Pick pocketed in Rome!

Old Apr 4th, 2012, 06:08 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pick pocketed in Rome!

So it happened to DH - his wallet was swiped from a front pocket on his shorts while on the Rome Metro on Sunday afternoon (two days before we headed home). We were getting on at the Ottaviana stop and a couple of guys got on and stood blocking most of the doorway (in the annoying, "not being courteous to other people around them" manner, which we seemed to experience a lot of on our vacation!) - so we and many others, pushed past them to get on and then they got off before the metro pulled away from the station, with DH's wallet! A stop or two later, DH felt around for his wallet and couldn't find it. At first, he thought he left it at the last gelato stop and then thought maybe at the Metro station where he bought the metro tickets - and then realized the two guys took it when I asked where he put the metro tickets after we used them to get into the metro (in his wallet!).

In all of our traveling, this has never happened to us - and we are generally very careful but we made several mistakes, starting with complacency (MISTAKE!) and "it's never happened, so it won't happen" (MISTAKE!)! Usually DH switches from his big fat wallet to a smaller travel wallet but hasn't on our last few trips (MISTAKE!) - who knows why. For some reason, he was carrying his wallet in an outside front pocket on some (cargo-type) shorts - the top of the pocket had a little strip of velcro (MISTAKE!) - and since it was the big fat wallet, it was obvious to anyone looking for it! As he said, these guys were good but I think he left himself pretty vulnerable.

I use a very small wallet and left mine back at the apartment in the safe - I rarely carry mine with me if I am with DH - no sense in both of us risking losing them. Before we left on our trip, we went through and divvied up our credit and ATM cards to make sure we each had unique cards. It was then that I realized I had an expired AmEx card - and not enough time to order a new one!. So with us, we had one credit card in common and each had a unique ATM card - plus DH had a second personal credit card (not sure why he had his and I didn't have mine), an AmEx and a business credit card. MISTAKES!

So that meant four credit cards and one ATM card to cancel. We were able to cancel/stop/notify two credit cards immediately; the theives were able to charge $5000 on his business credit card at a Timberland store before we could call the company (how do you accumulate that much in merchandise in such a short time!) and they tried to charge another $6000 at the same store on one of the personal cards but their fraud department denied it. It was frustrating trying to call all the card companies as quickly as possible - especially as we had one international cellphone and we were trying to figure out replacement options (basically cards wouldn't show up until after we left for home; alternative was they could give us the new numbers but good luck using those anywhere!) and any travel assist options (basically not much aside from wiring us our own money which we could access via my ATM card). It would have been so helpful to have copies of the front and backs of our cards (MISTAKE!) - trying to look up the contact info using the spotty internet service at the apartment was frustrating!

While we were on the metro ride home, a very nice British lady came up to me after overhearing what had happened and asked if we had enough money to make it back to our hotel. (Yes, as long as we weren't caught without our metro tickets!)

All in all, a PITA experience - but no one was hurt, just a bit rattled. DH was pretty hard on himself, blaming himself for letting it happen. But at least it wasn't our passports, and at least I had an ATM so we could get some cash to see us through for the last two days. And fortunately we had paid upfront for the apartment so we didn't have a bill to settle when we left.

We did file a police report at the local carabinierie office, which wasn't too involved.

So I hope everyone learns from our mistakes! I know that we will! (I will write a separate trip report for our actual trip - I didn't want to include all of this in that trip report.)
iowamom is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 06:17 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,531
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
TDudette is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 06:46 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
MaineGG is online now  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 06:47 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
Sidny is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 06:51 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,535
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
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.
Surfergirl is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:13 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
iowamom is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:14 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Amyla11 is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:15 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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).
iowamom is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:36 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
djkbooks is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:38 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
iowamom is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:40 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
ter2000 is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:47 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
CarolA is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:53 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
iowamom is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:54 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
greg is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 07:57 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,948
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
We also had a new credit card overnighted to us in a rural location in Italy.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 08:04 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
isabel is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 08:34 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
scatcat is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 08:38 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm so sorry. I know from experience (also in Rome) the horrible feelings this leaves one with
lantana is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 08:48 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't beat yourselves up over this, but you won't forget it either.

(speaking from Rome experience myself)
tarquin is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2012, 08:54 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Rastaguytoday is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -