Sorry to read about this, iowa mom. As you say, at least no on was hurt. Looking forward to reading the good parts of your trip.

So sorry this happened to you. Ten years ago the same thing happened to us in Madrid on the Metro. It certainly is a real PITA to deal with.

The pickpocket lifted my husband's wallet from his deep front pocket - a place he believed to be secure since he would "definitely know that someone's hand was in there." Lesson learned.

I look forward to hearing about the good parts of your trip. Those memories, over time, will certainly overshadow this unfortunate incident.

Thanks for this info, I'm sure it will help others. As often happens, a single mistake is compounded by others but I think your listing "complacency" first is key...most of us are guilty of that!

Sorry to hear this, I hope it didn't totally ruin the last two days of your trip!

Thanks for the friendly reminder! Complacency -- yep, we all get sucked into that, don't we!

There was a Timberland store in Italy?!? Wow, the thieves must be walking around in some REALLY nice shoes!

I'm only glad that when this happened to ME on Bus 64 that it was my wallet and not my husband's. He's the one always hard on himself; I look at these things like you can't unbreak an egg and treat it as an adventure, a growing experience, and something to laugh about later.

Funny thing was we had walked by the Timberland Store (on Corso) the day before! We wonder if someone at Timberland was in on this at all... we'll never know! DH is secretly hoping his nice Coach wallet will show up in the mail - it did have his driver's license in it after all!

Thank you for sharing your unfortunate story. I will be travelling for the first time to Italy in May and am so worried about pick-pocketers. Many people don't take the crime seriously and think it's harmless because no one gets hurt but what if that was the first day of the vacation and you have no other way to get money. It could be devastating.

And we figured with cash, we could buy whatever we needed... except for snacks on the domestic Delta flight (credit card only) and couldn't download new books for the Nook since we didn't have a valid credit card on file with the account (even though we have outstanding gift card balances).

Yes, thank you for sharing.

I'm another who uses a very small wallet for travel (a business card case) but carries only one card in a deep front pocket and a bit of cash in the other.

I have to insist my husband leave the big fat wallet at home.

All in all, the pickpockets go after that which is visible/accessible, so it's just prudent to make sure anything of importance to you is not.

The advice to "just be aware of your surroundings" does not work.

So sorry this happened to you.

The next day we didn't really feel comfortable venturing far from our apartment (which was kind of silly since it could happen anywhere!) - we had prepaid for a tour and had to pick up the tickets - so I took my driver's license, ATM card and 50Euros and stuffed them in my bra, figuring this was the safest place for them!

Oh I'm so sorry that this happened to you - I hope it hasn't ruined your holiday. A similar thing happened to me in Lisbon some time ago - handbag snatched while it was hanging on the back of my chair in a restaurant - and I too blamed myself. It's just horrible how someone else's nastiness can make you feel so foolish.

Still - you two sound like the kind of resilient characters to chalk this one down to experience and soldier on.

Thanks for reminding us all to be on our guard.

As a single traveler I am religious about having my debit and a credit card either in a hotel safe or in my money belt. I know that if I loose them I am in trouble .

I have had a credit card company overnight me a card so it can be done.

Rest of the trip wasn't ruined. This happened on Sunday afternoon and we left Rome to travel home very early Tuesday (yesterday) morning - one place said they could overnight it but we were staying in an apartment and didn't have access to the locked mailbox so not knowing when it would show up, we opted not to go that route. Other places said they could get them to us on Tuesday or Wednesday - but we would be traveling or home by then.

I had similar "attempt" on a bus in Napoli. Pushing and shoving and how "just be aware of your surroundings" would have helped. You know someone would try to pickpocket you so there is no shortage of awareness, so what are you supposed to do then?

Even though others thought silly, and that all one has to do is to "be aware of the surroundings," I carried a decoy wallet. I wanted pickpockets on concentrate on an irrelevant object, and that was exactly what they did. After I made my way though the pushing and shoving, I looked back and my decoy wallet was gone. Not only that, they pickpocket already figured out that he was duped and tossed the decoy wallet on floor. After that, everyone knew all they would get attempting to pickpocket me was a risk of being caught and no benefit, so they left me alone. All my real money and CC were in a money belt for this segment. Only an object of value outside of the money belt was a validated bus ticket.

I don't think publishing these type of stories would change many people's behavior especially the ones who have traveled many times like the OP and have yet to have this type of thing happened to them.

