neck torn off me)-- outside the south train station, unsurprisingly.

Like many others , I have never been robed in numerous visits to Europe.
Never had a money belt...never will.

Danon, your attitude is dangerous, it can happen to anyone. I, wearing a zipped up crossbody bag, encountered a gypsyish woman with a new technique in Rome and lost my money and cards. I still sometimes think I would like to find her !

A Canadian pickpocket? Do they ask permission first?

tarquin - what was the new technique?

I always wear a money belt, so the one time I was pickpocketed in Rome the thief got very little. I was hit by the dirty water scam in Buenos Aires on my last trip and that thief got nothing, as I carry nothing in my pockets. It can happen many places, to anybody.

the only place I have used a money belt was for our first trip to Rome - having rad so many threads here, I thought that it was a sensible precaution.

i found that it had advantages and disadvantages - you need to put some small notes and change in a pocket, so as not to have to keep going to it, and if you want to use your credit card, there is the performance of getting to it!

still it did make me feel secure, but i confess that four our next trip, I just used my purse in my handbag. it has a zip and a flap, and short of its being ripped out of hands [possible I know] it's pretty safe.

but I agree that none of us are safe, and IMO those who kid themselves that they are too "savy" to be victims have just been lucky - so far.

ann - I carry a day's supply of cash, and one credit card if I think I will need one, in a wallet in my day bag, not in my pockets. There's a reason they're called pickpockets! (I'm not a shopper, so I usually only need a credit card for dinner, if then.)

Hi Thursday. The technique was begging and thrusting a heavily veiled "baby" at me while unzipping and exploring my handbag underneath. I know, it sounds like too many hands would be needed, but some must have been false. Now I don't allow any similar creatures to come anywhere near me as I know they are smarter than I am!

Hi tarquin - that's actually an old one. I've also heard of the "baby" being thrown.

<<downtownbrown on Dec 30, 12 at 4:56am
A Canadian pickpocket? Do they ask permission first?>>

Canadian pickpockest always get caught since we are programmed to apoligize when we bump into someone, or if they bump into us! lol

I too have seen the baby throwing technique - similar in a way to the handing women a rose thing they do in Spain.

All you have to do is refuse to engage in the scam. And, yes, I've had someone put a "curse" on me for not taking a flower - and then become even more irate when I laughed at the "curse".

I know it may be difficult not to respond is someone tries to throw you or had you a baby - but the key is to put your hands on your purse instead, turn away or back up - and yell. If nothing else yell leave me alone. But I prefer the local version of thief - voleur.

And I have over 100 trips to europe - with no thefts or scams - and that's using a regular purse on business trips or a sportsac on vacations.

ann - I carry a day's supply of cash, and one credit card if I think I will need one, in a wallet in my day bag, not in my pockets. There's a reason they're called pickpockets! (I'm not a shopper, so I usually only need a credit card for dinner, if then.)>>

thursdays - i think you misunderstood me - my credit card was in my money belt, along with most of my folding money, which meant that if i wanted to make more than a small purchase, i had to go through the performance of getting it out. to me, the whole point of having a money belt is to carry valuables around, rather than having them in a bag. The only things in my pockets were small change a some low value notes.

<<And, yes, I've had someone put a "curse" on me for not taking a flower - and then become even more irate when I laughed at the "curse">>

reminds me of being sworn at by the "sign this petition" gang in an obscure part of Tuscany when i was with my italian friend - she thought that i was being awful when i told them to take a hike. it was only when I pointed out that if they were genuine they wouldn't swear like that, that she understood that they were scamming.

ann - no, I didn't misunderstand you. I carry three or four credit cards on a trip, so only one is outside my money belt at any given time. Plus I carry enough cash outside the belt I don't need to access it during the day. I may still get robbed, but it won't be a disaster.

thursdaysd: That's what I do as well. In my wallet/purse is walking around money and either a credit card or ATM card depending on my plans for the day.

The other cards and 'extra' cash (and passport if there isn't a safe in the flat or B&B) are in my money belt. I haven't once needed to access my 'stash' in public - and never would. That would sort of defeat the purpose.

I think of it as a 'body safe' not a 'spare purse'

far too complicated. for me it's bag or money belt, not both!

and I don't flash it around when i need to use it! [well, not too much].

