Ceb1222--thanks for the interesting story. I thought I'd read all the pickpocket gimmicks, but I hadn't heard about the sand yet.

Tenshinokiss:

When I first started reading about pickpockets, I was getting nervous, especially since my daughter and I will be traveling alone without my husband; but I actually got less worried the more I learned. My philosophy, I guess, is to educate yourself to reduce your vulnerability, be alert, take whatever precautions make you feel safe, and then try to relax and have fun.

Everyone has a different comfort zone, and I think that’s why discussions of pickpockets, money belts, purses, passport storage, etc. are so popular on this forum and elsewhere.

If you want to learn more about different pickpocket scams, type “pickpockets Rome” into google, and you’ll see hours of reading on the subject. On the other hand, if reading about it will make you feel more nervous, you might not want to do that

To all the wonderful people who have replied--thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us, but more importantly caring enough to try to put a stranger's worries more at ease when travelling to a place you all love and want to share.

To Heimdall, I'm sorry if I sounded in anyway less than grateful. I know that words can seem to have hidden implications, but in my reply to you, I meant nothing but a heartfelt thanks and polite conversation. My husband and I, though newly married, look forward to the day when we, too, have raised our children and have paid off the house to indulge in our passions. Maybe I will find the courage in expanding travels to venture out of the more comfortable places and find more adventure. Your current lifestyle is one that we aspire to. I wish you good health and many fine, safe adventures in the future!

tenshinokiss, I'm glad that reading these posts has made you worry less! In my experience, it's true that there is a bit more pickpocketing in Europe than in the US (I live in NYC). I also don't think I would have ever understood what "gypsy children" were actually like until I experienced it first-hand. So I'm adding my story and one from a friend as they're different than the ones already posted - I hope this helps you to be more aware, and thus to be more relaxed and enjoy your honeymoon!!

- I visited Italy on a college vacation with 2 girlfriends. (Just imagine, three American kids loaded down with backpacks, one blonde one redhead and one brunette!) A few blocks after exiting the train station in Rome, we were approached by a group of school-age children waving their hands and making a lot of noise. We knew from our guidebooks that they were probably pickpockets and not to act surprised or shield our faces, but in the moment it was really hard not to act defensively and put our hands up! Fortunately we were prepared with waist money belts containing our passports and valuables. After we shooed them away, we checked to see what damage they'd caused: The only thing they were able to steal was my friend's glasses from the inside pocket of her jacket. She had to borrow our other friend's glasses and hold them up like a magnifying glass in order to view the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (I wish I'd taken a picture, it's such a funny memory all these years later!), but other than that the glasses weren't missed. ;)

- Years later, another friend travelled solo to Paris on a short trip. "E" had lived in Paris for year during college, lived in mainland China, lived in NYC for years, and travelled all over the world. Yet she succumbed to the wiles of a pickpocket on her departure from the city... "E" was descending the RER train at CDG airport (luggage in tow of course, and thinking about her flight), when an old lady started to board the train in a panic as if she was going to miss getting on the train, pushing against "E" and making a commotion. Despite this being the last stop on the line (and thus no way for someone to miss the train), "E" unthinkingly went to assist the woman - only to realize later that her purse had been picked. Worse, although her passport and credit card were in her waist money belt and untouched, the card she'd "kept out for handy access" was her *debit card*, and within an hour her account was wiped clean by some large jewelry purchases. (She eventually got all her money back, but it was a painful learning experience! Debit cards were still new in the US at the time, and she hadn't thought of the potential loss.)

Moral of the stories: If there's a point at which to stay alert and aware, it's as you're entering/exiting transportation hubs with your luggage. It's an easy time to be distracted by unwieldy suitcases, close timing on connections, etc. Just make sure there's nothing valuable within an easy grab! (Oh and also on crowded subway cars, especially the tourist-heavy 1 line of the Paris Metro, for example.)

That said, I will also say that in numerous trips to Europe, that story from Rome was the only time I ever experienced pickpockets firsthand. I'm sure after reading all our stories, you'll be fine! Bon voyage!!

"never order a minicab (many women got raped by the drivers)."