We also had a new credit card overnighted to us in a rural location in Italy.

While it was a painful lesson at least you learned from it and admitted your errors - and thank you so much for sharing that with others. I am sure you have just saved at least a few people from the same experience.

When traveling I (and my husband) always wear 'money belts' with passports and 'extra' credit cards/ATM cards in them. We use a very thin pouch like 'wallet' with just one credit card and the days cash in a front pocket and it's secured with either pin or string. Makes it less likely to be pickpocketed and if is does get lost or stolen only one credit card needs to be canceled and we have others as back up. The ATM cards only come out when we plan to take out cash and then the bulk of the cash and the card go back in the money belt as soon after using it as possible (but not in public). Such simple safety precautions to safeguard so much.

iowamom

Thanks for posting and reminding us that even seasoned travelers can be victims. I travel alone, so I am extra careful about keeping important things safe. But on a crowded metro, it is not easy to stay aware of your belongings. Last year in Nice, I had just come from the Louis Vuitton boutique and jumped on a very crowded tram back to my hotel carrying an expensive handbag that I was taking home to my daughter-in-law. I had the handle on my arm and my arms crossed. At a stop someone managed to tear the handle from the bag(very strong handle) and my bag was gone! I noticed it immediately and asked everyone about the bag. A young lady pointed outside on the sidewalk to the bag. i jumped off thinking it would be empty, but the handbag was inside. I had bruises on my arm for a while. I thought I was being careful. You never know.

I'm so sorry. I know from experience (also in Rome) the horrible feelings this leaves one with

Don't beat yourselves up over this, but you won't forget it either.

(speaking from Rome experience myself)

I use a Le Sportsac. With 5 different zippered pockets, it's hard for a thief to know which pocket to try. I've stopped numerous people from trying.

Maybe the shorts on a metro train is a dead giveaway. Get a sign that says American Sucker. I've even used the #64 bus in Rome numerous times without troubles (the famous pickpocket express).

My rule is to carry small amounts of cash in my pocket, but nothing else. Only open Le Sportsac when not in a crowded location, and pretend you're in a large city, which you are, so caution is upmost.

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the heads up.

I always close my pockets with safety pins.

No one is more paranoid about pickpockets than me, yet they almost got me at the train station in Rome. I hope that people that are smug about not being pickpocketed ("I have been to Europe 80 times, use the same purse I use at home, being aware comes naturally to me being from New York, I'm big and tough etc blah etc blah blah, yada yada) get pickpocketed someday.

That doesn't sound very Christian-like of me just before Easter.

I disagree that these types of stories aren't helpful to others. So many people post "I've never had a problem", but they've just not had the problem yet. I think this is a great reminder to pare down the wallet to essentials only. The money-belt debate will be ongoing, but the reminder that if you carry a standard purse or wallet you should only keep the essentials in it, and have the numbers handy for all credit/debit cards is very valid.

Sure, you may have the same risk at home, but dealing with these things is always more of a hassle when you're traveling.

It can happen anywhere. A friend of mine had her wallet stolen 3 separate times in the NYC subway (but she was a ditz that carried a gian purse behind her shoulder and it was open at the top half of the time.

The key is - be aware - of your own things and everyone around you. And have good luck. (If I'm in a subway and there are people blocking the door or aisle I put my hand on the zipper to my purse as I walk or push past - so no one can get it open.)

Thank you for sharing your story! I have not had it happen and hope it never does but you are kind to remind us that we have to be smart. I appreciate your willingness to point out your mistakes (never easy to do). We head to Rome in the Fall.

I just hate that the world is loaded with lowlifes! I hope that those guys get what is coming to them at some point.

Thankfully, you were not hurt (just your pride, maybe) and I am grateful that there are good guys out there like you and your DH. We will make sure to be smart and careful with our money, wallets, etc...

Thanks again.

Thank you for sharing your story and the lessons learned. I have also been to Europe multiple times without incident, but this is a great reminder of basic precautions to take for a safe trip.

The people who stole your wallet are pros, so tell DH to quit blaming himself.

Plenty of Italians and other Europeans wear shorts and ride Rome's subways, Trousers wouldn't have changed anything.

Things to learn?

Don't put your metro tickets in your wallet. Don't ever take out your wallet in a train station. Keep small amounts of money in your shirt pocket or hand.

Don't carry more than one credit card and one ATM between you.

