offlady

The thought that Europeans go about their business carrying purses and wallets without incident is probably true. However, they are not the focus of many theives. The thieves know that Americans and other foreigners may be carrying an inordinary amount of cash, probably don't speak the language, and will leave the country in a matter of days, which is why the tourists become targets. Likewise, in Waikiki, Japanese tourists and not the locals were often victimized because they were known to carry huge sums of cash.

karens

Hi. I just got back from Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) and based on what I had read, I took many more precautions this trip than I ever have before. I went on a group tour, and none of us had problems - but we did not ride the busses or subways, either.

I wore a money belt for the first time - did not find it uncomfortable at all. Before I left I purchased a luggage lock that is TSA approved and locked my suitcase in my hotel. I purchased a hiking shirt with a zipped pocket and wore it under a jacket.

I have watched groups of boys in Washington Square in NYC walk through crowds and place their hands in women's purses. It doesn't only happen in Europe!

My husband went to Barcelona last year and their group was really targeted by pickpockets. The same man lost his $$, and then later his camera! My husband said he felt someone approach him from behind and elbowed the person, who ran away. My husband said the only man not bothered was 6'5" and built like a football player.

francophile03

I emailed my Barcelona acquaintance about the many pickpocketing reports in Barcelona and Madrid. He said, of course, his foreign friends were afraid to visit because they felt that these were dangerous cities. But when they decided to visit him they didn't feel threatened. What helped was being aware of their surroundings according to my acquaintance. He said that when he travels he uses a money belt.

CYork

I won't travel with a jacket unless it has inside pockets. No handbag, no backpack, no purse... aside from being theft targets, they're just encumberances that I'd rather not deal with while sightseeing. It helps that we tend to go to Europe in Fall when wearing a jacket makes sense.

francophile03

CYork, I thought of doing what you do too. But there are some places like restaurants that ask to check your coats and jackets. My dilemma was what would I do with my personal items if I stored them there? I guess I could decline checking in my coat or jacket. But other places such as the Moulin Rouge require you to check in your outerwear without any choice. Yes, it's another way for them to make money, but what would happen to your personal items then? Just asking.

dutyfree

Just a quick update on something that happened yesterday to one of my flying partners in Rome. She had tried to get money from the local ATM near the hotel but it would not work so she went down to the Via Veneto area ATM and withdrew money. She then got on the 116 bus which goes from that area to the area by the Vatican. The bus was really crowded too. She stopped with a friend and went to a grocery store where she found that her wallet with all her euros was gone along with someone having "knifed her Longchamps purse" along the side to get it. They left her passport and "American" wallet luckily.She said that she never felt a thing. This is from someone who goes overseas everyweek to every major city in Europe and is VERY protective. She says that she is sure that they watched her on the Via Veneto get the money from the ATM and then went on the bus after it. Police told her that they ONLY want the cash-nothing else so make sure that you distribute everything so its not in one wallet!So if it can happen to people who are used to going over there and are always watchful...well,you know the rest.

JeanneB

franc:

Thanks for passing that along. (Not encouraging, but good to know!).

I'd never thought about it, but I think I'm going to try not to visit the ATM just before getting on public transportation. In fact, I'm going to try to w/draw money only when I'm near my hotel and can head straight back there. At the hotel I can put my money away without their seeing where I carry it.

Katie2

My husband and I were in Rome 2 weeks ago. While walking back to our hotel, he felt someone's hand on his back pocket. It was a little boy, no more than 8 years old trying to pick his pocket. The boy said, "Give me 5 Euros to get your money." He then started pointing at another little boy. If he had been successful, he would have gotten a pack of Kleenex. We then saw the boys trying to unzip someone's backpack. They weren't successful.

CubFanAlways

Thanks to all who replied to my post, and for offering your condolences. Just a few comments, then I’ll sign off this post.

First, I’d like to re-emphasize that how easy these thieves can lift your wallet. As several posters have said “Money belt!” Smart me has one…dummy me left it at home.

There have been comments about pickpocking happening in the States too, as I know I mentioned about it being “relatively rare”. I’ll confess I didn’t bother to look up any crime statistics, I’m just going on what I read in Fodors’ forums and advice from other travelers. Their emphasis has been on pickpockets in Rome and Paris; I’ve yet to read or hear about other cities being as bad. Rome has this image and stereotypes exist for a reason. That being said, I’ll succumb to the facts, whatever they are.

Some have said they’d rather be pickpocketed in Rome instead of mugged in <fill in city name>. Well, yeah, me too. If I had said I was in a fender-bender, would the reply have been, “Well, I’d rather be in a fender-bender that get run over by a bus.” Yes, again, me too and I can’t disagree. It’s just that it’s off topic.

While reading some of the other threads, I found two interesting suggestions that I have not seen before. One was, while in a crowded situation, do not speak English to your travel companions. This gives you away as a tourist. Normally, I’d pass on such advice but it may have some merit. A thief may strongly suspect you a tourist, even be 99% sure, but then we speak and remove all doubt.

