I use a small travel purse with a long strap that fits across my body. I use a large safety pin across the zipper. It is easy to take the pin out if I need to get in the purse, but prevents someone from sneaking in. My wallet is on a leash that is also pinned to the inside bottom of the purse - again preventing it from being easily slipped out - further, the wallet (cloth) is pinned closed. <BR><BR>Ditto on the advice about carrying copies (leaving an extra set in your luggage and also with someone at home is a good idea). <BR><BR>When in Rome is 2000 we saw quite a few pickpockets at work in the crowded tourist areas. I thought they were fairly brazen - as there seemed to be little consequence to them when people noticed their robbery attempts. I didn't think they were dangerous, but it did require keeping an open eye and a hand on your things. You can wear a backpacks across your chest rather than on your back in places that you feel a little more security is needed.

Items like maps and books are, generally, easily replaceable so one can assume a greater risk with them. <BR><BR>As for cameras, if you choose to take an expensive one with you, carry it close to your body and try to be aware of it as much as possible. I have a compact 35mm, for slides, which I keep in a inner zippered coat pocket when not in use and a regular 35mm,for prints, which I wear over my shoulder. Neither has been lifted in eleven trips to Europe. <BR><BR>The only time the bad guys came close to getting a camera was on my first trip when I didn't know any better and carried them both in a small daypack on my back. A guy had his hand in my pack on London tube but, fortunately, I noticed him in time and kicked him in the leg as he ran away.

I just returned from a two week trip to Italy accompanied by my parents and mother-in-law. My father must have looked the typical tourist because he had two attempted pickpocketings. Luckily we were able to thwart them before they struck. The first time was in the Rome metro station. A gypsy with a girl about 8 or 9 years old came out of nowhere as we were boarding the train. I saw them standing right behind my father when I told him to watch out and pulled him aside. As soon as I did this, the gypsy &amp; the girl ran down to the next car and got in. The second time we were in the Naples train station boarding the Circumvesuviana train when a gypsy with a baby and a blanket over her arm again came out of nowhere. I noticed her getting smack up against my father as we were boarding the train and I rammed my suitcase into her. She then took off. Luckily both attempts were stopped before they we able to get anything. So, the pickpockets are out there but you just have to be careful and have your wits about you. I carried a sturdy medium sized purse big enough to hold two cameras, sunglasses, change purse &amp; misc. small objects. I wore it across my body and kept my hand on it as much as I could. We all also wore money belts. I think pickpockets just watch and when they see a window of opportunity they take it. It got kind of tiring having to be so watchful all the time, especially at the train stations, but luckily we didn't have any problems. An American guy we met at our hotel in Sorrento had been pickpocketed. He had his wallet taken from his front pocket of his pants. He said he thought that he would feel someone in his front pocket, but he was in the train station and two people blocked the entrance to the train which caused a lot of jostling and their accomplice grabbed his wallet while he was distracted. He didn't feel it because he was being bumped from all sides. My advice would be to wear a money belt for your passport, extra money &amp; credit/atm cards, lock your airline ticket in the hotel safe and only carry the money you need for the day on you. And have a great time!

I love this picture of tourists going around shouting loudly at groups of poor immigrants and ramming cases against women with babies because they look like 'gipsies'!!!<BR><BR>Just behave like you would in any city. I've lived in Rome 2 years and never had anything robbed (nor in Paris, nor London) nor any attempts made. As a woman you're at more risk of being groped. Keep your belongings under your control, hold your bag securely in front of your body in crowded spaces, keep your arm through a loop of your rucksack and be alert. <BR><BR>But don't assume you are constantly at risk, Italy's a lovely country, you need to pay attention to its beauties and not obssess feverishly about security. Don't carry anything that it would ruin your life to lose. Be sensible. Enjoy your trip.<BR>(Oh, and try not use the expression 'fanny packs' too often in Europe, you may get very strange looks).

