Being safe in Italy....

What do you mean?

Have seen both. What's the question?

Sorry for not being clear... Heard scare stories about backpacks and tennis shoes targeting Americans for pick-pockets....

It's true that pickpockets target tourists. But odds are overwhelmingly good that you'll be spotted as a tourist regardless of what you wear. The trick is to take preventive measures, such as wearing a money belt, and to be aware of your surroundings.

Tennis shoes are common even on Europeans. What is not common is tennis shoes on 50 year old tourist while the tennis shoes are common on European teenagers and young twenties. And the backpack will target you as a tourist regardless of your footwear. Just take reasonable cautions and do not have anything that is easy access or it may disappear.,

Mike, The "locals" and especially the pickpockets will be able to spot you as a tourist regardless of whether you're wearing a Backpack and Tennis Shoes or not. If your normal travel gear includes those items, then go ahead and use them. However, I'd suggest not putting anything of value in the Backpack. As the others have said, WEAR A MONEY BELT! It's also a good idea to practice "situational awareness", so that you're aware of those around you. Be especially vigilant if there are any disturbances near you, and when you're travelling on crowded transit such as the Metro of the infamous #64 Bus in Rome. Pickpockets tend to work in "teams", so if your wallet is "nicked" it will be passed off to one or more accomplices very quickly. I believe there's a section in Europe Through The Back Door covering this topic. Happy travels!

Mike, men and women often carry cross-body messenger-type bags (if you have too much stuff to put into a money belt it's a good idea). I also like to split up the money in different places.

I was targeted last week in Milan by a group of 4 well-dressed young men. I was in jeans and black running shoes. We were getting onto the Metro at the Duomo, and I obviously stuck out as a tourist, what with the shopping bag I was carrying, the small camera slung across my shoulder, and especially the cross shoulder, Pac Safe man purse. One went for my leg, roughing up my pant leg as if to indicate he was helping me get off some substance that had ruined my pants. While my attention went to my feet, after about 3 seconds I knew it was a robbery attempt, so I yelled in a very firm, LOUD voice for the person to stop. Everyone's attention in the car was now on me, and the 4 bad guys ran off the car. All this in 10 seconds while the doors were open at the stop. People were sympathetic to my plight, one lady said girls got at her husband in a similar way the day before. I had to check my purse to see if they were successful and although the 2 zippers were open across the top of the purse and the latch was now open, they got nothing. The subway personnel and even the police we found in the Central Station were not helpful. Lesson learned: you are a tourist, the bad guys can spot you a mile away as being one, you just have to be aware of who's around you at all times and take every precaution with your stuff. The following day when we went out, I scanned everyone around me suspiciously (I didn't like doing that because 99% of the people we encountered in our trip were good people) and wore my purse under my coat and had the strap short so that the purse was not visible. This incident has not deterred us to be open to returning to this awesome country!

I hadn't heard that variation before. Good tip, James. What I've never heard, though, is of someone being mugged (e.g. at gun or knife point). Italy is extremely safe when it comes to violent crime. It's the more creative pickpocketing you have to be vigilant for.

Try fastening your zippers closed with safety pins as an extra hurdle.

Thanks for all the tips!! Vigilance, money-belts, pac-safe and good sense seems to be the key! Thanks again!

I wore sandals my sister wore sneakers. We had a thin backpack nothing happened. We had sunglasses dark and we were bad to the bone.

Joanne...bad to the bone...love it!

I carried a gun and had hidden knives to protect myself and my wife!!! Of course I am kidding....just be aware of your surroundings and be aware of people crowding you etc. My wife and I were very paranoid and were cautious and nothing happened. Just don't be clueless and you will be fine.

Thanks all!!

Another good "lock" for zippers is a key-chain that separates, they type where you can give someone your car key without giving them your house key, too.