Just robbed in Rome ...be careful and then be even more careful!

So sorry! Even Rick Steves himself was pickpocked (last year in Paris), after years of warning travelers to be careful. So it can happen to anyone.

Two years ago in Riga, Latvia, I was nearly pickpocked in a brazen attempt while I was climbing steps at a train station with my hands full with bags and some food. A young couple dressed as tourists passed me going down as I was going up - not even very crowded at all - and she reached her hand into my front pocket (wallet and passport). I caught on to her immediately, before she could grab anything, yelled and turned, and pushed her down the stairs. The two of them started yelling at me, telling me I was crazy. I was of course confused and a little scared. Another local came over and started chatting with them in Latvian, and they quickly ran off. "Those were bad people," the local told me. So I was very lucky.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. After traveling in Italy since 1980 I've noticed that some of the pickpockets are maestros in their craft. They come in all sizes, ages, ethnicities, genders, and whatever else is descriptive.

When we are in Roma I always wear a money belt, always. Also, I've learned to leave the wallet at home. I've noticed since we are older we seem to attract more of these types who probably think we are "easy pickins."

I hope this doesn't completely ruin your trip or your thoughts of Italy.

Buon viaggio,

Wearing a "neck pouch" on my shoulder, instead of around my neck, and under my shirt is no problem for me, and it is not uncomfortable. My small travel wallet is inside my travel purse, inside a zipped pocket. It would never have more than $100 value of whatever currency in it. My credit/ATM cards would not be in the wallet.

So sorry for your misfortune. If you had hung around this site a little earlier you would have heard the drum beat --- NOTHING IN THE REAR POCKET - over and over and over. And nothing in the front pocket either as some claim it to be saver -- but it is not. I never carry a billfold. All of my standard, daily shirts have to two secured front pockets - one has a credit card and something a debit card if I need cash that day, and the other pocket has about 50 to maybe a hundred euro depending on the plan of the day. Everything else in the money belt. In 20 + years of travel never a problem -- but there is always the next trip.

Sorry this happened - but thank you for posting because it reinforces the lesson many of us try and tell people about pickpockets - wallets in backpacks, regular purses, back pockets and front pockets are easy pickens. It also negates the argument that some make claiming they are safe because they are aware of their surroundings. You knew the backpack needed to be more secure and should have held it in front - but got complacent or short on time or distracted and that's all the opening a pickpocket needs. Things happen. Or they make their own distraction, they can be very good at that.

I hope you enjoyed your daugter's graduation and didn't let it ruin your trip.

So sorry this happened to you...

Congratulations on your daughter's college graduation!

Congratulations on your daughter's graduation, but sorry to hear you were the victim of a pickpocket. We just returned from the BOE 14 Day tour that started on May 13th. Fortunately, we had no bad experiences. I wore a crossbody bag in front of me on which my hand was securely placed in crowded situations. The bag had multiple zippered inner pockets and I hid my phone and small amount of cash within. My husband had a backpack, but when we were on crowded metro trains, I stood behind him to guard the backpack. We both wore money belts, but since mine just had my passport, driver's license, and US dollars, I ended up storing it in the hotel safe halfway through the trip. It was comfortable and made of stretchy Lycra, however when we were in the warmer temperatures of Italy, it made me too hot. I just carried a copy of our passports in my crossbody bag from that point on.

At least two people on our tour did have issues with pickpockets, though fortunately they suffered no losses. One man had some kids swarm him in the Louvre and when he told them to leave him alone, they continued to touch him and his belongings. When he called out "pickpockets!" they took off and security approached. Another was on the metro in Italy and had a comb in his back pocket. When he went to reach for it, he also felt someone else try to put their hand is his pocket. He turned around and let the person know he was on to them.

I agree that it's best to be very cautious and always be aware of your belongings in cities and crowded situations. It can happen to anyone.

According to the latest crime statistics, if you were a victim of pickpocketing (“borseggio” in Italian) in the city of Rome, there is a 92% chance the author of the crime was not an Italian, but a foreigner.
(See table 3 in this article).
That means the thief could have been a fellow tourist, maybe from North America like you.

Thanks for being brave enough to share your experience. I got picked in Paris last year and didn’t even feel anyone near me! It’s a good warning to be vigilant.

That sucks. Even if you had had the backpack in front of you, that's not necessarily enough. A lot of the thieves rely on distraction. This is why I like travel bags that I can lock down if I'm going to go into a vulnerable situation (public transit, busy pedestrian area). The kind with the locking devices on the zipper that will slow down any thief. PacSafe is one maker of bags like that. One point in Rome's favor is that actual muggings (with weapons) are very, very rare.

Why would someone wear a money belt for a Beach day? Where would the money belt go once you got to the beach? Sounds like OP's only option was the backpack. When I go to the beach I take hardly anything and might invest in a waterproof beach pouch for a trip to Italy if I was planning a beach day so I could take valuables with me when I go in the water. At home, when we go in the water, to the potty or for a walk I just leave everything at my beach camp and nothing has ever happened to it, we all just take care of each other I guess.

