Many years ago I was standing in Picadilly Circus, London, waiting to cross the road, when I felt fingers in my trouser pocket. I grabbed the thief by his wrist, he quickly took his hand away-(with some rather used tissues he had "lifted&quot- and said : "Excuse me Sir, my mistake", and with that he was off....

The British are so polite!!

My best advice is:
Don't look vulnerable.
Keep your important papers and money strapped close to your body in money belt under your shirt.

Don't ever show where you keep your money in public.

In any subway or crowded bus or train station/ airport, put your wallet in your front pocket.

Keep your bags in front of you, and hold on tightly to them at all times.

Don't keep your camera out unless you're using it. How many pictures are you going to take in a subway?

Don't let anybody distract you with a sign or a question or a rude push - keep your eyes on your stuff!

If somebody gets too close to you, don't be shy. Move away. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help - in Italian, of course. Learn Italian for "Help, thief".

Stay away from subway doors. Thieves will jump on at one stop, rob you and jump off at the next stop.

Wehn you're travelling in pairs/groups, keep an eye on your fellow travellers. Watch each other's back.

My mom and dad have been warned by the locals quite often to watch out for pickpockets and theives. They will often point out some of the unsavoury characters. During our last trip to Rome, we had two separate experiences with pickpockets, and they're afraid of being caught. There's little ou can do, but once they know you're on to them, they leave you, and everybody else you announce it to, alone.

Police can do little except shrug. Once your stuff is gone, it's gone.