Security in Naples
 

My wife and I are planning a trip to the Amalfi coast in July and are considering a 2 day stopover in Naples. We're concerned about the high crime rate. Any comments about personal safety would be apprpeciated.

Hi mk,

We spent 3 days in Naples and did not find it less safe than other cities we have visited.

Just follow the usual precautions.

((I))

I just returned from an Amalfi Coast trip and spent a day in Naples.
It was a lively city and the only danger we encountered was dodging scooters and crossing streets. Bear in mind it is a large city probably not much different than NY city was 10 years ago.

Naples has a bad reputation, and that's unfortunate because it has much to offer -- and it's just plain fun.

Follow the normal big city precautions and enjoy yourself.

Thanks for the replies, folks. We feel better about the visit now. Sometimes reports can frighten you off.

As Paul Simon said, "A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." Many on this forum dismiss concerns about the safety of Naples as ignorance or alarmism. Just two days ago a relative of Dario Fo, the Italian playwrite, was murdered in broad daylight in Naples in the city center after withdrawing money from an ATM. His son told the media that he could not understand why his family continued to live in Naples which he referred to as a "sick city."
http://www.repubblica.it/2005/e/sezi.../uccisona.html Naples has a lot to offer, but to say that it is no more unsafe than other Italian cities is to deny the obvious. You should take extra precautions in Naples,particularly on public transportation. Having said that, I think you should see for it for yourself. If you can get past the ugly exterior, it has a lot to appreciate.

Hi rb,

In the incident you report the victim, who hadheart problems, had just withdrawn 3300E from a bank.

He was mugged.

It is possible that he died from a heart attack.

Except for gang-related killings, which have little or no effect on tourists, is the incidence of violent crime in Naples significantly higher than in Rome, London, Berlin, Paris, Washington,DC?

((I))

Naples is a bit city like all the others. Just pay attention, when you go there: no wallet in the back pocket, do not wear gold, no bags....etc...and you will be just fine.

<Except for gang-related killings, which have little or no effect on tourists, is the incidence of violent crime in Naples significantly higher than in Rome, London, Berlin, Paris, Washington,DC?>
I can't speak to those cities, but as far as Italy is concerned, Naples is clearly the most dangerous city. According to the Compendio statistico degli eventi criminosi, cited here:
http://www.ristretti.it/areestudio/s.../tamburino.htm
in 2002 one-third of all robberies in Italy occurred in Compagna.Naples alone was responsible for 25% of them. Anecdotal evidence ["We spent three days there and nothing happened." "You can be robbed in Rome, too." "All cities have crime."] ignores facts which the statistics bear out. Naples has one of the most extreme divergences between poverty and wealth in Italy. Unemployment is high. And its crime problem is not limited to organized-crime related killings.

We were planning on carrying our guidebooks and map in a small backpack, and I wanted to keep our camera in the "strap across the chest" purse I usually carry in Europe.
All cash will be in a moneybelt, of course.

Anyone have suggestions as to a different way of doing this?

ttt

Hi "Aggie":

I was in Naples in January and I did exactly as you describe. I'd suggest that you divide your credit/cash cards and cash and always keep a stash back the the hotel, just in case. Also, when touring Naples itself, you can rent an audio-guide (which is terrific) which comes with a small guide map. It will save you having to carry a guide-book.

regards Ger

Please do not underestimate the thieves that operate in and around Naples and take all possible care with your belongings.Your appearance will be very obvious to the criminal element and please take extreme care especially on buses and trains.

Hi mkshapiro
I have just returned from a trip to Naples. I was with my wife and my parents (who are 70). We were mugged twice, the second time by 14 men on scooters who dragged my mother along the road and hit her on the head to try to make her drop her bag.
Take it from me Naples is a very dangerous city - the police were not interested in the attack and simply shrugged their shoulders.
If you are to visit Naples (and the surroundings do make it worthwhile) then:
1 Never wear a watch
2 Never carry a bag
3 Never dress like a tourist
4 Always be on your guard and watch for people following you
5 If possible avoid public transport (especially the trains - the train we were travelling on was boarded by 50 teenagers who robbed and assaulted everyone on board)
6 Hire a minder or a guide

Naples is a fascinating city and well worth a visit. It is, however, unlawful and crime is endemic.

Fortunately we were not badly hurt and I beat the living daylights out of the man who grabbed my mother's bag...if I had not been trained in martial arts or they had been armed we would not have been so lucky.

Just returned from a month trip to Italy on Thursday evening. Our only problem during our trip was the train station in Naples.

We were catching a train to Sorrento (circumvesuviana) and my husband lost his wallet with $800, Credit card, debit card, driver's license and social security card.

He was mad.

When we went to get on the train there was a young man with an accordian and a young girl with a tamborine standing in the doorway as we tried to throw our luggage up on the train platform. The guy and girl were the diversion as while my husband was lifting the bag with both hands, a third person lifted the wallet before he could drop it.

The accordian play and girl then jumped off the train as we pulled out of the station minus my husbands wallet.

Of course I said that morning to my husband, "we are going to be going through Naples, put your wallet away."

Men are so macho, and so dumb. Luckily I had my own credit and debit card so we were alright, but we had to call home and have our daughter cancel our account and transfer the money to my account.

The money belt is the only way to go. Those deep pockets are only good if you don't have any luggage and you keep your hands in your pants.

Oh my potwalloper, you and your family really had an exciting time in Naples didn't you? Have you all decided on when you will again return to serene Naples, LOL. 14 guys, and you took care of them. That is the way to go.
Those 50 teenagers that robbed and assaulted everyone on the train. Today's kids, they are a problem for sure.

Well LoveItaly
You may find the idea of a violent attack by a bunch of cowards on a 70 year old woman funny - if so you have a peculiar sense of humour.

I didn't "sort out" the attackers - I sorted out one of the attackers - the others ran like frightened rabbits when they saw what was happening and left their friend to his fate.

I am not making this up and you trying to belittle what is a real risk to visitors is hardly a mature or responsible approach - perhaps once you have grown up a little and gained some experience of the more unpleasant aspects of life you will begin to realise this.

My guess is that you would have crapped yourself in a similar situation and handed over your property whilst grovelling on the ground. However I may be mistaken...

Hi pot,

Very kind of you to go to all the trouble of registering to inform us, in your only posts, of the problem in Naples.

Hi eurogals
>..my husband lost his wallet with $800,

Thanks for reporting on this ploy.

>Men are so macho, and so dumb.
Is it the macho that makes them dumb, or are they macho because they are dumb? :)

((I))

We were ripped off at the train station by an employee porter of the railstation.

We had a great driver who was very careful for us. He was from Sorrento and was concerned so it is not a myth about Naples...........

Those stories about the robberies are terrifying and it is easy to be cavalier when it is not happening to you. I just returned from Sicily (see my report on hotels). About ten minutes after arriving at our hotel, I went down to the lobby leaving my partner in our room. I was discussing dinner options with the receptionist when a man brandishing a knife walked into the lobby and proceeded to relieve me of my wallet before forcing the receptionist to open the cash drawer. He took the hotel's cash and the woman's jewelry. The police were very kind but they told me that next time I should avoid Palermo which, according to them, was "as bad as Falluja." They advised me to plan my next trip around a visit to their infinitely safer hometown, Naples! I am not sure what I could have done to avoid being assaulted. I do not dress like an obvious tourist. Nor would I attempt to deter anyone from visiting either Naples or Palermo. Aside from reasonable precautions it may be a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Quite scary!