Pickpocketing in Italy- then and now

Much depends on where you are going. I have never had this experience, but I rarely travel to large cities. Wear a money belt, and forget about it.

Remember to not accept help for anyone unless you're asking for it. Train stations are full of such people that are looking to "help" you--even if it's to usher you into an elevator.

I long ago learned to not carry anything of value on me. And I'm not a "nice American" when anyone gets into my space. My wife often walks close behind me too. At 6' 3" and 240 lbs. and with an unforgiving attitude, nobody really messes with me.

Hi Stephanie,

My adult daughter had a pickpocket when we were riding the metro in Rome last September. The pickpocket’s tactic was to block the entry into the open space of the subway car while she pickpocketed people. I could see a lot of space behind her and moved past her. My daughter was caught in front of her. A local woman started yelling at the pickpocket who abruptly exited the subway car at the next stop. My daughter’s small crossbody purse was unzipped but nothing taken; she also was wearing a money belt. This was her first trip to Europe, and I had stressed wearing a money belt, which of course she wondered if she really needed to wear it. ; ). This experience her last day became just another story for her instead of a loss.

I traveled to Italy twice last summer and rode numerous trains. My carry on is placed above me on the shelf, and I have a small day bag with my purse inside it. I wear the daybag across my chest when I’m around people as I’m transferring to another city. I wear a Baggallini crossbody purse when I’m out sightseeing and always have everything of value - passport, credit cards, ATM cards and large Euros inside my money belt.

I’m very aware as I’m out & about, mainly because I do travel solo on some trips, and do keep some space around me when possible. When it’s crowded on the street & always on subways, I have my hand resting over my purse. I’ve never had any issues.

I wear a cross body purse with lots of zippered pockets in front of me so there’s no way someone can get into it. I’ve never been pickpocketed anywhere in europe or the uk in 20+ trips lasting 1-3 mos.

Was your cross body wallet on your back which is why you didn’t notice someone opening it? I can’t imagine it was across your chest (where it should be) and you didn’t notice someone opening it.

I’ve never been pickpocketed.
Just scammed once at an ATM machine in Italy long ago by a “helper”.
I know better now.

Two young Roma girls went for my friend’s bag as we walked to the station in Rome 10 years ago.
I saw them before she did and screamed at them to back off.
She had her important stuff in her moneybelt though.
The older one smirked and shrugged her shoulders as if to say “I’ll get the next tourist”.
I haven’t seen or heard of any active attempts while out and about in Italy in recent years.
Still good to be vigilant, wear your moneybelt, refuse “help”, and be hands free as much as possible.

It's good to have posts like this once in a while. Rick's "tourist scams" section is a good place to check before traveling.

We have a whole course on situational awareness at work. The only time I've been surprised is walking down the Champs Elyse and one of the survey takers suddenly appeared in front of me. I'm usually vigilant, but she appeared out of nowhere. After a quick firm "no!" I did a 360 to look for accomplices. It was a wake up call.

Our 20 something grandson spent a year doing Studies Abroad. A guy on the metro spotted him as American and tried to pickpocket him. It was a bad mistake on his part. My grandson is 6'2" and didn't take kindly to the intrusion.

Those “girls” were the infamous gypsy (Roma people) kids. They are a common unpleasant presence in major tourist spots, especially in big cities, and they target foreign tourists especially. You have to be very aggressive with them and not be fooled by their innocent teen age look. They are trained thieves who (often trained by their parents) do nothing but spend their time stealing.

The best strategy is to keep these people at bay and not let them come close to you in any way. Don’t be ashamed to be menacing and threatening to them.

In addition, since 90% of pickpockets happen in crowded situations, especially public transit, avoid those situations by avoiding buses and subways. Most Italian cities are walkable, so just walk. If someplace is too distant to walk or maybe you are too tired to walk, take a taxi. A taxi will be more expensive than a bus, but they are very safe, and there is nothing that will ruin your vacation like being a victim of pickpockets. It is not just the loss of replaceable credit cards or even passport, but the loss of time and hassle that such event causes, since you need to contact your bank, report the incident to the police, and maybe even waste time at the US consulate (and there are only 4 in Italy, in Rome, Milan, Florence, and Naples) to replace your passport.

High speed trains are safe (too expensive for thieves) but regional trains (cheap commuter trains) may be a target of thieves during rush hour, just like subway trains. The trains at the Cinque Terre are an example of such regional trains. The only difference is that instead of being packed with local commuters they are packed with tourists, which make them an even more attractive target to thieves.