Never carry your driver's license abroad unless you plan to drive, and don't carry it abroad except when you are driving.

After DH stopped beating himself up about it, he commented how professional they were and pondered where one goes to get the special training!

On the domestic connection from Atlanta back home, I found a VISA card on the floor of the plane under a seat. I turned it in the flight attendant but I don't think it was someone on that flight - I feel bad for whomever's it was!

Having had a similar experience in New York many years ago, I am now firmly in the camp of leaving everything but what I need that day at the hotel/apartment, whatever. I figure that if I dont trust the place I shouldn't be staying there. And normally they are better at looking after my things than I am, given that I will be on the street, in subways, in restaurants, surrounded by people. Even if the people around me are honest, I could always drop something (under an airline seat for example) or otherwise lose it. So I try not to have all the valuables with me.

Sorry, IowaMom, about the whole ordeal!

Decoy wallet - learned something new today I'll tell Mr Again.

So men can use a decoy wallet. What are some of the tips for women. Thanks IowaMoM for posting btw! I usually travel with a money belt and keep only what I need in a small purse. I don't use a travel purse but I often wonder if it might be a good idea. My feeling has always been that if they want my stuff, they will get through safety pins, reinforced linings and the like. Any comments on this? I have to say that wearing a money belt in the heat of the summer is no picnic either!

it can happen to anyone, anywhere. i like the decoy wallet idea!! will share that with my hubbie.

i also use a purse with a thousand tempting little pockets... with nothing of much value in them-- really just one of those travel superstitions-- it probably doesn't really slow anyone down.?? my wallet is triple-zipped inside...with only the essentials. also have my wallet on a leash-- honestly, more so that i don't walk away and leave it on the counter after buying something than for other security. i keep the wallet down low-- so nobody can see the leash.

d.h. keeps my essential card numbers in his wallet(written in secret code--figure by the time it's decoded, we would have called them in) and i do the same for his card numbers.

still-- stuff happens to the best of us (i posted a while back about being overtaken by several thieves in a quiet corner in barcelona) so we just have to be ready when it does. always good to remember-- so thanks all for sharing.

i loved the signs around the palace in bangkok... "beware of wily strangers." words to live by!

Colduspere - you make me laugh

iowamom, so sorry this happened to you! After 20+ years of living overseas (and 3+ of those in Rome), we never had any issues - **till last year in Granada, Spain.** My wife, a very seasoned traveler, was pickpocketed in a Zara store by two young ladies. You can read about it - and some of our Roman "security" experiences - in this article* http://tinyurl.com/pkpt-Rome **

Like your husband she beat herself up pretty good and was rattled and upset. Because we often travel about every other weekend in Europe, we fortunately have a "drill" we go through in preparations. Thus, we did have all the numbers to call, etc. Using our international phones, we were able to cancel all the credit cards in just a few minutes and NO charges were placed prior to the cancellations. For some helpful steps similar to our preparations, you might read this post: ** http://tinyurl.com/prepare-Italy **

She lost the cash she had in her wallet and her US driver's license (which we were able to replace through an online site), but more than anything she was just angry at herself. She's always been "vigilant" but obviously even more so now. I think I would describe her primary reaction as feeling "violated."

Pickpocketing is a"crime of opportunity" so the best defense is to limit those opportunities. Thus, when traveling away from our apt in Europe with passports, etc., I'm always the one wearing the money belt and/or a "personal security" system and carrying those "can't lose" items.

Filing a police report - or attempting to in Granada - was a fiasco; and as the police told us, a "useless exercise." Our vacation, due to our precautions was not disrupted, but it certainly does put a sour taste in your mouth.

After travelling for many years and never having a pickpocket problem (due to dumb luck and nothing more) I decided I should rely on something more than luck.

I decided that I'm a tourist and they are professional thiefs. They have an obvious advantage as I am touristing and they're stealing.

I figured that it would be very difficult for me to really protect myself. So I decided that I would make it quite unrewarding should I be pickpocketed.

I carry the equivalent of $20-30 in my pocket for general use. I keep nothing else of interest in my pockets.

I wear two very thin, flat money pouches.

One is very small and has a narrow belt loop. It slips down inside my pants. In there I keep a credit card and about $50 as second level cash. If I'm in a store and need my credit card, I'll pull it up, use the card and slide it back inside my pants.

The other is slightly larger and has a thin strap that goes around my waist inside my pants. In this one I keep passports, etc.