What's complicated? Everything that I really don't want to lose - passport, ATM cards, credit cards, cash, medical insurance, maybe not tickets now we have etickets - stuff I don't carry around at home - goes in my money belt. I put it on in the morning under my clothes and forget about it until I take it off at night. What I need for the day goes into my wallet in my bag, just like at home.

Like the others who've posted, I carry one credit card, "walking around" money, and my small digital camera in a small cross-body bag from PacSafe. Everything else goes in the moneybelt, which goes on as I dress in the morning. Easy-peasy. I usually travel in the fall, so the cross-body bag is generally UNDER a coat or cardigan.

Funnily enough, the only time I've been robbed (and I've travelled a lot, to about 50 countries) was in Canada (in a courthouse library, no less).

If you stuff a money belt wit money, CCs, passport etc , what kind of outfit do you have to wear ( women )?

A big shirt over a sweatpants?

I use both a moneybelt and a "neckpouch" AND a small handbag. I put the passport in the neckpouch because the one time I had it in the moneybelt it got slightly folded. I put one debit card in the moneybelt and one in the neckpouch. Half the large bills in each. That way, if I get robbed by someone with a weapon I can turn over one and hopefully the robber will be satisfied.

I also keep some smaller bills in the handbag and coins in a pocket. That way I can do small purchases without having to go into the monebelt or neckpouch. I never put anything larger than a 20-Euro bill in an easily accessible place. That works for me because I don't do much big shopping.

If I run out of easily accessible money during the day I find a toilet and take some money out of the neckpouch where no one can see what I'm doing.

Maybe I'm too paranoid, but it makes me feel safer. If I don't have to worry about thieves all the time I can enjoy myself while sightseeing.

I have noticed it's much easier to hide the moneybelt and neckpouch when it's not so hot. Some t-shirts and blouses are almost see-through, which could be a problem.

And thives can be anywhere. Really. Pickpockets will target anyone. Bagsnatchers are more likely to go after people who can't run after them. Tourists are a good target because they are unlikely to know the language and probably don't have time to stay and attend any trial.

Very funny, Danon. Stack a passport, a couple of credit cards, and a five or ten dollar bills and see how thick the "pile" is.

I still don't see how one can wear a nice fitting outfit with all that nylon and paper under it.
Especially when the temp. is 80 plus.

Plus I wear the money belt with the pouch at the back, where it fits in the curve below my waist. I wouldn't use a neck pouch. It looks uncomfortable, and too obvious. I met a woman on my last trip who had both her neck pouch and her shoulder bag stolen outside the Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires. She thought the thief had cut the straps.

I agree with everyone saying that you shouldn't dismiss a whole country due to one bad experience; personally I think you're being a bit dramatic.

That said it does pay to be super careful while travelling anywhere because in most places tourists do stand out even when they try to blend in and everyone knows tourists carry more valuables around than locals, out of necessity. I would just write it off as a bad experience and call it a lesson learned. I'd feel very sad for you indeed if you never visited Italy again because of this one incident.

About money belts; frankly I hated mine and I hardly ever wore it. I went to Europe in the summer and everywhere was scorchingly hot and that stupid money belt felt all hot and sticky all the time. It was a pain in the ass to access and it felt lumpy and uncomfortable under all my clothes, even though it was very thin. Also I couldn't wear dresses with it, and sun dresses were all I wanted to wear in that weather. Anyway, my point is that I'd like to add my vote to cross body bags, and add that one with a flap closure that goes over a zipper is even better; that's what I used and I feel that it really was a deterrent to anyone wanting to rifle through my purse. Also I kept my hand on my purse at all times, pretty much. I was REALLY vigilant and it paid off; I was all over Europe for almost 2 months and nothing was stolen.

I think that the advice from a security consultant who used to do some work for the financial institution I once worked for is also relevant here:

Your level of security is important, but it is always important to assess it in relation to all the other potential targets in town.
ie. if you don't appear to be the easy mark, chances are that the crooks will leave you alone and move on to who appears to be the easy and more lucrative target.

So stay vigilant; look as though you are on top of the game and be in control of your environment; try your best not to put yourself in an environment where you will be vulnerable; if you must wear jewellery, make it understated, or better yet, fakes that you'll be happy to hand over if someone happens to point a knife or worse in your direction down some dark alley late at night (and then ask yourself why you go to "edgy" places like that on holiday when you avoid them at home)!