Back in the early-90s, out of nowhere, I was swarmed in a piazza in Genoa and just shouted an expletive at the top of my lungs and they were gone - and there was my girlfriend looking on wondering what the H just happened.

I'm not vouching for the pants but I enjoy reading the testimonials

https://www.clothingarts.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvoqA3syT_QIVBxGtBh2MOg1LEAAYASAAEgIBZvD_BwE

I don't carry a purse, I wear a light-weight Scottevest or Exofficio vest with zipper pockets on the inside of the vest. My phone is in a Bandolier case with a neck strap, my passport and extra cash and credit cards are under my clothes, and all my backpack carries is a jacket, diet cokes, guidebooks and snacks. Still, when jet lagged, exhausted or lost, it's easy to get careless.
Good luck to all.

HI Stephanie
I am returning to Italy in September after a 10 year absence; way too long! I have been twice, and both times I used a crossbody PacSafe or crossbody Travelon purse and had NO problems. Just gotta remember to keep those zippers closed and locked down. They are supposed to be slash proof due to mesh in between layers of fabric, and have a light cable in the straps to prevent slashing. I also have a PacSafe camera bag: I have a newer style now, but used one on my 2012 trip and also had NO problems. My wallet also was an RFID safe wallet just in case someone tried scanning my bag as they walked by. I tried it out in Venice in the vaporetto shelter where the vaporetto pass is held up in front of the scanner and read that way; I had it in my wallet, held my wallet up to the scanner, and it would not read it! YES!
So for me, maybe I was just lucky, or maybe it was my pick-pocket-proof-purse that they saw and said "NEXT!" Either way, I've already got my new PacSafe purse and camera bag ready to rock 'n roll!
Have fun and good luck!
Robyn

I use a cross body Travelon purse (in front) with zippers that lock. Maybe the pickpockets will eventually figure out a way to unlock them, but for now I feel pretty safe. My husband wears his RS money belt.

In Sept-Oct 2022, we were in Milan, Turino, Firenze, Pisa, Siena. There were plenty of crowds. However, there were also plenty of cops. The main issue is the persons from lands far to the south of Italy selling worthless garbage.

I was in Florence a few weeks ago. In the area around the around the Duomo there are many people who want to "give" you a bracelet (ie put it on your wrist before you can say no), or a booklet about Africa. They don't want to "give" you anything, of course. Once you take it, you better be prepared to hand over some money.

I often travel alone, so I don't seem to be approached as often as people traveling in pairs or groups. Also, I find that having a pair of earbuds in and walking like you know where you're going makes you look like a local.

I'm not vouching for the pants but I enjoy reading the testimonials
https://www.clothingarts.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvoqA3syT_QIVBxGtBh2MOg1LEAAYASAAEgIBZvD_BwE

I bought 2 pairs of these and they did not fit well at all and were made of a cheap material. Like I bought 32 length and they were 3 inches too long. I was pretty disappointed

I've been to Rome a few times in the past year and to more than a dozen other Italian cities and I feel so lucky to be able to look forward to visits without the bad taste of an incident like that in my mind. When I went with my teens, we wore small backpacks, which is generally not recommended, but we had them rigged up in a specific way and literally watched each others' backs.

When I went alone, I carried a small cross body that only zipped (no flaps) and had a hidden space inside. I held my hands over the opening if I was pressed by a crowd. It had a paracord style strap.

I was told that people with jackets (or other items) over their arms on the metro are the ones to watch?

I do wonder how much of it has to do with peak season? I'm aware people can be pickpocketed at any time, but we went in the off season each time and there were rarely crowds tight enough for people to get up against us inconspicuously. I also feel like people left me alone way more when I had my teens with me.

Planning on travel to Venice, Florence and Rome in June. I usually prefer to wear neck version of a money belt. Will that be safe or should I wear the waist version?

Neck version works. That’s what I generally use for my passports. Just keep it inside your clothes in front of you. It will make you look like you have a beer belly, but it’s ok. It will be hard to steal anything that is inside your body in front of you.

And below some advice from the Italian police.

Most pickpockets happen aboard public transit or in the process of boarding public transit. That is the time when you must be most careful, especially when crowded. Pickpockets are opportunity crimes that are rarely planned. Thieves target whomever appears to be distracted so always be aware of the surroundings and the people around you.

Another popular place for pickpockets is public markets, maybe because people get distracted or open their purse to purchase stuff.