We were in Madrid and went to the flee market. At one point I felt somebody lean on my leg. I jumped back but it was too late. Less than a minute later an older man came up to me and said "somebody stole this from you". He gave me back my empty sunglasses case (I was wearing the sunglasses) and street map. I said to him "yes, somebody". They didn't even get the little bit of cash at the bottom of my pocket.

I keep my pockets pretty empty and unrewarding.

Sorry the pickpockets in Italy are most accomplished. A few years back they got a refundable $200 train ticket in Milan
I had in my jacket pocet inside. That is how good they are, Always ricksteves.com money belt dummy wallet and trip cover
for theft for me has saved me lots of money over the years.
Also donot use room safes they are not safe managers have a
general combo and can clean you out any time they like.

Take a good look at Myer's story above and you will see the outlines of another pickpocket scam:

"Somebody" brushes against you.

"Somebody" steals something of no value from yuo.

"Somebody" helpfully alerts you to the theft.

There is a good chance somebody else is watching all this, hoping you will instinctively feel for your wallet to make sure it is still there, and that somebody else will then see where you really keep your valuables. They also hope your companions will simultaneously feel alarmed, and check their purses and wallets.

Best defense is not to carry anything that it would ruin your trip to lose.

Yes quite an unpleasant experience that may well have spoilt your travel memories. There are quite a few stories of theft in Rome. What intrigues me is the fact that someone walks into a store, blows $5000 on clothes using a credit card and the staff think nothing of it. Highly unusual.

Nonetheless theft can happen anywhere not just in Rome which is notorious for it. Recently I was at my local supermarket queuing to check out and the lady in front of me reached for her purse to pay her bill when to her horror she realized it had been stolen. I asked the check out lady if this happened often and she replied "quite frequently".

This is all such useful info...I have not had a problem but was already a bit more worried about Rome. I have a small flat purse, that I wear across my torso. It has multiple zippered compartments and can be easily hidden under a coat or jacket. I do love the decoy wallet idea.

I will definitely split up our spending money, etc...we have not really done that.

I do wonder about hotel safes although I really only put my passport in it...it seems you always must trust the hotel staff as you don't have much choice. Where else can you store anything of value if you don't use the safe?

The stores don't care about the unusually high spend. They don't here in the US...they just want to sell their stuff and the staff doesn't care if it is theft or not. It won't come out of their pocket.

Too bad there are so many dishonest people who make everyone elses's lives harder!

worldinabag - we were intrigued by that as well. All we know is that they were able to charge $5000 on one card and had a charge for a similarly large amount declined - but who knows if it was for the same merchandise; and we have no idea if they attempted charges on the other two cards. Makes us wonder if someone at the store was in on it as well.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune and also the fact that your CC issuer was unable to deny the charges but i also assume you are limited to a total of $50 in liability in event of fraud.

Complacent or not, these people who pick pockets often do so for a living and they are VERY proficient. In my own personal experience they will usually back off quite quickly if you are able to detect their theft and confront them.

As to charging $5000 in a store...depends on the store. in some establishments, in Rome, it wouldn't necessarily be all that unusual.

worldinabag,

I think credit card thieves know which shops to go to where no questions are asked, and where store owners or employees may be in cahoots with them.

denisea,

I never book an urban hotel that doesn't have room safes. It would take multiple levels of thievery for a hotel employee to make an unauthorized opening of a room safe, which would quickly be detected and reported, so they are more secure than relying on cross body purses, hiding things in the room or in luggage, etc. In rural areas, I book with family-run places.

DH and I love the decoy wallet idea! He was also thinking about a mousetrap device and maybe even an RFID embedded in the wallet or credit cards.

My mom accidentally ended up with someone else's iPhone in a bag after a triathlon - and was shocked when the owner showed up at her house to pick it up, after tracking the phone somehow travel from the race site to her house!

Thanks iowamom for the reminders...I think I had become complacent also and your kind efforts have woken me up for my next trip!

I have always had concern about being pickpocketed. For many years now I have travelled with a dummy wallet. I also place Kleenx in my pocket on top of the wallet just to make it a little more difficult for a thief to remove it. I usually place fake money in the wallet(Canadian Tire money or similar)with the hope that some hapless thief will try to cash it if they do get my wallet.

I put our spending money in my socks and my wife will carry one credit card someplace other than her purse. We only carry a photocopy of our passport with us and leave all else in our room safe.

