Hi Mom,

Thanks for the heads up.

I always close my pockets with safety pins.

No one is more paranoid about pickpockets than me, yet they almost got me at the train station in Rome. I hope that people that are smug about not being pickpocketed ("I have been to Europe 80 times, use the same purse I use at home, being aware comes naturally to me being from New York, I'm big and tough etc blah etc blah blah, yada yada) get pickpocketed someday.

That doesn't sound very Christian-like of me just before Easter.

I disagree that these types of stories aren't helpful to others. So many people post "I've never had a problem", but they've just not had the problem yet. I think this is a great reminder to pare down the wallet to essentials only. The money-belt debate will be ongoing, but the reminder that if you carry a standard purse or wallet you should only keep the essentials in it, and have the numbers handy for all credit/debit cards is very valid.

Sure, you may have the same risk at home, but dealing with these things is always more of a hassle when you're traveling.

It can happen anywhere. A friend of mine had her wallet stolen 3 separate times in the NYC subway (but she was a ditz that carried a gian purse behind her shoulder and it was open at the top half of the time.

The key is - be aware - of your own things and everyone around you. And have good luck. (If I'm in a subway and there are people blocking the door or aisle I put my hand on the zipper to my purse as I walk or push past - so no one can get it open.)

Thank you for sharing your story! I have not had it happen and hope it never does but you are kind to remind us that we have to be smart. I appreciate your willingness to point out your mistakes (never easy to do). We head to Rome in the Fall.

I just hate that the world is loaded with lowlifes! I hope that those guys get what is coming to them at some point.

Thankfully, you were not hurt (just your pride, maybe) and I am grateful that there are good guys out there like you and your DH. We will make sure to be smart and careful with our money, wallets, etc...

Thanks again.

Thank you for sharing your story and the lessons learned. I have also been to Europe multiple times without incident, but this is a great reminder of basic precautions to take for a safe trip.

The people who stole your wallet are pros, so tell DH to quit blaming himself.

Plenty of Italians and other Europeans wear shorts and ride Rome's subways, Trousers wouldn't have changed anything.

Things to learn?

Don't put your metro tickets in your wallet. Don't ever take out your wallet in a train station. Keep small amounts of money in your shirt pocket or hand.

Don't carry more than one credit card and one ATM between you.

Never carry your driver's license abroad unless you plan to drive, and don't carry it abroad except when you are driving.

After DH stopped beating himself up about it, he commented how professional they were and pondered where one goes to get the special training!

On the domestic connection from Atlanta back home, I found a VISA card on the floor of the plane under a seat. I turned it in the flight attendant but I don't think it was someone on that flight - I feel bad for whomever's it was!

Having had a similar experience in New York many years ago, I am now firmly in the camp of leaving everything but what I need that day at the hotel/apartment, whatever. I figure that if I dont trust the place I shouldn't be staying there. And normally they are better at looking after my things than I am, given that I will be on the street, in subways, in restaurants, surrounded by people. Even if the people around me are honest, I could always drop something (under an airline seat for example) or otherwise lose it. So I try not to have all the valuables with me.

Sorry, IowaMom, about the whole ordeal!

Decoy wallet - learned something new today I'll tell Mr Again.

So men can use a decoy wallet. What are some of the tips for women. Thanks IowaMoM for posting btw! I usually travel with a money belt and keep only what I need in a small purse. I don't use a travel purse but I often wonder if it might be a good idea. My feeling has always been that if they want my stuff, they will get through safety pins, reinforced linings and the like. Any comments on this? I have to say that wearing a money belt in the heat of the summer is no picnic either!

it can happen to anyone, anywhere. i like the decoy wallet idea!! will share that with my hubbie.

i also use a purse with a thousand tempting little pockets... with nothing of much value in them-- really just one of those travel superstitions-- it probably doesn't really slow anyone down.?? my wallet is triple-zipped inside...with only the essentials. also have my wallet on a leash-- honestly, more so that i don't walk away and leave it on the counter after buying something than for other security. i keep the wallet down low-- so nobody can see the leash.

d.h. keeps my essential card numbers in his wallet(written in secret code--figure by the time it's decoded, we would have called them in) and i do the same for his card numbers.

still-- stuff happens to the best of us (i posted a while back about being overtaken by several thieves in a quiet corner in barcelona) so we just have to be ready when it does. always good to remember-- so thanks all for sharing.

i loved the signs around the palace in bangkok... "beware of wily strangers." words to live by!

