We'll be taking the train to Sorrento from the Rome Termini. We'll have to change trains in Naples and it seems every guidebook mentions theft on the trains and the station.
We will be carrying our bags and probably be tired. How bad is the theft problem and is there anything specific we should be watching for?
We've traveled in Italy many times but always by car.

I've used Naples station several times, both alone and with my husband, & been fine. We also stayed in Naples for a week last year & had no problems. But at the station, avoid any men who claim to be station officials who try to "earn" a tip by directing you to your platform or anything like that.

Hi G,

You will put your large suitcase on the luggage rack at the end of the car (it's always at the end opposite the door you entered).

You will put your small bags on the overhead rack above your seat.

The only time your suitcase can be stolen is when the train is in a station.

Most ES* don't stop between Rome and Naples.

Some folks recommend using a bicycle cable to attach your suitcase to the luggage rack.

I have found no need for it.

At the Naples train station, watch all of your possessions at all times.

There are no porters.

Don't let anyone "help" you with your luggage.

Enjoy your visit.

The place to be most aware is when you leave the large main area of the Naples station and are heading down corridors/stairs to get to the Circumvesuviana. Of course, keep your eyes open everywhere -- use direct eye contact and a forbidding "no" or finger-shake if someone (esp. what appears to be a young mother with a babe in arms asking for help) approaches. But there are one or two passages where everyone moves along at a pretty good clip. At the place where you buy the Circumvesuviana tickets, you'll see signs warning about pickpockets, so it isn't as if the local officials weren't aware of a problem.

Sometimes there's a crush of people to get on the Circumvesuviana, esp. at rush hour. Since another one will be coming in 20 min. or so (or sooner), we opted to stay up above the platforms (you can see them and their signs) until close to departure, just to stay out of crowds with our somewhat unwieldy luggage.

A better bet to avoid Naples is to take the Marozzi bus from Rome to Sorrento. It takes about 4 hours. The bus was clean and not crowded. It even stops in Pompei (at the ruins) on the way down - you can get off, store your bags for free at the Pompei site and then catch the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento when you're done.

A better bet to avoid Naples is to take the Marozzi bus from Rome to Sorrento. We traveled (with three young children) from Rome to Sorrento (and back) on the bus three weeks ago and thought it was great. It takes about 4 hours to get between Rome and Sorrento. The bus was clean and not crowded. It even stops in Pompei (at the ruins) on the way down - you can get off, store your bags for free at the Pompei site and then catch the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento when you're done.

The website is http://www.marozzivt.it/

I take an ES that stops at the Mergellina station, 5 min tram to the port and hydrofoil to Sorrento (30 mins)