One year a group of young children approched us at the Colliseum. Now I had previously read of the old 'hand under the newspaper' trick so was well prepared to respond to these kids. However before I could say a word my wife (ll 5'1" of her) stepped forward and yelled at them.....don't even try it, get lost and stepped towards them. They scattered as we laughed and pointed at them as we yelled thief.

zeppole,

You are 100% correct. It's not just the person who tries to pickpocket you. It could also be somebody watching for a reaction.

I take very few of my miscelaneous wallet things with me. No need for my US National Parks Pass, etc.

A credit card, some Id and a couple of cards all go into my belt-looped pouch and are slid down inside my pants.

When the man returned his paltry take from my back pocket there was no need to verify everything was ok as there was nothing of value in my pockets.

This reminds me of the last time we were in Amsterdam. There were signs "outside" a museum telling people to mind there valuables and not touch where they were. They indicated that thieves stand near the signs inside waiting for people to read the sign and touch their valuables. It was a charicature sign. Very good sign.

Men can't resist checking their valuables.

I always repeat this to my friends who are so overconfident when they travel-these pickpockets are PROFESSIONALS-most of the time you won't even know/feel when it happens!
I also tell them to never use the ATMs out on the streets-always go inside the bank!

I don't know, but I'm just glad that when I first started traveling, there was no Fodors Forum; I'd have been afraid to step foot outside my door.

LucieV,

Now you're afraid to step outside because you know too much. Can't win!!!

The first story I heard was many years ago. It had to do with jamming a towel under the door of a train sleeper so we wouldn't be gassed and robbed.

How did we survive these trips?

I dislike those posts from people claiming it will never happen to them because "I do this or that". It happened to my husband a former detective on the train in Rome. Lost money and credit cards and worst of all drivers' license. Couldn't drive rental car and almost happened to me in Paris last June when someone jostled me on the metro. My purse was opened but there was only my camera in it and I guess it wasn't good enough for him so he pretended to see someone he knew and jumped off the metro. And yes my husband is still smarting from the experience.

Being American helps. We're used to being around people who can kill us if they want to.

"One is very small and has a narrow belt loop. It slips down inside my pants. In there I keep a credit card and about $50 as second level cash. If I'm in a store and need my credit card, I'll pull it up, use the card and slide it back inside my pants."

Well... once I needed something from my money belt, I pulled it out of the skirt with elastic waste, no underwear in sight. Still, the look on the woman's face... My credit card is in my purse ever since.

Thank you for sharing this upsetting experience. As someone who is married to an "I always know where my wallet is and I carry it in my front pocket" kind of guy, I am going to make sure he reads this.

Pickpocketing is very prevalant in London and there are signs noting this as you enter a lot of tube stations.
They say thieves watch people when they read these signs because a lot of tourists will feel for their wallet at that moment..hence pointing out exactly where it is.

Putting your bus/metro ticket back into your wallet in public serves the same purpose.

As for your husband feeling guilty, I know many people, careful, aware, well-travelled people, who have had the same thing happen in Italy~so he shouldn't beat himself up.

Conclusion: Italy is a dangerous country for travelers.

Italy isn't dangerous, very few travelers suffer any injury. Some lose their wallets, though.

One of my friends who has lived all of her life in New York City, was in London a couple of years ago. She went into a pizza place for lunch and just slung her bag over the back of her chair. (I bit my tongue and refrained from saying, "How could you do that?! Even this country hick knows better." When she came to go, the purse was gone along with plane ticket, passport, credit cards and money. She said she thought she felt someone bump the chair, but thought it was just the close quarters of the place.

I keep reading the stories of wiser travelers than I and hope that I will avoid complacency, etc. but know the odds are that eventually some thievery will catch up with me.

Thanks for sharing the reminder Iowamom!

Just had an email this morning from a friend just back from her first trip to Paris.Before she left I had given her all sorts of restaurant and sight seeing recommendations and also a few warnings about pick-pockets, the golden ring trick, the petitions, the Roma girls outside the Louvre,the bracelet guys at Sacre Couer etc.

Well she said " I met all your friends in Paris that you warned me about" ! They managed to fend them all off, although she almost fell for the ring trick, just instinctively bending to pick it up before she caught herself.
Unfortunately on their last day she was pick-pocketed on a very busy Metro car, she said they managed to unzip her bag, steal the wallet, and zip the bag back up! Luckily she noticed as soon as they were off the train and she was able to cancel her cards quickly.
She loves Paris nonetheless!

kayd: I was being facetious.

