Hello I'm a pickpocketer and am going to Rome for the first time. I would like some suggestions (please) on which would be the best places for me to start my business. I've just finished my apprentiship and this will be my first important experience. Thank you and hope to see you soon!

Simple just hang around the train station. If that doesn't work just hitchhike your way down to Naples.

Pixypixy, I think you are aiming too high with your first job. I think you should work your way up. Start with your own family (parents, siblings), close friends, your boss (if you even have a job). Keep what you get since that's what people like you do. Better yet, go to your local police station and ask them for tips. I'm sure they would be delighted to help you.

I've read that public bus #64 is prime territory, but that you have to dress in business attire like the other pickpockets do in order to divert suspicion.

Be careful that you aren't banded.

Ira and Elaine, good grief, now we are giving fashion instructions to pickpockets, LOL. What next??

All the respondents to date have passed over the most important advice of all: How to fit in sartorially, to avoid detection.

First you must decide whether you wish to be taken for a NA tourist or to pass as a local.

If you choose the former as your strategy -- luring tourists and locals into thinking you are an innocuous visitor, more likely to be preyed upon than the reverse, you wear: White tennis shoes with black socks, a fanny pack, a water-bottle-holder and a velour track suit.

It is important that you be heard muttering Fodors mantra #498:

"I'm me and I'm comfortable and I'm not ashamed to be taken for a tourist"

On the other hand if you want to pass for one of the locals, wear anything by Dries Van Noten or MiuMiu, especially one of those short, pastel "floaty" skirts so popular this year, even if it makes you look like Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Susan".

Oh, and strappy Jimmy Choo stilettos. Even if it's mid-winter.

BTW: this dress-code is the same for men and women. Men in Europe wear all the above items -- well, they probably do, to judge from the shameful Speedos they wear at the beach.

Rome is no place for a rookie (pickpocketer)!

I can't recommend beginning in Rome. That would be like a newly-minted mountain climber taking on the Eiger. An apprentice pickpocket in the capital will only get the paltry leavings of the seasoned professionals, who will outnumber you a hundred to one.

Actually there is a very special little dark alley in Rome where I'd love to make your acquaintance.

Buy some of my new ATOMIC Smasher white tennis shoes in case you must make a sudden run for it!

I think you should stay away from Rome since the last time we were there, there were police in every corner of the street.

Careful lest Don Cicchio catches you on his turf and decides to use a fire axe to make you six inches shorter, starting at your feet.

Gosh, I feel so bad! I think maybe we have discouraged dear pixpixy from starting her/his new career. I wonder, was it all the fashion advice, or threats of the police on every corner (gads some of them are soooo handsome), or the invitation to meet in an alley or the threat of Don Cicchio? I do hope that pixypixy post again, it is sooo frustrating to sincerely answer questions and then never find out the final results. Rude too!

Might I suggest you ply the streets of Molvania instead of Italy?

The international airport there only has one ATM and it is frequently out of order, so Fodorites returning recommend that tourists carry cash with them upon arrival - enough to last the whole trip.

The subways are crowded, especially during rush hour, so you could try that out. It's usually more effective to have a partner to distract your target.

Good luck!

J62, good idea! See no matter how much we think we know we can always learn more thanks to generous Fodorites like you J62. I sure hope that pixypixy writes back with appreciation for all these great thoughts. You can't just get this information from some stupid travel book.

I just love the sense of humor on some of these threads. My favorite so far was the one about "having a good disco suit". Many of the replies brought back many memories. Or was I just having a flashback?

Hi TRSW, nope, you were not having a flashback (gads, hope not from taking LSD decades ago) it was our degas that had the disco suit thread. It was very amusing, no, it was hilarious.

Well, what can I say? thanks to you all, I think I will start on the bus route dressed up as a Roman (modern Roman I mean) I will give my first wallet to LoveItaly that has given me the best suggestions.

Thanks

Hey pixypixy, I like loyal friends. Thank you dear one. There is nothing like a pickpocker then one with class and good manners. We can email each other and make arrangements to meet at say the Trevi Fountain.