Fighting Back Against Pickpockets?
Jun 15th, 2001, 04:32 PM
#61
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I think it happens in every big city. I was once a victim in my favorite bargain store. On the subway I have seen someone try to lift a wallet out of a lady's handbag. I yelled out:Watch your wallets!" He bolted the next stop. Usually they travel in twos. One lifts, passes it to the other who may have a rolled up newspaper that he fhides the stolen goods. He leaves, the other stays but if confronted, he has nothing. Men, donot put your wallet in your back pocket. Ladies hold your bag in front, bandolier style. When I travel , money, passport are in a little leather french bag i wear around the neck. It has a leather string strap. I hope I have been of some help....P.S. do not leave maps, etc., visible in your rented car.
Jun 17th, 2001, 12:07 AM
#62
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Now you've REALLY got me worried!! <BR>Reading here about the man having his shirt ripped open and his money belt ripped away from under his trousers,then hearing about how dangerous it is for rental cars around the French and Italian borders-- wow! That's exactly where I'll be-- with my money belt, which I thought was the safe way to go. HELP! What's the solution?
Jun 17th, 2001, 01:51 AM
#63
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While In Venice,Italy in 1985, I actually caught this guy trying to lift my wallet. <BR> <BR>I said: You feel like dying? <BR> <BR>My cousin, who is not a fat stupid American, had his pockets picked in Paris. The guy that hit him was a real pro since he lifted my Cousin's wallet and passport. My Cousin had to go to the American Embasy in Paris. <BR> <BR>Of course, we Americans should do a beter job of not getting our pockets picked. We really should not be fat, stupid and silly. <BR> <BR>Sun( American bashers, toung planted firmly in cheek) Vol
Jun 17th, 2001, 09:20 AM
#64
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one year when I was living in the Back Bay, there were a series of women tourists that had their handbags snatched by boys on bikes. One victim was an elderly neighbor of mine who was walking her dog. She always carried an old handbag in which she would deposit her dogs turds. We laughed so hard imagining the thief opening up his loot.....and, surprise!!!!
Jun 17th, 2001, 01:45 PM
#66
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To Sallie: Where are you going in France and Italy? AVOID MARSEILLE BECAUSE IT HAS THE WORST CRIME PROBLEM IN FRANCE. Nice is also questionable. Never leave anything of value in a rental car overnight. Try to avoid distinguishing markings which identify the car as a rental. If you rent the car in one country and then drive into another country, be careful because you will have the original country's license plates, which will make it a target. Keep the car doors locked at all times.
Jun 18th, 2001, 05:51 PM
#67
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To Scottster: Thanks for the reply and valuable tips. Picking up the lease car at Nice airport (much cheaper), then driving directly to Tuscany. I will bypass Marseille, but, of course, can't avoid the Italian border. I'm told that French plates are red (again, nothing I can do about it), but I assume I'm not going to be the only one w/ French plates in Italy. What to do, besides being careful?? <BR>Sallie
Jun 18th, 2001, 09:24 PM
#68
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Michelle, <BR> <BR>I'm with you on this one... <BR> <BR>What a lousy comment from Fed Up.... "Not PC, but this is ridiculous that Americans don't pressure foreign governments to police tourist areas better." <BR> <BR>Hmmm, I might go and pressure my government to make it safe for me to send my child to a school in the United States - heaven knows those places are much more unsafe then any place I've ever been to in Europe.... <BR> <BR>Geez, take precautions and it's quite possible that you won't get pickpocketed !! <BR>
Jun 19th, 2001, 02:17 PM
#69
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To Sallie: You might tell a little white lie and tell the rental company agency in Italy that there is a problem with the car and you need to exchange it for another car. That way you would not have the tell-tale French plates on your car. This assumes that there is a office of the car company in Italy--check before you go. Most car rental places are understanding and do not want their cars damaged. When thieves tried to break into our car in Spain, locals told us it was because we had French plates on our car.
Jun 19th, 2001, 02:47 PM
#71
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Hi Sallie. I did a search on "border" and found the comment which seems to have unnerved you so much. It was in Hans's post; he wrote: "Or the chances of getting your car broken in southern France or at the Italian border are much greater than for example in Sweden." <BR> <BR>Hans was <I>not</I> saying that your car had a 100%, or 50%, or even 25% chance of getting broken into in southern France or at the Italian border. All he was saying was that the chances are much greater in those places than, for example, in Sweden (a country which may very well have an extremely <I>low</I> rate of auto break-ins.) <BR> <BR>I'm also not sure what he meant, exactly, by "at the Italian border." It's not as if you have to stop your car at the Italian border -- because you don't -- and then gangs of evildoers surround your car.