I have not read all of this, but I generally do use hotel safes.

At major chain hotels I can tell you that most of the staff can't access them. If you ever have one break you will see what I mean....some "special" person must be summoned to deal with it.

However, at my suburban Atlanta grocery store we have signs. "warning purse snatchings have been occurring". So it is not like I am that much safer at home

"At major chain hotels I can tell you that most of the staff can't access them (i.e. hotel safes)."


ParadiseLost on Apr 30, 05 at 08:05 PM
{I've added to this original post}

1. Thief wipes the keypad clean. (some keyboards are plastic coated others with just buttons either way if a light spray of furniture, hair etc spray is overlaided (sticky/tacky) it will leave a visible print).

2. Guest arrives and puts valuables in safe and presses 4 numbers.

3. Guest leaves and thief dusts (women's blush brush or just blows a bit of talcum power off their hand) the keyboard will reveal fingerprints/smears only on the *touched* keys to the naked eye, say 1,2,3,4.

4. Thief draws 4 pyramids using those numbers, each pyramid has 6 combinations.

5. Thief crosses each one off as she/he goes along, somewhere between 1 and 24 she/he will open your safe.

If your code is say 1,*2,*2,4 it will take 36 tries.

Ahhh...If only I could use my criminal genius for the good of mankind!!!
Actually I had no idea on how many tries it would take, I just thought it was a 'whole bunch'.
But I posted this question on an egghead math forum (sci.math) ~2.5yrs ago and they give me the answer.

Around that time there was an Internet rumor going around that this was how thieves were breaking into hotel room safes.

As you can see it is fairly simple. I'd love to see someone actually try with their partner some night when they are just relaxing in their room to see if it works and how long it would take a 1st timer. Regards, Walter

On my last trip, I carried a small PacSafe purse with a steel reinforced strap. I carried this cross-body, zipped and with the flap turned to face me, and carried one credit card, camera, cellphone and "walking around money" in it. The rest of my cash, backup credit card, debit card and passport were in my money belt. I never felt remotely threatened; even on a packed Roman subway...I really don't believe any thief could have outsmarted this "system".

Okay vbut what is canadien tire money?

Is the money belt truly safe? Has anyone had things taken out from their money belt?
Also when you need money, do you open your money belt to pay for stuff and so others will see you are wearing a money belt?

It also seems like people lose their purses etc when sitting at a restaurant. Is there any defense against that? Put purses and cameras on the table?

Thanks for the post.

Walter - that was awesome

pinglee, I usually put my purse on the floor between my feet, or between my feet and the wall if I'm in a corner. At least one of my feet is touching it all the time. Not foolproof (is anything?) but it's worked so far.

I haven't done the money belt thing, but I believe most people who use them keep a little bit of cash in a pocket or something. The money belt is for credit cards, passports, etc.

"Is the money belt truly safe?"
Yes, if used properly, it stays under your clothing and no one knows you are wearing it. You keep a small amount of cash and one credit card in a pocket or purse for frequent use and only go to the money belt in the privacy of your hotel room (or a rest room if necessary away from the hotel).

Suz24....When you make a purchase at a Canadian Tire Store in Canada the store gives you coupons of varying amounts (1cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, 50 cent 1 dollar) that customers can use on future purchases. The coupons look like and are about the same size of dollar bills. They are referred to as Canadian Tire money.

Last year in Sicily I traded some of my Canadian Tire money with an Aussie for his similar 'money' that he had in his dummy wallet. We laughed at the coincidence.

iowamom: that hurts. Sorry it happened to your DH.

It happened to me on a train in Hungary. I had locked the compartment door (being the only one in there) after the train started moving. It was extremely hot in the compartment (someone had turned up the heat), so I took my jacket off and hung it on a hook by the window. Because it was so hot, I fell asleep. Someone managed to get into the locked compartment and remove almost all my cash that was in the jacket pockets - not all, because I tend to split up my cash. I was extremely fortunate, as my credit cards, passport, small camera, and backpack were not taken.

It's not so much how much is taken, it's the aftermath. I became so paranoid that I would, thereafter when traveling alone, seek out compartments with other travelers in them...mostly Asian travelers, because, who knows if that other person might be in cahoots with the thieves? The chances of an Asian being a Roma from East Europe is almost nil.

