What is with all the warnings about watching your wallet in Rome. Is having your wallet stollen in Rome really common?

I'm usually not paranoid about that kind of thing, but now I'm wondering if I should re-think going to Rome.

its safe if you keep your main money stash in a moneybelt under your shirt. dont hand money to beggars and dont worry.

Hi kt,

Of the millions of people who visit Rome every year, some are victims of pickpockets.

No one ever posts, "I went to Rome and no pickpockets came near me".

Just take the usual precautions that you would in any large city.

I've been twice in the last year and have never had any problems, nor have I felt threatened in any way. As always, you should always use precaution and perhaps a money belt.

I didn't get pickpocketed in Rome, and I took the metro and the #64 bus. I also usually had nothing in my pockets, and there's really no need to do so. Occasionally I had my camera in there, but when on the metro, I would keep my hand on it and my wrist in the strap. I had a small black Samsonite travel bag with a firm clasp that I wore against my body and it was around the opposite shoulder, so taking something from it or grabbing it would have been just about impossible without slashing it. (My moneybelt gave me a rash the first day, so I quit using it.)

One odd incident in Rome. I was standing on the metro. I noticed a group of gypsy women and girls sitting down in a bank of seats (about 5 of them). One in the middle offered me her seat. Hmm, I thought - do I look pregnant or something? I considered the issue - no way did I look pregnant or sick. So I just declined the offer.

ah my favorite subject. the answer is Yes. To avoid this:
dress like the locals, use local supermarket bags to hide your camera. dont yell or hollar to your spouse when talking. add a local newspaper under your arm and your disguise is complete.

then all thats left is to keep you money hidden under your clothes and keep an eye out wherever you go for undesirables around you. leave a small sum of cash in your back pocket for your daily needs and your are all set.

enjoy rome.

This brings up another subject - sorry to steal your thread ktyson, but do you give to the beggars - who are all over? Some are so pathetic, it's hard to walk by and look the other way. One particular woman who was completely bent over from the middle so she was looking down at the ground and could hardly walk. I told my friend that she was probably a fraud, but she said no way, how could she walk around like that all day - she gave her a few coins. The ones with the kids are particularly hard to walk away from. I know some can be set ups for pickpockets, but are there some that are legit? I feel very guilty after coming out of a restaurant having had a huge wonderful meal, gelato in hand maybe and walk by these people. I guess it's cuz we don't have too beggars many in my small hometown. Please help ease my guilt in walking past them, or should I just give them a few coins.

Barb, I'd say give what you consider appropriate to a charitable social services agency (in Italy, or wherever you think the need greatest) and not to beggars. I don't think you will help in the long term if you perpetuate a begging culture that has been going on for hundreds of years. It keeps children out of school, and worse. Italy does have a social welfare state so it is unlikely these people will starve if they don't beg.

Please do not avoid Rome because there are pickpockets..there are pickpockets in lots of cities. Taking precautions such as outlined above to include, in some instances, use of a moneybelt, should be enough.

And, Barb, yes, I give to beggars. Even if they are actually richer than I am which would be very HARD for them to be I give them something since they are obviously less fortunate than I am..anyone who sits or lies in a public place asking for money could hardly be more fortunate than I am.

If you are "feeling guilty" about passing them by, well, I doubt knowing someone else passes them by is going to help solve the real inner problem very much.

I can understand your concern after reading these warnings. I wondered about it myself before visiting Rome just 15 months ago, but I had absolutely no problems at all. In fact, most of the time I felt safer than I would walking around downtown Houston (my home town).

Just use the same precautions as you would in any big city, be aware of your surroundings and keep your cash concealed. Extra vigilance on crowded buses and trains is a good idea as well, but you needn't be paranoid.

Most importantly, don't change your plans. You'll have a great time in Rome!

Barb, when you see a beggar so bent over she can hardly walk, just remember that there are dozens of charitable organizations out there to help her. If she needs food or shelter it is available. If she needs medical care it is available. Don't try to play the "pride" game. How could anyone have too much pride to go to a charity, but not too much pride to stand on a corner with a tin cup? More and more I see signs in Europe asking people not to encourage the beggars by giving, but by giving to a charitable organization that helps them instead. I assure you in 9 cases out of 10, your money will go to better purposes that way.

Where do you live now? No pickpockets there?

Gee, there are in my little city in the US...

I've been to over 50 countries, including 2 trips to Rome. In my travelling life I've only been robbed once, and that was in Vancouver, BC. Long story short, I let down my guard and was vulnerable to a thief. It can happen anywhere. Just pay attention and you'll be fine in Rome.