Who in goodness sake feels the need to assess their money belt during their outings, that is not the purpose of wearing one. It is DEEP STORAGE, for things you do not need in the day, so if in a dress what possible difference does it make.

I leave that stuff in hotel safe, but if you are one that feels the need to carry it , then do, but in your money belt. I carry a days worth of cash in my purse, and thats it. Its not the end of my holiday if i get 50-100 euros ripped off.

Believe it or not I saw a man on Capri in October wearing his neck pouch on the OUTSIDE of his shirt.
Yup, just dangling there stuffed full, you could see the top of his passport and all. Talk about safety FAIL!
There was just a huge mob of people too, I would be very surprised if he made it through HIS trip without being robbed.

Who in goodness sake feels the need to assess their money belt during their outings, >>

Me, for one. we obviously use it for different things - i see no point in wearing a money belt AND carrying a handbag with things in it that i don't want to lose. My passport I almost invariably leave in the hotel/room safe.

they are just different ways of doing things.

BTW, i have a dislike of carrying a handbag on holiday, mainly because it ends up as a repository for everything my family doesn't want to carry. if i haven't got it with me, I can't be asked to carry the guide book/water bottle/sun hat/sun glasses/left-over panino/apple etc. etc.

hence my [over?] use of the moneybelt.

My wife had her purse snatch out of our car as we were driving

Wow, that's pretty impressive - doing 100kmh down the Autostrada and someone opens the door, leans in and steals a purse. The thief should be in the circus

one man had his wallet stolen

Back pocket by any chance?

another couple the lady had her purse taken right off her shoulder bus a person on a motor scooter..

Which is why you are advised EVERYWHERE in the world not to hang bags off a shoulder but across the chest.

I'm sorry but everything you describe could and does happen in every major city in the world (except probably Tokyo). They could have happened in New York, London, Sydney, Paris, Quito, Miami...

This is one of those postings which was bound to generate many comments. I wonder to what extent this was intentional.

It would have been helpful if the OP gave greater details including where these thefts occurred. Certain areas of Italy are worse than others but this applies to just about any country.

I have lived in Italy for over 30 years and have never been robbed but did once witness and stop a purse snatching inside a jeweller on Ponte Vecchio in Florence. I noticed that something was odd with one of the customers: he was dressed quite smartly in suit and tie. However, his shoes were in an appalling condition. Something did not seem right. Pretending to look at one of the display cases he leaned over a lady's bag and pulled out her purse. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him to the ground. The police arrived and took him off. He was not Italian but Colombian.

To avoid being robbed one must be sensible in Italy just as much as any other country. This involves not having items on show - expensive jewellery, purses, wallets, passports and more recently iphones etc. This is especially true in high risk areas. Regarding theft from cars - keep the doors locked when travelling and if with the windows down keep valuable objects including bags out of sight. Frankly I believe that most thefts can been avoided if greater care is taken.

Regarding the issue of English the OP does not say where in Italy the thefts happened. The level of English speaking ability varies across the country. But perhaps the OP should reflect on his written English before questioning the ability of Italians to speak his.

ann - yes, you are not using the money belt the way it's intended. If you have hotel safes you can chose to leave all the things that belong in the belt in the safe, except when traveling between hotels. But it is not for things you need during the day. Your other problems can be fixed by taking a smaller bag.

AlanRow -

Well actually the motor scooter thing won;t happen in NYC - since we don;thave motor scooters. And if we did - they woudl just get stuck in traffic.

But your key points are correct - one must always take care of your belongings - no matter where you are. (A friend of mine had her purse stolen from a shopping cart as she was loading the grocery bags into the trunk of her car at a market in a very upscale suburb. One young men just grabbed it and ran for his friend's old car - which just sped away.

Obviously I am the sort of person who felt the need to access (not assess?) my money belt while out and about, so to answer your question, me. And probably a lot of others too. I assure you we're not insane, we just used our money belts differently than you do, justine. I think you incredulity is a little excessive.

Anyway, even if I used my money belt only for "deep storage" as you call it, that doesn't eliminate the irritation factor when it comes to discomfort.

The incredulity is due to the fact that the whole point of a money belt is that no one knows you're wearing one.

The discomfort fades with time. When I get home from a long trip I feel undresed without my money belt.

So much arguing about a money belt. Just wear a fanny pack in front under your stomach. With the right diet it can be almost impossible for a thief to get it open.

cold when you say "under your stomach" what does that mean exactly? I'm not sure diagrams are going to help.

