dcappolino

I've heard that pickpockets run rampant in Italy. Is that really true? Other than not putting your wallet in your back pocket, dangling a camera, etc. what precautions would you recommend?

barbmike

I just spent 12 days in Rome and had no problems. In fact, I never saw or heard of any problems with tourists involving pickpockets. Put your wallet and other valuables in a money belt !!! Mike

Singletail

I agree with the use of a moneybelt if you have to carry things of value when out and about.

Pickpockets in most cities, not just Rome, generally operate in crowded, more chaotic, zones such as train stations, near tourist sites where there may be jam-ups, etc, on busses and Metros, if at all.

Last I was in Rome I didn't even see any of the infamous "gypsies" so I wouldn't be so "concerned" that i canceled a trip..just be prudent.

MFNYC

I don't know where people get this from. I've been to Italy 3 times, always had a dangling camera, never used a money belt, never had any problems. I generally carried my wallet in a handbag, my husband had his in his front pocket. Just pay attention to your surroundings and you'll be fine.

zootsi

We had absolutely no problems in Italy. However our friends who lived in Rome for a year were pickpocketed 5 times. Wear a moneybelt, watch your camera and bags, and enjoy yourself.

m_kingdom2

MFNYC:

I am in complete agreement with you, I never understand why people insist on wearing moneybelts. If unfortunately someone decides to use force, be it a weapon or brute strength to attack you - moneybelt or not makes no difference.

Carry on as you would at home, if you live in a large city, gentlemen keep wallets in pockets as per normal and ladies' purses in handbags, no special precautions required.

ezlivin

Moneybelt provides a better alternative to keeping wallets in your pockets. I have to assume that it is definitely harder for a pickpocket to reach under one's pants/shirts/dress and pick a moneybelt.
Besides, all the pickpocketing incidence that I've heard/read involved pockets and/or handbags.

Mamma_Love

I carried my purse, wallet, and camera in a backpack, and my husband kept his wallet in his front pocket rather than his back pocket with a thick rubber band around it (the friction of the rubber band would help you feel it if someone were trying to get it out).

We never had any problems. But it's wise to always be aware, especially on the metro or in crowds.

clevelandbrown

My wife carries one of those small pouches meant for inside your shirt. In a market in Florence she had it outside her shirt when a pick-pocket attempted to get into it. I carry a shoulder bag with all our supplies, including a camera, and no one has ever tried to breach that. I also frequently carry my camera hanging on my chest, again with no problems. I am certain that pickpockets ply their trade, but a few simple precautions should protect you.

ChatNoir

Sad, but true. Pickpockets are out in force in Italy. Special precautions are prudent and you should always be aware of your surroundings.

Wear a money belt and only carry a day's worth of money in your front pockets. As a decoy, some people go as far as putting a cheap wallet in thier back pocket with some play money and expired credit cards inside. Handbags and backpacks are also prime targets on crowded public transportation.

Better safe than sorry. Go to europe enough and the odds will eventually catch up to you .

P_M

Where there are tourists, there will usually be pickpockets, especially in the larger cities. This applies to North America too, as the only place I've ever been robbed was when I was vacationing in Canada. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't let my guard down.

I had always heard terrible things about people in Italy getting robbed. However, I spent two weeks there with a tour group of about 45 people, and nobody had any problems. Spain on the other hand, was a different story. I was there recently with a group of 35 people and 3 were robbed. I am NOT suggesting that Italy is perfectly safe while Spain isn't, but I do think that Italy is not as bad as it's reputation for robberies. The precautions already suggested are good ones. If you use some basic common sense and don't let your guard down, as I did in Vancouver, you s/b fine.

elaine

I'm plagiarizing here my own recent response to a similar question:


It helps to know where you live, are you used to big cities and crowds and buses and subways/metros?

I live in New York. I've never been a crime victim here, nor while traveling, knock wood. Before I went to Rome for the first time a few years ago, I'd heard so many stories about purse-snatching Vespa riders and rampant pickpockets in the metro that I actually had some temporary concern. I certainly felt silly when I got there.

Venice is an unusually safe place, there's almost no violent crime at all, but that doesn't mean that there isn't theoretically a pickpocket somewhere working the crowds.



I took the normal precautions I would take anywhere: I kept my shoulder bag comfortable but closed and close to my body. I didn't hang it around the back of my chair or leave it in an empty seat in an outdoor cafe. When I had to consult a map or book, or change film in the camera, I stepped into a doorway or stopped in a cafe or sat on a ledge somewhere, and kept my wits and belongings about me. When I acquired packages, I dropped them off at the hotel so as not to be overloaded and vulnerable.