I'm now also very sensitive to how hot it is in the train compartment because one tends to remove one's outer garment and otherwise try to get cool and comfortable, thinking it's now safe to be on the train.

Travel light, travel light, the less one has, the less there is to lose - and - oh, since getting the scottevest with it's 20-odd pockets, I've felt much safer with my essential belongings. The multiple pockets makes one less of an easy target, although the scottevest may be too hot to wear at the height of summer.

kayd writes:
"Is the money belt truly safe?" Yes, if used properly, it stays under your clothing and no one knows you are wearing it."

Without being any more vulgar than necessary to make the point, they know the same way one knows what kind of underwear someone is wearing. It shows through in characteristic ways.

The year after husband's wallet was stolen he bought a money belt.
In all his photographs you can see the outline advertising where it was hidden.

Even if the miscreants can see an outline of a moneybelt under trousers, I doubt they can get at it as easily as they can reach into a pocket or handbag. They would need to reach inside a waistband and shirt, and probably touch skin, to pull off the belt.

Nothing, including a moneybelt, is 100% guaranteed but I think you greatly reduce your chances of getting pickpocketed by using an under-clothing pouch that stays beneath a layer or two of cloth at all times. Does anyone here have experience of a pickpocket getting into a moneybelt worn under trousers?

I have a silk money belt that doesn't show a line on my clothes, but I am usually in jeans. I also use a safety pin and attach the belt itself to my panties. So, it's going to be a funny sight if someone yanks them off me!

My husband always kept his wallet down inside his shirt. We got on a crowded bus at the port of Naples. and by the first stop his wallet was gone.With a large amount of cash that was needed to pay for our apartment rent the next day. Before we boarded the bus , we stopped at a cafe, and I guess the assistant saw where he kept his wallet.plus saw the cash. & called some "friends"(Maybe inside the cafe.) they must have followed us for quite a way. I keep a sports whistle attached to my key ring, If anyone gets uncomfortably close I blow it.
Other Fodor posters, have mentioned that thieves stand near store counters and see where buyers get their money from.
Also note that most of your home owners insurance policies cover stolen cash. in our cash our deductible was to high . but the agent told us to pay the extra premium for a month & lower the deductible. when we travel.

colduphere:"Men can't resist checking their valuables." You are so funny!!! We are going to Italy in a month so I will need to tell DBF not to always check his valuables

I'm starting to get seriously worried about taking my daughter to London and Paris this summer on my own It's going to be so obvious I don't know what the he** I'm doing! I need to start really figuring out the currencies and practice wearing a money belt ...
(Thank G-d we're not going to Rome!)

Lantana, I think you should be fine. Yes, people get pickpocketed, but I've been to London, Spain and France, rode all three subway systems and have never gotten anything stolen other than a map I left out on the seat. However, here in DC someone stole my Smarttrip Metro card as I was getting off the bus and a co-worker's purse was stolen from the back of her chair in a local restaurant. So the US is not immune. Just go, don't carry alot of cash around, have your purse secured to your body and hard to open-zippered not snaps and be aware of your surroundings. If people are starting to crowd around, move away.

I've never worn a moneybelt but have left most of my currency and my passport in the hotel or apartment and carried copies. I was terrified of Spain after all the robbery stories I read on the message boards but had a wonderful time.

I think the OP's tale is a good cautionary tale and I'm glad they posted it. I'm glad they still managed to have a good trip.

Thank you emily71

Lantana, I've been to London several times and Paris twice, and only had one incident that I know of where I came close to being pickpocketed (and we knew the warning signs and got out of the situation). Don't be afraid, just be AWARE. Keep a close eye on your stuff, especially in crowded areas like the Tube or metro or tourist destinations, and don't carry around more than you need to. Keep a spare credit or ATM card in your hotel room just in case, and make copies of all your cards. "Figuring out the currencies" isn't a big deal - really the only difference is that you'll be dealing with 1- and 2-pound coins (same for euros). Other than that, it's just bills and cents like in the States. They're all clearly marked, especially the euro bills.

I don't wear a money belt. That's personal preference; I might do so if I were traveling on a night train, or moving from city to city and therefore had all my stuff with me. If it makes you feel safer, go for it. Most importantly, be prepared and then have fun. You'll have a great time. I see from your other threads that your daughter is 15. Traveling abroad when I was a teenager was one of the best things I ever did - it gave me so much more confidence traveling as an adult.