Another spot that is popular with thieves is outside tables in side walk cafes and restaurants. Don’t leave valuables on the table while sitting outside looking at people strolling while having a beer or a cappuccino. It takes a fraction of a second for a thief to grab your item from the table and run away with it.

Last but not least, be aware that the most common item stolen nowadays is not your purse but your Mobile phone. So keep an eye on your phone more than your wallet. Never leave it on the table while having a cappuccino at a sidewalk cafe. And above all don’t keep it in your jeans back pocket while hanging half out, as many people find fashionable to do. A phone inside a back pocket, half hanging out, is just screaming to be stolen. Buy a secure belt phone case or holster and keep that phone secure as if your life depended on it, because it often does.

In Paris they got in the middle of my family in a huge subway escalator. They dropped coins and kept holding us while the escalator kept moving trying to trip us but failed. I realized pretty early something was off and we all grabbed our stuff pretty hard and didn't fall. They fled. We told the staff and they said they saw us on camera but couldn't do anything. Don't let people come out of nowhere in front of you in an escalator when there aren't other people around.

I had an interesting incident coming out of my local tube station in London in December. I had just arrived with my luggage and was walking down the smaller street to my hotel. Four guys were hanging out nearby and started walking behind me as well.

I just had a funny feeling so I stopped, moved to the side, and motioned them past. They walked a few feet. Suddenly, two crossed the street and started walking back the way they came. One pretended to be on his phone and the fourth stood there saying sorry. I walked a few feet, turned around and they were all walking back in the direction of the tube station.

I took the element of surprise away from them.

To add to Roberto's cautions about cafe tables, never set your bag down by your feet or hang it off the back of your chair.

I pretty much never carry anything I can't afford to lose in an outside pocket of my clothing or in an unsecured (no locking zippers) shoulder /cross-body bag. We also never carry ALL of our individual valuables on us unless changing cities.

I have been to the pickpocket capitols of Europe and I would rate these cities as the worst:

BARCELONA- Number 1 by far. Problem is that it is not even a crime if they are caught.
Paris- Especially on the RER or METRO
Rome-on the Subway is bad, but watch out anywhere

When visit those cities, I put my wallet (I have a small travel wallet) with all but one credit card and most of my cash in a money belt or one of those pockets that fits underneath you trousers and loops into your belt. My wife has a pack-safe purse and she clutches it under her arm.
I carry only a modest amount of cash and one credit card for use that day.
If I am in a subway or METRO, I try to stay away from crowds, but if people are still around, I avoid being in the middle of a crowd.

Pickpockets can steal and you not know it, so put your valuables somewhere that they can't reach.

I have a travelon cross body purse - slash resistant mesh and “cables” in strap, rfid protection and lock down zippers. I keep my bag in front of my body with one hand on it, simply out of habit. I feel more confident with it. My husband has an rfid neck wallet that he wears under his shirt, again we just feel more comfortable traveling this way. When we are on high speed trains with a table and seats, he will take the neck wallet off and I usually put it in my bag. We travel with one carryon suitcase and one personal item bag each, and those are stowed overhead.

Lots of good tips here...I am finally visiting Rome in April, and despite being a seasoned solo traveler to many big cities for some reason I am utterly paranoid about being a victim of theft while there...so much so that I am finally in need of a Travelon bag. I have always been cautious & self-aware, generally prefer a crossbody LeSportsac bag (small wallet is anchored to the inside side seam clip) and use a zipped pouch that fits inside my jeans for deep storage. The LeSportsac has several outside pockets and I think a Travelon with one or two locking outer zips will give me a better sense of security.

I have only once felt a strange sense that something was about to happen, but for whatever reason, it did not; I had left the Louvre and was walking along a wide street, not crowded, and I sensed someone sort of off to my right side behind me a bit, but not concerned as my crossbody was secure. Then another man was approaching and I distinctly saw him give a slight shake of his head and the other man sort of fell back and went away. To this day I wonder what that was about...was he about to cut my purse strap? Conk me over the head? Who knows.

On my last trip I secured my phone and my wallet onto the inside of my crossbody bag.
I used those coloured plastic extendable cords/key rings .
They are just long enough so you can take both out and have a good length of cord, but stops you from forgetting either if you put them on a counter or table for a moment.
I also use a small carabiner to “lock” the zip on the crossbody bag every time I’m done with the inside of it.
Takes a minute, but soon becomes a habit.
The more you can do to deter a pickpocket , the better.