MD- I wear a safety pack underneath my shirt- it buckles around your waist--<BR>I keep my money and credit cards in there-<BR><BR>As for a handbag, I carry a cheap shoulder bag and only put maps and my &quot;throw-away&quot; camera ( one of the disposable kinds) in the handbag.. I put NOTHING in the handbag that I CANNOT afford to lose....<BR><BR>Since the US Travel Advisory wants you to carry the original passport with you, I would put the PASSPORT also under my clothing!!<BR><BR>The gypsies are a menace- they also try to surround you and get you off guard- while you are distracted ,one of the kids tries to pickpocket you....Keep turning in a circle and yell THIEF and that usually does it.......<BR><BR>PS - your wife can also wear a fanny pack if she wants to keep her hands free.... I also do that-although a lot of posters here seem to think that makes people aware that you are an American-- but I have also seen German tourists and Swedish tourists also wearing the fanny packs-- AGAIN--Put nothing of importance in them except maps or cheapie cameras and some change for the metro....

I think I'll follow the advice of a friend regarding bar fights: single out the biggest one and knock 'em down. If they're all women, I might get me a grope in along the way as well.<BR><BR>Just kidding...I know some of these posts are meant to reassure me, but frankly there are other posts that have me picturing some sort of ring around the rosie gangland pickpocket ring.

I just got back from Italy and had my wallet stolen in a leather shop in Florence! The pickpockets, gypsies, etc. are NOT over-stated in Italy. I can assure you. People told me about it well before I left. I had my purse across my chest, zippers towards my side, but I was in a crowded area in a leather shop looking through jackets and I am guessing that is when they just unzipped my bag and grabbed the wallet. They are good at what they do and fast! You don't even feel it! I am overly cautious with my belongings and I always tell my Mom or others to watch their bags closely. Rome is so crowded right now too. I would be careful anywhere you travel, but do be safe and cautious anywhere in Italy. There is so much to do and see there and I got tons of photos to prove it plus wonderful weather, but I did not have a good taste in my mouth from the theft....obviously. Be careful and good luck and enjoy! Just always be mindful of your purses and wallets and as other posters said, do take minimal cash and my Mom's suggestion is to tuck the money/credit cards in a side zipper compartment inside the purse and use the wallet as a sort of decoy. This way when they run off with the wallet they'll be very disappointed. I am going to do that for next time and take a photo of my middle finger (universal message in all languages and put that in a decoy wallet and have my money in a small purse around my neck. Those flat neck purses are everywhere now and we got some leather ones in Italy too. Hope these ideas help. Be safe.

I have never encountered any pick-pockets and I have traveled to and stayed in Roma about 6 times. We even rode Bus #64 which apparently is a &quot;target&quot; for pickpockets as many tourists ride that line down to the ancient monuments. I carried a large Louis Vuitton over the shoulder purse, my brother had a fanny-pack. Other times he had a back-pack. When I've gone solo, I still carry my LV. I would not be concerned. If you walk assuredly and don't stop to talk to strangers but go directly to your destination, you should be fine. If you carry a lot of periphenalia with you (video camera, brochures, maps, etc) and stand out like an obvious tourist, you might indeed be a potential target. Just be savvy and street smart and you will be fine. Buon viaggio!

I'm going to resurrect this one, just one more time.<BR><BR>I would typically carry:<BR><BR>Wallet - cash, cards, id<BR>Travel papers - photo of itin and passport<BR>Camera bag - digital and dummy proof film camera<BR>Wife would have a purse<BR><BR>So I can get the little thing that you wear around your neck, under your shirt for most of it. What about my cameras? I have a bag that is about the size of a man's overnight/toiletry bag. I refuse to be so scared that I return from the trip of a lifetime without taking pictures, but I'd also like to at least return with the cameras. Should I get bags with belt clips? Carry the bag I have now? Get some pants with REAAAAALLLLLY big pockets for them?

I think, mdtravel, that you are so aware now about potential thieves that you will really be on your toes and shouldnt have to worry. I have seen camera bags that have straps that cross your chest that you can use to have your hands free. <BR><BR>But I think that if you keep your hand on the opening and a money belt you will be fine. Don't put the bag down even for a second, my friend learned that the hard way. Also, I think the waist money belts are more comfortable than the around the neck kind, after a whole day it can irritate your neck and seem like a lead weight.<BR>Have a great trip.

Ok. I'm putting this topic to bed so I can focus on planning and having fun. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and thoughts!