Wow have you told the police about this, they could cut the rape figures at a stroke by arresting all the minicab drivers.

You cannot legally pick up a minicab in the street, you have to phone the minicab office, therefore they know who is going to pick you up. So unless the mincab driver, minicab office & the local authority (who licence the company) are in collusion then it's UNLIKELY you'll get raped by a minicab driver.

What does happen though is (generally drunk) women flag down a car in the street THINKING it's a minicab & then get raped

I have never been at all clear on why tourists (mostly american it seems) feel the need to behave differently in Europe than they would in USA /anywhere else. Just use common sense and do what you would anywhere - otherwise is it worth it? Dare I suggest that you are probably safer wherever you are going that many places at home?

Again, to the many people who have replied, thank you very much for sharing your experiences and thoughts with us. Every little thing helps greatly.

Some seem to question why I posted this, why I would act any differently from home than I would in Europe. I would ask the same questions about any country I travelled to outside my own--because although good safety practices are good anywere, the particulars are not the same in every country.

As a rule, my husband and I are careful, watchful and we do not put ourselves in potentially dangerous situations--at home or abroad. But I am familiar with the customs--good and bad--of the places I've travelled to so far. I have never been to Europe and I do not want to offend anyone unintentionally with behavior that might not be acceptable outside my country--so I do my homework. In the same vein, I also do not want to fall prey to any scams, period. So I do my homework. This time, I didn't get answers that satisfied me in the guidebooks. I wanted to know what kind of scams there are, what to look for to protect myself and my belongs. So I turned to a different source and here I am.

As to the question of why people should act any differently as a native or as a tourist, as twk put it, tourists are simply more likely to be worth the effort for pickpockets and the like. Unlike other places I've visited, I'm afraid we're going to stand out as it is. We'll likely be marked as tourists no matter what we do. Forwarned is forarmed and I believe in being prepared. I know what to look for in the places I've been to, I do not, however, know what to look for in Europe.

No matter where I go in the world, I believe that a smile, politeness and courtesy can get you far. Knowing the languages and customs of a place shows that you cared enough to find out and hopefully that shows thoughfulness as well.

But I also realize that these won't protect me from someone who means me harm or wants what's mine. So I'm gathering all the knowledge I can in order to protect myself.

So, there you have it, the reasoning behind the question.

Again, I sincerely thank everyone who replied. You have provided us with more help than we could have ever dreamed to get.

Tenshinokiss, you seem to have a good approach. Yes, the pickpockets look for crowded situations in busy shops, tourist attractions, and transport links. Some of us who replied simply wanted to reassure you, while others actually appeared to relish their horror stories.

Heimdall,

Thank you again for replying. I just thought that I'd clarify a little as to why I asked what I did--something I maybe should have done in the first post so that it would be more clear as to what I was asking for. I believe that if it is known why a question is asked, the better others are able to answer it. In this, it was my fault--I should have given more information than what I did.

Every reply was helpful and I will be more prepared because of them. Thank you again to everyone.

Operaman, I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to your question earlier. I think we have one day of guided tours and one free day in both Rome and Venice. I think we have two days in Florence, and a day of guided tours and three days free each in London & Paris. Lots of free time to "get into trouble" as I joke with my husband. If you or any one has any place that is particularly special and want to share about, we'd love to hear it. Right now, we have only the very general and usual sites in mind in each city, although my husband might have more in mind. I'm not sure what's in Florence yet--Italy is my husband's part of the tour.

The one thing about laptops is that sometimes you hit a button you don't intend to--thus the previously unfinished post.

We will be searching the various threads to see what other people like--I won't make that same mistake twice!! But like I said, if anyone has any thing particularly near and dear to their hearts . . .

Thank you!

>>>>
Yes, you are obsessing. If you're American your chances of being a victim of a crime - and one far worse than pickpocketing - are a great deal higher in your own country.
>>>>>
Dare I suggest that you are probably safer wherever you are going that many places at home?
>>>>>


actually, crime rates in the EU are considerably higher than in the US. if you take common sense precautions, it is unlikely that you will be a victim on a trip to europe.

however, it is a myth that crime rates are lower in Europe than in the US...maybe decades ago but certainly not today.