P. S. Despite what happened, I liked Vancouver very much and would go back to Vancouver tomorrow if I had the chance. But next time I'll pay more attention and not make the same mistake twice.

Ktyson... I don't know how old you are. My only advice is for more "mature" persons to be more alert.
We've been in Rome several times..but the last time when my husband couldn't hide his age (!) he was the victim of a pick pocket. Up til then he'd been just as sloppy about his personal security with no ill effects. Guess the perps think the old geezers can't run! I've always carried a shoulder satchel close under my arm and away from the curb side of the street. Of course, now that I'm looking "mature" I may have to alter my modus operandi -

Hi Everyone,

It's not that I'm a small town hick who has never been to a big city. I live in a fairly large city, and also spend a lot of time in Chicago. It just seems that there were a lot more posts about being pick pocketed in Rome then there were about being pick pocketed in other large cities. So that concerned me. I guess I wouldn't be a big target for thieves because I am cautious and try to just blend in with the locals.

got1tiel, you had some good tips for
blending in with the locals.

Barb, don't give to the beggars. Like other posters mentioned, there are several social service agencies to help them. Those that have children with them do that intentionally because they know that will get them more handouts. Once you open your purse and they see what you have, that makes a a victim. Here in the U.S. I just keep walking and ignore them. Several years ago my husband felt sorry for one of the panhandlers, but didn't want to give him cash because he assumed he would spend it on alcohol. So he went in Mcdonalds and bought the guy a big mac. The panhandler was so outraged that he threw the big mac at my husband. It's not that I'm not a caring person because I do donate to many charities. I just don't hand out money to beggars.

Grandma, I'm in my early 40's. Thanks for the tip. To someone in their 60's or 70's I am young. But to a pickpocets that is a teen or in their early 20's I would be a good target. Someone that young would think I was old.

Thanks for all your tips.

I just got back from Rome two weeks ago. I lived in Rome many years ago as a student when their were a lot of gypsies at the train station who would play their "cardboard games" and I also rode buses a lot. I have also been back to Italy on two seperate occasions since then. I never was pickpocketed in Rome. (I did have my wallet lifted in NYC many years back- and they took my wallet that my brother bought for me in Italy.)

Since I live in NYC I feel that the best way to travel is to look like you fit in. I travel with a shoulder bag that I use at home (but one that has a few more compartments that holds my small camera and guidebook and has an inside zipper pocket for my wallet). I only choose purse size guidebooks and I have a great small APS camera that takes excellent photos and fits in my coat pocket or front zipper compartment in my purse so I don't have to open my purse each time I want to take a photograph. Italian women don't walk around with money belts or belly bags or backpacks on their chest. Just use common sense. I also never carry my passport- just a photo copy. I leave it the hotel safe. I also keep an extra credit card in the safe and photocopies of all of my information in case something does get lost or stolen.

If you are worried about pickpockets my advice to not hide your money all over your body but look for a purse that will accomodate your belongings and look natural. Carry along a small plastic tote for small umbrellas in case it rains- that helps when you walk in and out of stores or museums.

Brava!

Don;t understad the need for all this strange clothing - and ferreting about under your clothes to pay for anything. Just use a normal purse/wallet and exercise normal awareness and you should not have any problems. (If you don;t kow how to exercise normal city precautions - learn before you go.)

IMHO it's those that use all these strange garments, packs etc that attract a lot of extra attention - and make themselves targets.

<dress like the locals, use local supermarket bags to hide your camera. dont yell or hollar to your spouse when talking. add a local newspaper under your arm and your disguise is complete.>

Is this a joke?

I've stood outside attractions or been in stores and watched other tourists go through major contortions of the body while they carefully extract a money pouch from under three layers of clothing. Often the husband or wife stands suspiciously next to them eyeing everyone as if they might be under attack. I always feel that these people must be carrying one helluvalot of money to be going to so much trouble. Then I always wonder if there are thieves around watching them and thinking the same thing.

No thanks. A regular wallet in my front pocket and a cool head is all I plan to use. Hasn't failed me yet, even though there have been two pickpocket attempts.

ktyson, I worried about the same thing the first time I was preparing to visit rome last summer. Yes, we did see pick-pockets, but we were ready for them, and they didn't get anything from us. If you read all the advice on-line and take steps ahead of time to protect your valuables, you'll be fine. Actually you'll be even safer from now on than if you had never gone to Rome, because you learn how to avoid a lot of mistakes that can help you anywhere in the world.