I will visit Rome and Florence in November on my own. I read a lot of travel books and come to have a general information that thefts pray on tourists always happen in Italy. Is that true?

For heavens sake, NO! Thefts happen anywhere. Just do research if you are afriad (moneybelt or whatever).

I am no more careful in Florence than I am at home in Sacramento. If your gut says something is not right, it is not right, if someone is getting too close to you, step away. Carry your purse/backpack (I use a leather back pack that you must take off to get into) to the restroom, don't carry all of your credit/atm cards at one time. Some people wear a money belt, but I don't.
Have a good time and be smart.

For some of the usual "alarmists" on this board, the answer might be yes. You've already heard from one of the people who thinks the sun rises and sets only on Italy so that response speaks for itself.

I don;t think theft is any more "prevalent" in Italy than anywhere else you find people who believe in so-called "family values" but are obviously tempted by a bunch of tourists, especially the ones who refuse to take simple precautions such as moneybelt use and not carrying a purse as if they are at some country club tea party.

The ONLY question you should be asking now is of yourself..are YOU one of thes careless people? If so, then be warned. If not, worry about more important things.

evita, I just reread my posting and wish to apologize. You are obviously traveling on your own for the first time to Rome and Florence. You asked a question regarding theft based on information that you have read in travel books. And I gave you a snippy answer. As TopMan did, and also included me in his reply.
Now let me start over as I am sure you wished you never asked the question. Italy, in my experience, is not anymore dangerous than anywhere else. I do not know where you live but here in the city in the Sacramento Valley where I live we just had an "incident" where a woman was carjacked and before the situation was over a total of 4 people had been hijacked and the hijacker left the last car in San Francisco. And just this month our local bank has been robbed 3 times. Everywhere one goes there can be a problem, but probably not. It is important, as the other posters said, to "be aware", if you think something is wrong there probably is something wrong. But I personally do not think you are in anymore danger than where you live, although I do not know where that is. And of course, being on your own, being in another country makes one worry about all the "what if's". I would be alert, use a moneybelt, the hotel safe (not the one in the room) etc. Do not know what your lodging situation will be. I don't think the "sun rises and sets" on Italy, although it does, LOL, but I have been there several times on my own and have not felt afraid and have not had a problem. But I am also careful at home also. If you have any other questions, or comments, please post them and I will try to answer them for you. And do have a beautiful trip. I am sure you will

Short answer: No.

Petty crime exists everywhere. The average tourist, if he stays alert and exercises some caution, is not likely to be adveresly impacted by it.

I've not noticed any "usual alarmists" on this board, perhaps one will now surface so we can see what Topman was going on about.

Thanks for all of your advice. I will take care of myself and have a good time in Italy... and will certainly come back and tell you how I feel. Again, thanks to you all.

Hi evita,

There are pickpockets in both cities.

Keep important papers and your ATM card in a safe place.

I close my pockets with safety pins.

Keep in mind that millions go to Italy every year and that only thousands are robbed.

loveitaly- I would like to compliment you highly on your ability to reexamine your post and be willing to backtrack so you could offer the OP some real advice.

I admire you for stepping forward and doing this. There are so many posts on these boards that come across as snide, sarcastic and flippant, and it can be hard to navigate through these to find actual travel information, especially for new people.

We need more participants like you, because it helps bring the quality of the forums back to what it could be!

to evita - I travel to Italy at least once and sometimes twice a year on my own. I do think it's wise to find ways to keep your money and documents safe, which is good sense in traveling in a foreign country. A moneybelt is a good idea, and carrying copies of all your travel documents and any creditcards is important, as well as a list of the number to call if any of them are lost.
Keep money in 2 locations on your person, so you have a backup if it's needed.

As you would while visiting any city, be alert to your surroundings, and trust your instincts when dealing with people.


If you are staying at a hotel which has a safe, you can leave cash and valuables there while sightseeing. You will find other threads with helpful tips on this site if you so some searching. Try to sort out the practical tips from the ones just based on fear of the "what if", and you should be fine.