I used the metro and went to all the usual tourist places. In front of one church some waifs carrying a sign approached me. Wary of being distracted and victimized, I firmly waved them away. To assuage my guilty conscience, I put some coins into the church's charity box inside.

I don't use security wallets or money belts, but many people do as it makes them feel more secure about their cash, cards,and such.

SalB

We were in Rome in March and before we went, I read all the posts about pickpockets and was actually concerned. I never even think about it in Paris but that's because we've been there often and it's never been a problem.

Well, after a week in Rome, I won't worry about it in future either. It wasn't a problem. We walked through some pretty huge crowds of teenagers loitering in their local piazza and had no problem (except for the noise of their boom boxes). I carried my camera around my neck when I wasn't using it. My purse is a black bag I strap across my body (just as at home) and my husband carried his wallet in his pants pocket just as he does at home.

Yes, I'm sure there are pickpockets just as I'm sure there are plenty in LA where we live, but the chances are that if you maintain reasonable caution, you will never encounter these people.

Do be alert anyplace you go. It's always better to be safe than sorry. If nothing else, you'll keep from being run over by crazy local traffic!!

Ziana

It was too funny...
"Go to europe enough and the odds will eventually catch up to you" .
HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tod

dcappolino- Relaaaaaaax! That's what South Africans do when travelling to big cities like London, Paris, New York etc., because when we are there we don't have to carry our everyday accesories - A GUN! We feel safe but not in a "twilight zone". I feel sorry for anyone trying to mess with us. We are very conditioned to dealing with the criminal element in our society. Sad but true.

CafeBatavia

Pickpockets are a problem in Europe. It is a fact of life there and in most large cities around the world.

My hat is off to those who have never been robbed or had someone try to rob them. Some people are just lucky in that way.

However, I'm glad I took preventive measures and didn't lose anything when acosted in Paris and Rome. Both times I saw what the thief was up to, yelled loudly, and was happy to see them run away. I may have been a target before and not even known about it.

A moneybelt is a small price to pay for peace of mind and security.

nytraveler

Have been to europe 50+ times - including italy numerous times and eastern europe several times and have never had any attempted pocketpickings (?). But them I'm a New Yorker and so I'm used to protecting my belongings. I think all you need is a reasonable amount of caution (don;t leave your bag hanging on the back of a cafe chair for example) and be aware of your surroundings.

IMO fanny packs,money belts etc are just a waste of time and mark you out as a tourist. If you're careful in the obvious dangerous places (on city buses, in train stations, wherever a crowd is gathered - you should be fine.

leonberger

This happened to us in London.

Waiting for the Underground in a fairly deserted station (4 adults together).

A man came up to my husband and started asking directions - which Tube line to take to get to so-and-so.

Since there are huge maps everywhere, and it's pretty well marked, Dan was suspicious, but answered the questions.

He got even more suspicious when the guy stayed near us, making comments for the few minutes wait for a train.

When a train came in, we boarded, and the stranger headed for the same entrance we were using. Just as Dan went to step into the train, he felt a hand on his back pocket (I know, I know, but that's where he kept his wallet, and this was 23 years ago! We were young and naive!).

Dan was fast enough to slap his hand directly back over his pocket (and wallet). As he did, the stranger literally pushed him into the train and the doors closed and the train left the station.

It would have been a perfect "heist" if we hadn't been suspicious from the start, because the stranger would have been alone on the platform with Dan's wallet and we would have been long gone with the train.

Needless to say, we're more careful now, but haven't had any other specific incidents to report (thankfully!).

So, as others have said, do take a few sensible precautions, but don't let it stop you from travelling/enjoying the trip.

Gayle

nocinonut

I was pickpocketed (actually pickpursed) in China while I was watching pandas in a zoo, they got my wallet but it was empty.

I was pickpursed again in the teller's line at my local bank in Los Angeles, all they got was my hair clip.

From these experiences and from living in a city, I have learned to be aware of my surroundings, my purse and camera at all times.

It just takes a little practice and it will come naturally.

pb_and_j

My mom was pickpocketed in Italy. She was wearing a fanny pack. Obvious tourist sign.
I always use a moneybelt when I go to Europe. I also keep a small amount of cash somewhere easily accesible so that I don't have to reach down my pants just to pay for a gelato.
In general, I try not to keep my camera out unless I'm in a strictly tourist area - like Pompeii. But that's also because I think it looks weird to have people walking around with cameras bouncing off their bellies. I try not to add to that.
Places like Naples where there is so much Vespa traffic is more prone to the grab-the-purse-without-even-slowing trick. I try to keep any bags I have tucked under my arm well.
Don't be too worried, just use a little extra care.