It's ugly, bilboburgler.... And all a thief has to do is cut the strap.

The incredulity is due to the fact that the whole point of a money belt is that no one knows you're wearing one.>>

no, thursdays, the point for YOU is that no-one knows you are wearing one.

i use mine differently, as apparently does ahiddenbird. I look forward to meeting the thief trying to access my credit card from my money belt at the same time that I'm trying to do the same thing - s/he have to get ever so close!

and I don't run the risk of having my bag snatched.

A moneybelt needs to have very little in it.
Your passport.
Your ATM and CC cards( I assume most people travel with one or two only).
Also, if you have a a few days supply of cash.

This should not produce a bulge.. I am not a big lady and I can easily wear one without it showing, and I wear low slung pants etc.

I do not travel with people who expect me to carry their stuff, even my own children carried their own stuff.If a person chooses to carry their travel mates stuff thats their choice.

If you already are using the hotel safe, what on earth do you need to wear a moneybelt for , I do not, EXCEPT on travel /transit days.

I have a lightweight comfy purse with a long wider strap, it carrys my lipstick, comb, map, metro tickets,small camera and pocket money for the day. Not heavy.

Digging under your clothes in your moneybelt because you are using it like a wallet is odd, it shows everyone you are wearing it , so its not a hidden pocket so to speak, and you can easily drop things while fussing under your clothes trying not to show your stomach with your shirt pulled up etc.

one of the things that travel teaches is that people are different.

allegedly.

Bilboburgler - most older men have to choose between wearing their pants under their stomach (ending at the upper groin) or over their stomach (near the chest). My technique only works with the lower pants option. The fanny pack rests on the belt.

Stomach - fanny pack - pants - upper groin.

Usually I dismiss people who say "I have been to Europe 100 times with no problems" or "I am big and tough and they won't mess with me". But in this case I will say if anyone ever cuts my wire reenforced strap I will give everyone here $1M. It ain't going to happen.

Cold,
Your description of older men look " stomach-fanny pack-pants-upper groin"
might work. - .a pickpocket would be too busy laughing .

ann - you're certainly free to use a money belt any way you chose. BUT, if you use it for something it wasn't designed for, you shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't work well that way.

It's not designed for easy daytime access, so naturally you found it awkward.

Danon - and ordinary folk are smiling too. Europeans are so friendly.

My whole point was that money belts seem pretty unnecessary to me. I got on perfectly well with a cheap black cross body purse with a zip on the inside that I got at H&M, in combination with s little extra vigilance. I did try to wait and see if I would get used to the feel of the money belt, but I gave up on it after 2 weeks. And mine was very slim and low profile. It just annoyed me. Like I said it was just too hot, and even though it probably wasn't obviously lumpy to other people, it really FELT lumpy to me. Plus I found that if I wore it tight it would feel uncomfortable, and if I wore it loose it slid around under my clothes.

This is just my personal experience. I do see the purpose and practicality of a money belt if the person wearing it finds it comfortable. I just don't

I don't get money belts. Have never been robbed in more than 100 trips to europe and more than 40 years of riding the NYC subway - at all hours, often packed in like sardines.

Pulling things out of a money belt or pouch during the day entirely defeats the purpose (keeping your valuables hidden) - besides making you look ridiculous fumbling under clothes in public places (it's a wonder more tourists aren't arrested as flashers).

Whatever method you use, make sure it is comfortable, does keep your valuables securely, does not show under your clothes and that you use it properly.

I wear money belt mainly on traveling days, and yes, it used to be uncomfortable on my waist when I sat all day on trains or airplane.

So now I wear it cross-shouldered. I leave the pouch hoisted under my left arm pit but much lower, just above my waist line. Now I don't even feel it is there.

Ok, here's my take. I am a retired NYC Police Officer, and never knew any others who spoke anything other than Spanish. I use a PacSafe bag, which has straps that can't be cut. We also have an ankle wallet. We leave most of our stuff at hotel and only carry what we need for the day. That way, if we do get robbed we aren't losing too much. I have been robbed right here in NYC and I was a POLICE OFFICER at the time. Chased them down and got my stuff back, but I don't recommend that for anyone else. Just be careful, don't carry more than you can lose, and have fun.