Colduspere - you make me laugh

iowamom, so sorry this happened to you! After 20+ years of living overseas (and 3+ of those in Rome), we never had any issues - **till last year in Granada, Spain.** My wife, a very seasoned traveler, was pickpocketed in a Zara store by two young ladies. You can read about it - and some of our Roman "security" experiences - in this article* http://tinyurl.com/pkpt-Rome **

Like your husband she beat herself up pretty good and was rattled and upset. Because we often travel about every other weekend in Europe, we fortunately have a "drill" we go through in preparations. Thus, we did have all the numbers to call, etc. Using our international phones, we were able to cancel all the credit cards in just a few minutes and NO charges were placed prior to the cancellations. For some helpful steps similar to our preparations, you might read this post: ** http://tinyurl.com/prepare-Italy **

She lost the cash she had in her wallet and her US driver's license (which we were able to replace through an online site), but more than anything she was just angry at herself. She's always been "vigilant" but obviously even more so now. I think I would describe her primary reaction as feeling "violated."

Pickpocketing is a"crime of opportunity" so the best defense is to limit those opportunities. Thus, when traveling away from our apt in Europe with passports, etc., I'm always the one wearing the money belt and/or a "personal security" system and carrying those "can't lose" items.

Filing a police report - or attempting to in Granada - was a fiasco; and as the police told us, a "useless exercise." Our vacation, due to our precautions was not disrupted, but it certainly does put a sour taste in your mouth.

After travelling for many years and never having a pickpocket problem (due to dumb luck and nothing more) I decided I should rely on something more than luck.

I decided that I'm a tourist and they are professional thiefs. They have an obvious advantage as I am touristing and they're stealing.

I figured that it would be very difficult for me to really protect myself. So I decided that I would make it quite unrewarding should I be pickpocketed.

I carry the equivalent of $20-30 in my pocket for general use. I keep nothing else of interest in my pockets.

I wear two very thin, flat money pouches.

One is very small and has a narrow belt loop. It slips down inside my pants. In there I keep a credit card and about $50 as second level cash. If I'm in a store and need my credit card, I'll pull it up, use the card and slide it back inside my pants.

The other is slightly larger and has a thin strap that goes around my waist inside my pants. In this one I keep passports, etc.

We were in Madrid and went to the flee market. At one point I felt somebody lean on my leg. I jumped back but it was too late. Less than a minute later an older man came up to me and said "somebody stole this from you". He gave me back my empty sunglasses case (I was wearing the sunglasses) and street map. I said to him "yes, somebody". They didn't even get the little bit of cash at the bottom of my pocket.

I keep my pockets pretty empty and unrewarding.

Sorry the pickpockets in Italy are most accomplished. A few years back they got a refundable $200 train ticket in Milan
I had in my jacket pocet inside. That is how good they are, Always ricksteves.com money belt dummy wallet and trip cover
for theft for me has saved me lots of money over the years.
Also donot use room safes they are not safe managers have a
general combo and can clean you out any time they like.

Take a good look at Myer's story above and you will see the outlines of another pickpocket scam:

"Somebody" brushes against you.

"Somebody" steals something of no value from yuo.

"Somebody" helpfully alerts you to the theft.

There is a good chance somebody else is watching all this, hoping you will instinctively feel for your wallet to make sure it is still there, and that somebody else will then see where you really keep your valuables. They also hope your companions will simultaneously feel alarmed, and check their purses and wallets.

Best defense is not to carry anything that it would ruin your trip to lose.

Yes quite an unpleasant experience that may well have spoilt your travel memories. There are quite a few stories of theft in Rome. What intrigues me is the fact that someone walks into a store, blows $5000 on clothes using a credit card and the staff think nothing of it. Highly unusual.

Nonetheless theft can happen anywhere not just in Rome which is notorious for it. Recently I was at my local supermarket queuing to check out and the lady in front of me reached for her purse to pay her bill when to her horror she realized it had been stolen. I asked the check out lady if this happened often and she replied "quite frequently".

This is all such useful info...I have not had a problem but was already a bit more worried about Rome. I have a small flat purse, that I wear across my torso. It has multiple zippered compartments and can be easily hidden under a coat or jacket. I do love the decoy wallet idea.

I will definitely split up our spending money, etc...we have not really done that.

I do wonder about hotel safes although I really only put my passport in it...it seems you always must trust the hotel staff as you don't have much choice. Where else can you store anything of value if you don't use the safe?

The stores don't care about the unusually high spend. They don't here in the US...they just want to sell their stuff and the staff doesn't care if it is theft or not. It won't come out of their pocket.

Too bad there are so many dishonest people who make everyone elses's lives harder!

worldinabag - we were intrigued by that as well. All we know is that they were able to charge $5000 on one card and had a charge for a similarly large amount declined - but who knows if it was for the same merchandise; and we have no idea if they attempted charges on the other two cards. Makes us wonder if someone at the store was in on it as well.