Beantown14
It could not have been me. I have an iron proof alibi. I was not in Rome.

Letizia
Who said that on a beach one doesn’t wear a money belt.

I 'm sorry this happened to you. Try not to "beat yourself up" too much. So many have been pickpocketed before you and so many will be pickpocketed after you. Crowded buses and Metro.s are prime places.

Who said that on a beach one doesn’t wear a money belt.

Ewww. That is not a good look. Worse than a fanny pack, and I didn't think anything could be worse than that!

dmbuscher, so sorry about your misfortune but big kudos to you for admitting that your bag could have been better secured, and for sensibly reminding others not to ignore the cautions. I sincerely hope this was the only downer of an otherwise great trip with your graduate!

My wife had my old iPod taken at the entrance to St. Peter’s basilica. Standing there taking a photo and just like that, it was gone. All the thief got was some music and movies. Heck, that iPod didn’t even have WiFi.

Was your metro ride partly on the orange line A the train goes to the Vatican? Back in the day they use to call that the pickpocket express.

I'm so very sorry that happened to you!!!

(But congratulations on your daughter's graduation!)

dm,

Sorry about your misfortune. As you've now learned, the pickpockets there are very skilled and it doesn't take long for them to take advantage of an easy opportunity. Carrying a wallet in a Backpack is usually not a good idea, although a lockable pack will help to some extent, but those can be vulnerable at times too. I assume you'll be modifying your travel methods on your next trip.

The situation you described with the family that had $5K nicked is not the first time I've heard of that sort of thing. One of my former colleagues was riding the Metro in Rome and had a "substantial quantity of cash" (he wouldn't tell me the exact amount) in a wallet in a front, zippered pocket. It was pinched somewhere on the ride, and he didn't feel a thing.

Well, those of you who fear Neapolitan pickpockets should watch out for German tourists pickpockets instead.

From today’s paper:
Capri: German tourists steal the wallet from a Neapolitan worker

I’m telling you. These foreigners in Italy are nothing but trouble.

Sorry that happened to you. My husband wears a money pocket and we have never had an issue anywhere. I like your idea of leaving cash and a different credit card from the one you have on you in the hotel safe.

I was on study abroad about 15 years ago in Madrid and I carried my messenger bag everywhere. I carried my keys and money in the back part of it that was zippered and always facing me. Once I was squished on the metro with some of my classmates, and there was a girl next to me that had her ENTIRE arm in my messenger bag that only housed my notebook and Spanish to English dictionary. I yanked it back from her just as her compatriot was unbuckling my friend's backpack (that was clipped tight enough that when it released, its a noticeable sound and feel). We had some words for them and then literally had to stare at them until the next stop when they bolted because we were onto them. Sorry it happened to you!

I always travel wearing either a Scottevest or Exofficio jacket or vest. These jackets/vests have numerous pockets on the INSIDE, many with zippers. These companies make women and men's styles, for all ranges of weather. In fact, as a woman, I no longer travel with a purse, and feel much more comfortable knowing my wallet is secure next to my body. I also like having both hands free. I carry a light daypack for snacks, drinks, and a packable raincoat.

I was pickpocketed in London in 1991, Since then I have tried to be much more attentive. The main thing that I use is a Pacsafe travel billfold. The billfold zips up to protect cash and closes with velcro. The entire billfold has a chain on it that I keep chained to my belt and in my front pocket. I'm sure that a really skilled thief could figure out how to get the chain undone or to open the velcro and zipper without me knowing but that seems fairly unlikely. So far, so good after about 10 European trips.

We always go to Europe in the fall, mid October and through November. So I also wear a Scottevest, either vest or jacket with zip off sleeves. The pockets on the inside are zipped and the vest is on me zipped up the front. I love the hands free and the weight is distributed. Wouldn't work for summer travel obviously.

On our first trip to Europe I had been reading the RS Travel Forum for quite a while. I got a money belt for my husband and neck wallet for me. He said he didn't want to wear the money belt. So I told him that if he would read the Forum sites I showed him then he could choose. He wore the money belt.
Good thing. We were standing on a bus and hubby went to put his hand in his pocket and there was a hand in there. He grabbed the hand, pulled it out and in a loud voice said "Get you hand out of my pocket"
The man started acting drunk and sorry sorry sorry. An Italian businessman in suit with a briefcase starting fussing at the pickpocket. Pickpocket couldn't wait for the door to open at the next stop.
We told the businessman thank you and he shrugged and smiled. Hubby did have the money belt on
and only had about 20 Euros in his pocket.

When in places like Rome, Paris, and especially Barcelona, men MUST have either a neck wallet or money belt.

Hip pocket, front pocket, on chain - it really doesn't make much difference -- Quote from this site ----

John, Sacramento -----
Money stolen out of wallet - It was on a chain hooked to my belt, but on the Paris metro, it must have looked like Christmas came early. Crowded, had to stand. Someone just slipped it out during all the bumping, extracted the money, and left it hanging, not noticed by the numb butt tourist until he felt it banging against his leg once he exited the Metro. Couple hundred dollars in it.