Jun 21st, 2001, 05:50 AM
#73
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NOT EVERY TOURIST GETS THEIR POCKET PICKED IN EUROPE!!!! <BR> <BR>Jeez! It happens to residents as well as tourists. Handle yourself as you would in any city that's familiar to you. <BR> <BR>Bearing that in mind, remember that these people (no matter what city they're in) have only one thing on their minds -- easy money. You're thinking about hotels, restaurants, photo ops, kids, spouses, museums, appointments, etc. All they have on their minds is an easy mark. Their heads are a lot more clear than yours, and their advantage is home turf (even if you're not a tourist -- if you're walking in your home town, you still have things on your mind). <BR> <BR>The guy who beats a tourist for his money belt isn't just a pick-pocket. THAT'S a serious crime, not petty thievery. And that's MUCH less frequent than pick-pocketing.
Jun 21st, 2001, 07:23 AM
#74
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We were in Italy earlier this month; didn't have any problems in Florence or Venice, but we (our group of 10)were victims of attempted pickpocketing 3 times in Rome. We didn't have any problems the first 3 days we were in Rome; then on the 4th day (which was a Friday, if that matters), we were hit 3 times. <BR>The first attempt was on my husband on the metro. A gypsy man and a young (maybe 6) boy, who I assumed to be his son, got on the metro; my husband caught the boy reaching his hand into his front pocket. The second & third attempts were by a group of 4 young ladies (late teens or early 20's) who boarded the metro ahead of us at a very crowded stop. Two of the girls suddenly stopped & wouldn't move forward; as we were getting around them, one of the other 2 girls reached her hand into my brother-in-law's front pocket; another tried to get my (very small) purse, which I had worn badoliero-style (all it contained was a lipstick, a small mirror, & 2,000 lira). Fortunately, we were on to them and they didn't get anything. However, it seemed to make them very angry and they got off at the first metro stop after that. <BR>My advice is just what others have said: be aware and take precautions. All the men in our group wore either the money belts under their shirts or the leg stashes around their ankles; no one had anything in their pockets or anything of value in small purses. You may have no problem at all; but don't be lulled into a false sense of security because no one attempts to pickpocket you the first day or two you're there. Stay aware.
Sep 29th, 2002, 01:40 PM
#76
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Couldn't help notice that the second to last comment was made in 6/01. We visited Rome also during the same month but the 2nd week, we did not come across any pickpocketing attempts. However, I notice the person said they were targeted while taking the metro. We didn't take the metro and maybe that's the difference? We walked to our destinations but of course we stayed in Prati and the furthest we walked was up to via Veneto. With the crowds at the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain we didn't experience any pickpocketing also. So maybe, like in Paris, the pickpockets target the metro and buses mostly?
Sep 29th, 2002, 03:35 PM
#77
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Egad,<BR>If I had never been to Europe, I wouldn't go after reading this thread.<BR>Gracious, the probability of being robbed is little more than being run over by a truck. Just be careful.<BR><BR>BTW I am reminded of the early scene in 'Casblanca' where the pickpocket warns the tourist "Be careful. There are vultures everywhere" as he takes his wallet.
Oct 20th, 2011, 03:40 PM
#78
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Im from the UK and just returned from a 3 night stay in Rome. I can fully confirm that Barberini Metro is a haven for pickpockets as I was stealth attacked. I was getting on to a train on Line A and I was in a party of 4 - the first 3 of us got on and I was last to walk onto the train. As I walked on a young girl stood in front of me (looking away from me) as if trying to see if she could spot someone she knew, while extending her left arm and grabbing a rail. At this stage I already could sense there were 2 other girls behind me!. What seemed like 3 or seconds before the doors closed she popped out of the train and the doors closed. My friends said "that was very strange" and what seemed like seconds later we were all checking our pockets, only to find that I had been attacked. The girl in front of me or her partners to my rear had removed my wallet from my front right cargo short pocket. It contained a couple of credit cards and an equivilent of 60 euros. The thought of myself being targeted was more upsetting than the loss of the money. Rome is a great city and this event wouldnt stop me from going back and even using the Metro...I would just know what to look for next time, and would more than likely not go to via Barberini Station again as its a well known site for attacks.
Oct 21st, 2011, 08:35 AM
#79
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Most people take me for a little girl so guess I'm not a likely target. I'm also very aware and you wont' believe where i keep my money (a money pounch inside my panty hose!!!Sometimes in a baggie inside my shoe. Yes a little awkward to get to it! LOL