Mrs Bilbo tells you how to make a fine money belt on this site http://www.instructables.com/id/Money-belt-with-hidden-pocket/

Bilboburgler - I just read your post on weight loss. That is fantastic. I see you do not have a pant choice to make. Well done.

Cold you are very kind, it was tough but had a logic in the design.

Mrs Bilbo is trying the 2 days a week fast method at the moment (not a full fast but only 500 cals a day). It seems to be working and since she can eat what she likes for the other 5 days, it also keeps her calm (-ish).

Reading, that sounds like a great idea actually! I also only ended up wearing my money belt on travel days too, but I bet it's a lot less annoying across the shoulder as you describe. I'll definitely be trying that method out

My only concern is that my boobs might get in the way (sorry for the tmi).

Hidden-Bird,
That was why I said wear it lower, leave the pouch just above the waist line, so that the belt is placed between your boobs.

Ah, ok, I see what you mean, I think I was imagining it wrong

I worry about women carrying those bags with steel-reinforced straps. If a thief grabs your bag as he goes by on a Vespa, you may not lose the bag but at best you'll get a wrenched shoulder.

I'm a fan of moneybelts.

I consider myself to be a seasoned, aware, careful (but not paranoid) traveler. I've lived in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and have lost track of the cities I've visited on various continents.

The ONLY place I have ever been the victim of an attempted robbery is Rome. A close friend--also a seasoned traveler--was also recently robbed in the Rome airport as the result of an elaborate scam involving several English speaking "tourists." Another friend had a similar experience in Barcelona.

This is not paranoia. It is a reality that these types of crimes are more prevalent in Europe--and I think failure to recognize this is asking for trouble.

At a flea market in Rome (where we heard pick-pockets were exceptionally prevalent), my partner and I were surrounded by a group of 6 - 8 young children whose little hands were trying to reach inside our pockets while their mothers held up newspapers to shield the act.

We had taken every precaution: money belts; and our pockets safety pinned shut--with only the cash we needed for the day. We literally were screaming and shoving them away from us--and the locals AND POLICE acted oblivious. Only because of our extreme precautions did we leave with our money and belongings--but we were really shaken up--both by feeling violated--AND by being ignored by the locals and police.

Would I go back? Absolutely. Next week I'll be in Hawaii. Next month I'll be in Ireland and Paris. But I will take more extreme precautions in Paris than I would take if I were visiting a city in the U.S.

I have been to NYC, Chicago, L.A., SF, etc. countless times and have never heard of a person I know being pick-pocketed or robbed there.

It is perfectly possible to be robbed anywhere.

In my experience:

A friend had her purse stolen from her grocery cart when her back was turned putting grocery bags in her trunk - in a very upscale area of Long Island

A woman having lunch at an outdoor cafe in very upscale Greenwich, CT had her purse snatched off the chair next to her (yes, a REALLY dumb place to leave it) by a youth on a bike

A former roommate of mine has had purse rifled and her wallet and check book stolen at least 3 times on the subway (although she is a sweet ditz who wanders around with a huge purse on her shoulder - hanging open most of the time)

IMHO those thefts were all the fault of the victims - since they were simply not paying attention. And I'm sure that there are a number of tourists who have wallets stolen in Times Square.

Yes, there are specific places where theft is more likely and you should be more careful - but not just in Italy - although most likely in train stations, on tourist buses and at airports.

but I think assuming you are safer in the US is a real fallacy.

(Obviously I am talking about petty theft - in terms of violent crime the US is definitely way more dangerous than tourist areas of europe).

Unfortunately , mothers and little children in the" business" of robbing tourist in Madrid , Milan , Rome or Paris are often originally from other European countries .

This, of course does not make any difference and does not change the fact that many pickpockets
and other criminals are locals.

Theft is never the fault of the victim....it is the fault of the thief. That said, we should not make it any easier for them to commit crimes.

I have a silky bra wallet that won't hold my passport but will hold some money and credit/atm cards.

I almost never stay at hotels and the B&Bs that I frequent do not have safes.

Theft is never the fault of the victim....it is the fault of the thief. That said, we should not make it any easier for them to commit crimes.>>

very good point, jaja.

do you have any problems accessing your c/cards etc. during the day?

presumably you have to occasionally eg if you want to get money out of an ATM.

We had some pick pocket issues in Palermo. I'm still baffled on how this kid (he was about 15) was able to get into my pockets.