Catherine

This msg board has been incredibly informative. Nonetheless, I'm confused about the postings re crime in Florence/Rome. I consider myself somewhat accustomed to "high-crime" cities like NYC & Chicago... As long as one carries their purse or bag strapped to their person, isn't this relatively safe? How much of these cautionary tales are hype or truly wise advice? ALSO - are robberies at hotels (while sleeping there) as prevalent as some posters seem to indicate? My husband & I are headed there for the 1st half of Sept. Much thanks in advance for any responses!

Ed

Reports are overblown, as one would expect. The vast majority who never see or experience crime don't dash home to post their crime-free experiences here or elsewhere. Those who do have a problem often do so. <BR> <BR>There are some things to watch out for ... traveling anywhere. A summary of those precautions at <BR>www.twenj.com/romesafe.htm <BR> <BR>I'm not aware of any significant number of in-hotel-while-sleeping robberies, or even robberies in hotels. Nor do the US State Department consular notes reflect such a problem. See <BR>http://travel.state.gov/italy.html

elaine

Catherine, <BR>I think you and Ed hit this on the head <BR>(no pun intended). <BR>Probabilities/frequency of crime may increase, as they do in cities large and small in the U.S. from time, to time, <BR>but the odds are still against your being a crime victim. Ed's website has some good tips. <BR>I've never been a crime victim at home (in NYC) nor abroad; I hope I'm not "due." I consider myself lucky, but I do take some sensible precautions without <BR>walking around at home or abroad feeling or looking paranoid, I think. <BR>Crime can happen anywhere, high odds or low odds. I sympathize with those who have been victimized, but the vast majority of visitors and locals have not been. I am soon on my way to Rome for the first time, but my previous visits to Italy (Florence and Venice) have been without incident. Use the hotel safe <BR>for valuables like passports, extra cash, and whatever little jewelry you may bring with you (which I really hope you don't do--that's what costume jewelry is for.) Don't bring with you or carry with you anything you can't bear or afford to lose. <BR>If you've chosen hotels in decent areas, with good reputations, you should feel safe within its walls. If you find that you don't feel safe, change hotels. <BR>Good luck

Catherine

Ed - Thanks for the msg & urls. Most helpful! Have decided to forego carrying a purse & just using a moneybelt. <BR> <BR>Elaine - Much thanks w/your reassuring words. It's been difficult to assess what's the reality in Florence/Rome, since I've never been to this part of Europe. <BR> <BR>Again, much thanks to both of you & I will hopefully add useful info when I return from my trip. Best!

ingrid

As a kid and teen I used to travel to Italy every summer for several weeks at a time (was the cheapest destination for us) and never, ever experienced anything bad. This summer, I felt totally paranoid (assuming that the times had changed for the worse). Well, nothing bad happened, nobody tried to mug us (whether or not we were asleep), no car break ins, nobody stole our stuff while were in the ocean. So, don't worry, just use reasonable caution. If you look at overall crime statistics, you're probably better off in Europe thatn in the US.

Gerry

Catherine: <BR> <BR>As far as personal safety is concerned Rome and Florence are very safe cities. Violent crime is very rare compared to the US. You will be physically safe in all of the regular tourist areas of these cities. <BR>But property theft is another issue. Pickpocketing has been developed into a high professional art. This is virtually unknown in the US. You also should be aware of gypsy children who have a nasty habit of surrounding you and putting their hands in your pockets. They will take anything you have in there. Most tourists do not appreciate these risks as this is not a problem at home. It is a greatly underestimated risk by most tourists. Witness the number of tourists that continually lose their belongings. It is not a good thing to be in a foreign country with all of your money, credit cards, hotel key, passport etc. gone. <BR>The solution is quite simple. Keep all of your valuables on your person in your money belt or leave it in your hotel safe. Carry NOTHING in you purse or pockets that you do not want to lose. If you can remember to just do this you will have a save and secure and wonderful trip and you won't come home with a crime story. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip, <BR> <BR>Gerry

Ed

Pickpocketing is virtually unknown in the US?! Ha! <BR> <BR>You'd have a hard time convincing any cop who works an area with tourists, travelers or large crowds. <BR> <BR>Stop in the office of the police or security force at any large US airport ... any day. Those aren't Roman "gypsies" flying into Detroit to lift wallets ... those are homegrown lightfinger teams. <BR> <BR>Typical of Americans, Gerry. This inferiority complex that everything in Europe is better than in the US. At least in this case, the US can equal any pickpocket the Europeans can produce. Maybe not as young, but every bit as good. <BR> <BR

Gerry

Ed: <BR>If you come to California to visit you do not need to wear a money belt. The pickpockets here are amatures compared to the ones in Rome. They don't have pickpocket schools here. I said that they had developed pickpocketing to a "high professional art" that is virtually unknown in the US. I did not mean to say that pickpocketing is unknown. But in the SF area at least it is a very uncommon crime compared to what I witnessed in Rome. And, most US tourists come from the suburbs or smaller cities where pickpockeing is not something that they have experience with. <BR>Ask a policeman? I am a SF law enforcement officer. I've been in a position to these statistics every day. Our criminals will just stick a gun in your face. They don't know how to pick your pocket. <BR>Ed, I have no desire to argue with you about anything. You are my favorite person on this forum and I value everything you say. I only want to tell the uninitiated on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim. It's very simple to do so and yet people want to believe that it will never happen to them because all cities are the same and it never happens at home and I'm too smart.... <BR> <BR>Gerry <BR> <BR>