Help! Friend left camera in cab in Rome. Any hope?

Brilliant suggestion, Eileen! I'm going to try to remember that for next time.

Call the cab company?

Apparently there are 6 cab companies...

So... call all six! :-) I've never lost anything in a cab anywhere (I am that sort of smug, irritating person) but a friend of mine dropped her wallet in a cab on Park Avenue in NYC during rush hour, and via persistent calling, got it back! Another friend left his guitar in a cab in Barcelona (I know - who can forget he's carrying a GUITAR?) and also got it back because he called, and the dispatcher radioed out an APB. If you don't try, you won't know. Also, the cab companies very likely know each others numbers, and might offer to help out...

Thanks yea she is probably out of luck. She called a couple, but the language barrier made the convos impossible. Thanks for the suggestions.

Any hope of retrieving it? None whatsoever.

Shucks. So sorry that happened to your friend. I left a valuable item in a taxi once and it had a substantial impact on my trip. Got distracted and didn't take enough time when trying to pay, exit the car quickly, not get killed by oncoming traffic, and get my suitcase from the driver. Of course, I realized it immediately after he drove off, but it was too late. :(

I don't know why she gave up so soon. If she can't speak with them - and I'm sure that somebody at the companies would speak English if asked nicely - why not ask somebody at the hotel to help? No hotel, appeal to a young person on the street who is likely to be conversant in English and ask for help. I hope that she had backed up her pictures - cameras can be replaced, photos not so easily - but if the camera is important to her she should try and not just give up.

Another opportunity to remind people to photograph their contact info (perhaps often - every morning!) - maybe just a first name and an email address and/or phone number where you can be reached At That Time! If you're across town in Paris or NYC and the person who found your camera is calling your office phone in LA...no good (at least not in a decent time frame). This is no guarantee, but if a friendly person found your camera and wanted to return it, they can't otherwise. Just clearly print out the info on a 3x5 postcard, or the back of a business card. If you want to get fancy, in as many languages as you can (a Japanese tourist may find it in the Roman cab...), write some thing like 'If found, please contact _____'. I say to photograph this info often, because I've seen recommendations to take a photo at the beginning of your card; that could easily be 700 photos back...:-( Keep that info card with your camera. Somebody in SF speaks Italian (IF you want to get involved)...and in Italy, too; get in contact with someone (a restauranteur, cultural club, school) and get in touch with those taxi companies. Offer them a reward or buy them dinner or whatever :-) A make and model of the camera would be a huge help, and also what photos are on it. Good luck.

While a long shot anyway, I wouldn't be giving up just because of language. Her hotel would probably help and make some calls when things aren't too busy. And it might take a day for the driver to turn it in to the cab company lost/found. And if she could at least describe the color or something visual about the cab, a hotel clerk might recognize the company.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. She didn't have any luck. She is staying in an apartment, so no hotel to assist. She did the best she could communicating with each company, but this fat doesn't seem to have turned anything up. She had not backed up photos as it occurred as she was leaving her first tour (the 5 hour Vatican tour). Again I appreciate the suggestions. Have a great day!

I'm sorry for your friend Sarah. So easy to do.
I also wanted to Thank Eileen for that great suggestion!