That said, I had one theft many years ago in Rome (I had my nose stuck in a map near a major tourist site, so I was an easy target, and was pickpocketed), I have had many many more experiences where people have been gracious and helpful while I was travelling in Italy, including one where a bus driver found my wallet that had fallen from my bag and made a special stop to bring it back to me untouched on his return route. Just one example to balance whatever fears you might be having.

Good luck on your research and have a magical trip!

ira - great idea about the safety pins on pockets!

We thought we were pretty savy about getting robbed - have traveled all over the world. Last week - my sister's waist pack was opened and robbed on a crowded bus in Rome...by a little old lady sitting on a seat by the window. The bus was very very crowded and we 4 were satdning - holding on for dear life - and looking for our stop. When my sister looked down and saw the zipper open - the lady bolted from her seat and exited the bus - along with a $50 euro. All the other money was safe in a money belt under her clothing. So - live and learn - usually our caution is sufficient to avoid being robbed but it only takes a little slip and you can be a victim. That said - Rome is no worse than any other city as far as I can see....and I actually felt safer there at night than in Boston.

Hi dorgal,

Too bad about the robbery.

I also put safety pins across zippers. They aren't perfect, but it does slow the pickpockets down.

Thieves go where tourists and crowds go... take reasonable precautions then <u>go enjoy</u> yourself. I got pickpocketed in Amsterdam once but can't wait to go back! While wandering in Nice my first visit, a local admonished me -not- to carry my camera by hanging from shoulder; he indicated I should hang it across the body (diagonally) to prevent someone from easily snatching it.

evita- i use a normal small leather purse when i travel, that fits close to my body. some people prefer a money belt under their clothing, or hidden pockets sewn into clothing.

i think the times you need to be extra cautious are in crowded situations (train stations, public squares) and also where there are large groups of tourists (major sites and monuments).

I always have several means of getting funds. I leave one charge card and a small amount of cash in the hotel safe or my locked suitcase in the hotel room, for example, so if a theft did occur you would not lose everything at once.

It is helpful to plan how you will organize your own documents, money, passport, charge card, etc. i have never had a theft, but have gotten myself confused misplacing a train ticket and reservation (for example, and i found them later) with all the excitement of travel.

it's my opinion that many north americans who visit europe are not used to operating in an urban area (as most people live in suburban type locations- or cities that are more car oriented and spread out). when they go to europe, they usually visit the big cities.

Without a lot of experience in crowds or public transport, they are easy targets. Of course there is a lot of crime in suburban america but it tends to be less of the pick-pocket nature in my opinion (and usually more violent than what happens in europe).

Therefore, i feel that your ability to keep your wits in an urban environment is important if you want to avoid problems in any city.

I agree walkinaround. Never thought of that before. And when on vacation thefts are a bigger problem for sure, especially if you are on your own. You have received some good advise here evita, do have a good trip.

Thank you for your kind words sognatrice2. I should have been in bed when I wrote the first reply but wasn't as had a real stressful week and couldn't sleep. So &quot;snapped out&quot; an answer which I sure wouldn't have appreciated receiving. Think the question hit a &quot;button&quot; as everytime I go to Italy I hear &quot;oh, you are? Aren't you afraid of being attacked, robbed, they have the Mafia there, blah blah blah&quot;. Of course all from people that wouldn't think of traveling unless they are being herded around on a tour bus. Even had a relative tell me to be sure not to wear any jewerly at all because if I fell asleep on the airplane &quot;someone&quot; would cut off my finger or earlobe for my ring or earring. Tooo funny. Anyway, thank you for your very kind words, they are appreciated.

Theft is everywhere! Here in Boston, we have had tourists lose their lugguge left in their van or cars. Men pick-pocketed because they leave their wallets in their back pockets, women who do not clutch the opening of their handbags, students who stupidly put valuables in their backpack. Tourists who stop for lunch, leave valuables in the car where their maps and guide books, shout, here here, the list goes on.