Thanks jent. I really appreciate the tips here. I'm a huge worrywart, so there is no possibility of me not being cautious but I really hadn't considered that there are people watching and working in teams. I was actually the victim of what I now realize was a team in Rome on a metro in the early 90s. I was 22 and felt someone reach up my skirt and into my underpants! Can you imagine? How pitiful that I was so shocked and scared that I did nothing but turn my back - which is, of course, exactly what they wanted me to do, so that they could go into my (huge) shoulder bag. Later, I saw that they'd made about a 5" horizontal slit in the leather of my beautiful bag. They got nothing - but I was just ill afterwards. So upsetting. I had been separated from my mom getting onto the train and was standing alone - I'm sure this team had also caused this separation intentionally. Anyway, I had the "excuse" of being just a girl then but now here I am traveling with my daughter.
Thankfully, my mom who speaks French fluently will be meeting us for our week in Paris. Also, we have several friends there and will be with them a lot too. Not that this will keep us totally safe but it should help.

Thanks again - I appreciate the votes of confidence and will be sure to be vigilant.

(And thanks for your encouragement about taking my daughter I'm so excited.)

I wear a money belt and I always encourage others to do so, for the simple reason that I enjoy myself so much more when I don't have to be alert and worried while touring.

However, complacency is the biggest enemy for me! A few years ago I got on a crowded bus in Paris with my camera in my trenchcoat pocket. A big, baggy pocket. I was taking pics so frequently that I got tired of putting it securely away and just tossed it in my pocket. Of course, it was missing when I got off the bus.

My own fault. Good lesson!

By the way, one of the best tips I've received (probably on here) was to put a rubber band around cash if you put any in your front pocket. My DH keeps some in the front pocket of his jeans just for quick easy purchases so he doesn't have to get into his money belt so frequently. A rubber band causes friction when it's slid up the pocket so it increases your chances of feeling someone trying to remove it.

Scatcat...wedgie!!!

I travel with an unfashionable backpack (ask my kids!) that has double zippers on all the pockets and sections. I've bought tiny locks and always keep all the zippers locked. When I'm on a subway or bus or just in a crowded area, I hold the backpack in front of me with the front toward me and both arms around it. Anything of value is buried deep in the deepest section with a sweater, maps, etc over it. It's probably not foolproof because I worry a bit about someone slitting the bag and removing things, but it would take some effort. My kids are the 'it won't happen to me types' so I hopes they won't have an unfortunate experience someday.

Regarding my purse back at home... in restaurants, I've kept it hooked over one knee while I eat since a friend had hers lifted from the back of her chair in NYC. She was a chaperone for a school trip and spent more time filing reports than chaperoning.

When I was shopping recently, I kept hearing the sound of little bells. I thought that I was going dotty until I heard that the local police had been issuing these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purse-Handbag-security-Bell-Attachment/dp/B002L28E58
to old ladies

Last spring when we were on the metro in Athens, a group of pickpockets - well, at least, three guys - tried to steal from me. One of them started shoving not pushing but SHOVING to distract while another one tried to get into my pockets. It was obvious that we were tourists, we had backpacks and a small bag on wheels. It was crowded as hell and it really made me angry. But they didn't get anything but not from want of trying. My husband slapped one of the guys on the hand, the hand that was trying to forge in his jacket pocket. I really wished that I had know the Greek work for "thief" and I would have shouted it out! Perhaps I should have in English...

My husband was pick pocketed in much the same way Madrid. Today he keeps his wallet chained to his belt loop. We live in Seville, Spain, and these wallets with chains are very popular with younger guys - which is why most of them have the logos of heavy metal bands on them. My retiree husband felt self conscious about this at first, but now he likes having the local kids do a double take when they see him sporting a wallet with cannabis leaves and skulls on it. And he hasn't been robbed since!

In Rome about 20 years ago, we were waiting to go into the Coliseum. We heard a commotion across the street, and saw a small group of very attractive young women go up to some male German tourists and pull up their shirts - naked underneath! Not surprisingly, the tourists were caught by surprise and while they were distracted, their pockets were picked...

Our Italian teacher said a good strategy when approached by suspicious characters is to yell "Zingare!" (gypsies) which will cause more attention than they like to have while picking a pocket or two. Fortunately, we never had to try that!