The other was, and apparently the writer does this, he places a razor blade in his wallet. Not knowing the techniques of pickpocking, I’m gathering the thief slips his hand in the wallet by touch, rather than vision. It’s not something I would do – heck I have enough trouble using a razor blade for it’s intended purpose - but it wouldn’t bother me a darn bit if it worked as that writer envisioned.

Thanks to all once again. Some great stuff and I hope we can all learn from each other. I sure did!

Cassandra

CYork: Where can one get women's jackets with inside pockets? I've hardly ever seen that (and certainly not in petite sizes), much as I would like to have one and much as it makes so much sense. Travelsmith, in particular, seems dumb about putting pockets and other security arrangements in women's clothing.

Holly_uncasdewar

Cassandra: buy a lined jacket and a money belt. Cut the belt straps off the money belt and sew the "pocket" into the lining of the jacket.

BTilke

A good tailor can put an inside pocket into your coat. But FWIW, I think it's much easier to find women's coats with inside pockets in Europe than it is in the U.S. All of the coats I've bought in Belgium, Germany and France over the past few years have secure inside pockets big enough to hold a normal size wallet with either zipper or button enclosure.

gb944

On our recent trip to Rome, I was unlucky enough to have my pocket picked on a crowded tram (8 Argentina) on a Saturday morning. I never felt a thing. These guys are talented... My wife (across the train) even noticed the guy, normal, well dressed, carrying a backpack. The good news is that I only lost an ATM card (without PIN, thank you very much) and my weekly bus pass (which was easily replaced).

Following the advice I received on earlier this month on this board had me with my pockets almost empty. I could have been carrying my passport and my wallet (I won't be in the future) and could have spent the rest of the trip scurrying around trying to replace all of that paperwork.

Picketpocketing does happen, not only in Rome, but elsewhere. Since we eschew driving in Europe (I'm not suicidal), and depend on buses, subways and trains, I now will take a bit more seriously the warnings.

Don't think that it won't happen to you. It might. Whether or not it ruins your vacation depends on whether or not you are prepared.

DeborahAnn

gb944, I am glad the incident didn't spoil your trip. Where on your person did you carry the items that were lifted without your knowledge. After reading this thread I am trying to be aware of as many situations as possible. We leave this afternoon so I am trying to quell some last minute jitters. Thanks, Deborah

Sooosally

I was pick pocketed in Rome as well. And I wasn't the least bit surprised to see your post. Since it happened to me, whenever I tell someone about it, either it also happened to them or they know someone else it happened to. Also in Rome. It's been 5 years since I was in Rome so the name of my hotel has slipped my mind....I need to go to one of those memory classes. It was a very nice hotel. There was a well known US politican staying there at the same time. Across the street from the American Embassy. Anyway, I also had some things stolen from my room. Had to be the staff of the hotel. All of that, along with the other experiences I've heard of in Rome have kind of soured me on Rome. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time there. And I guess I wouldn't say that I would never go back, but it's certainly not at the top of my list and all of those experiences are a big reason why.

MacSporran

Sometimes there are just a few too many scare stories on here. Hundreds of millions of Europeans manage to get through the summer...nay, life, without being pickpocketed or mugged. 99.99% of American tourists manage the same every year in Europe, no matter how much they try to encourage the baddies by hanging camera's round their necks, having money belts the size of a suitcase, or just generally looking like fishes out of water in European cities.
In general, Europe is a marvellously safe continent. Specifically, you do have a tiny statistical chance of something bad happening to you in one of the major tourist cities....but don't lose too much sleep. You have a MASSIVE statistical chance that the worse thing that'll happen to you is that you'll choose to wear a baseball cap, bright red bomber jacket, yellow slacks and white sneakers when you get out of bed each morning.

So come, enjoy Europe, and for God's sake don't turn your back on the beauty of Rome, Barcelona, Paris or wherever, just because you spend time reading horror stories on here...

wvmom

I have to agree with MacSporran. I was in Rome for a week in March and never had any trouble, even though we rode the 64 bus many times. You do need to be careful, but don't get overly paranoid.

Sooosally

I would NEVER stay away from Europe because of that one experience. I've traveled to several other areas and never had a bad experience. Most of the stuff that alot of people get upset about while they are there I just look at as part of the adventure. I've just heard alot of stories from alot of people, not just on this board, about Rome. It's a beautiful special city and it's too bad that there seems to be a more serious problem there than anywhere else I have traveled on the continent. Like I said, I wouldn't say that I'll never go there again, but it's not my top choice. And that whole thing with pick pockets, things being stolen from the hotel room, etc., is definately part of the reason. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. It's their loss. I know it happens in other cities as well. Just seems to happen more in Rome than most.

gb944

DeborahAnn, it was in my left front pants pocket. Go, have a great time, don't be nervous, but do like CubFanAlways suggests and carry only what you need and lock the rest in the hotel safe.

I'll go back to Rome, and I'll go back to Paris, but just a little older and wiser than I already am today.

Guenmai

I haven't been in Rome since either the late 70s or early 80s, I can't remember. But, this has always been a problem in Rome. I've been there several times. Wear a money belt! Happy Travels!