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Hi all, I want to go to Italy but heard that pickpocketing is a widespread problem there. This is unheard of in Paris or London. Is it true?

Pickpocketing is unheard of in Paris and London? Really? That is really very surprising to me.

I would say, in Italy, chances of being pickpocketed are just as great as anywhere else. The buses get crowded, but I know when I was on one I was more concerned with being grabbed inappropriately than being pickpocketed. Just make sure to be smart about what you are carrying and how you are carrying it. If you are concerned about pickpockets, where a money purse around your neck. If you are a woman, put money, etc. in your bra. Keep things close to you. Be aware of your surroundings.

I traveled throughout Italy and never had a problem with theives. Someone may have tried to snatch my backpack once, but I think that may have been in Spain and not Italy, and it was my fault for not being more aware.

I wouldn't let this deter you from going to Italy.

Thank you. About what I said of Paris and London, it's just my personal experience. And this friend of mine told me about pickpocketing in Rome, so I'm worried.

I plan to stay in Rome for about 8 days. During this time, I want to travel to one, or two other Italian cities before coming back to Rome (then back to my home country). Do you think this is a feasible plan?

All roads lead to Rome. It is very easy to take day trips from Rome. Check out Assisi.

For what it's worth, I was pickpocketed in Paris.

quote:

For what it's worth, I was pickpocketed in Paris.

I'm guessing not worth the pickpocket's bother?

This reminds me of a thread I want to start...

They only got my driver's license, credit cards and a bit of my pride. I'm still kicking myself for letting it happen.
Some experienced traveler that I turned out to be.

Some guy in the same hostel I was staying in Rome got pickpocketed on the metro. Sliced his backpack and made off with everything.

I opted to swing my backpack forward (put it on my front side) whenever I rode public transportation in Rome and elsewhere. I also rode in the cars in the very back of the metro. Had more of a chance of breathing room there. Some of those Roman buses though... I think I'd rather walk!

Heres an interesting word:

Moneybelt. Keep all your serious cash in one of those, and incidental cash in a cheap wallet. All cards and important papers go in the belt as well.

I have been pickpocketed in Mexico city, and they got a small purse.

I have been pickpocketed in Istanbul, and they got one credit card and about 20 dollars.

I have been robbed in bar in Guatemala City. They got 8 dollars in Quetzales.

Heres the one time I actually almost lost everything important all at once: I left my moneybelt under a pillow in a hostel, then forgot about until I was an hour away from it. I naturally spent my last few quetzales to get a ferry back again, and found it UNDER the same pillow. Imagine that.

I just got lucky, I guess.

So, don't keep much in your wallet, especially not important identity cards, and you'll breathe a lot easier.

Pickpocketing happens in a lot of places but of course as a tourist you may appear to be more of a target, and often your attention is not focused in the same way as it would be at home...you're looking around or trying to find directions, etc.

I think I had some small change taken out of the small pouch of my backpack (regular daypack) on a tram in one of the Eastern European cities where I lived.

In the same city, I actually saw someone opening my friend's backpack while she was getting on the tram another time. I was too stunned to shout which I wish I had done, but I did push his hand away and we escaped without losing anything.

-The moneybelt advice is good - wear one (Tortuga I also put mine under the pillow in India and worried about forgetting it but didn't, although I did once leave it hanging on the door of a common shower in Spain. Luckily someone returned it.)

-Don't put anything valuable in that small pouch on the backpack/daypack.

-Take normal precautions but don't worry too much. I got a little paranoid after these incidents (plus a few other near misses) and now tend to be aware when I feel like someone is walking a little to close behind me, but thinking so often about being pickpocketed isn't a good feeling. Aside from this one city (which is a wonderful city otherwise) I haven't had any other problems, so luckily I'm getting over this

Have a good trip.

I'm spending the semester in Rome, and we've done quite a bit of Metro and bus travelling.. When I (or anyone in my group) has a bag, we alwasy swing it around to the front.. not necessarily the "I'm A TOURIST AND I WEAR MY BACKPACK BACKWARDS" way, but enough so that we can have an arm over the openings/zippers.
If you want to carry a wallet, keep it in your front pocket and keep your hand in your pocket when on the bus/Metro. Or you could just wear a pair of spandexy shorts with side pockets under your pants/skirts/bottoms and keep your wallet there.
Some of the people on our bus have had pickpocket attempts, but avoided losing their money/id by being alert to the possibility and acting as though everyone you don't know could be a pickpocket.


Elizabeth

When I was in Rome, this group of maybe three or four street kid suddenly surrounded me and were pulling on my coat and bag and just yelling and making a lot of noise and trying to distract me, I'm sure, to make away with my goodies. I just yelled No at them a few times and pushed on through and they left me alone. And they didn't get a thing Not that I had anything valuable in my bag or coat anyway... it was tucked safely in the money belt.

I've posted my incident back in Praha, in Europe warning sticky... But it was Praha in Czecho, not in Italy (Katelr57, was it THE city? LOL).

Northern Italy is where most of the riches live so chances of getting your belongings stolen is rather slim... But when you go to the Southern part, oh Gawd! Roma is known to be a mecca of pick pocketers, and Napoli is known with people who'll snatch women's purses right out of their hands. Just be vigilant, and like everyone's advice says, do get yourself a money belt. I know I got mine. And I'll be in Roma this weekend...

Nic

I have been to Italy myself, and know several other friends that have been as well.

I was not personally pickpocketed while there, but I witnessed two attempts on other people, and had one attempt on me - all while in Venice.

One of my friends was not so lucky... she was robbed twice while in Rome.

This could all simply be coincidence... however, I think the reputation Italy has for being home to pickpockets is not entirely without truth.

Read this page from my blog about how, in spite of being an experienced traveller, I was pickpocketed in Palermo (Southern Italy) and not-really-pickpocketed in the Gare Du Nord in Paris..., and left my wallet in Thessaloniki here - the last two paragraphs.
the moral of all this is be vigilant - money belts are the best option, but even here pickpockets have tricks.

How strange, the only two times I felt uneasy and that I had successfully avoided being robbed, were both in Rome.

I've only witnessed what were certainly pickpocketers in Nice, young girls walking around holding a map, pretending to be tourists. They were approaching some old folks when we shouted at them. They returned that with a lot of french cursing and sulked away.

i found that Moneybelts annoy me so i went a different route with my clothing. LLBean now offers pants (in thier travel and Hiking section) that has in side the front pockets a zipper pouch that atleast for me my passport, wallet, keys and my digicam. so i guess theres an option

oh an in rome dont worry so much about the pickpocketers but the gypsies who try to coner you.

be well
-MP

As another semester ends, the latest batch of people who studied a semester in Rome returned, and brought with them tales of pickpockets..

One girl had her passport in her purse the night before departure.. it was stolen on the bus.

One of the guys in the group 'played' pickpocket within the group and managed to 'steal' (and return) a camera and a 50 euro bill that was in a very sad location (an outside pocket of a bag).


Elizabeth

As has been indicated, there are pickpockets/thieves all over and the pickpockets prefer areas where it is crowded, so cities, transitt areas/crowded transport where you are going to be otherwise focussed as with locations tourists are in numbers.

So yep, take what precautions you can, and when out for just a day, think about whether you really need that daypack that identifies you - plenty of alternative shoulder type bags that might make you less standout.