'Helpful' girls at Rome Terminal helping themselves with your money

Sounds like the same girls that wanted to help me buy Metro tickets in Milan last September. Telling them that I didn't need or want help didn't seem to make any difference, so I finally just went to a ticket office and bought a day pass - problem solved. I've also encountered the "luggage helpers" in Rome and Naples in the past. They can be very persistent.

Maybe it would help to give them "THE LOOK".

Ken, you'd need to check a bag to get that look. ;)

I read that beginning in May, the train station will have turnstiles or some sort of checkpoint manned by official security. Only those with tickets will be able to get through and stand on the platform by your train. The official guys and gals will have uniforms and it will be a flat fee per bag for help. This will eliminate all those helpers and pickpockets. However, you can still be pickpocketed of course, but I think this will help with the majority of the littlier rascals of course.

Not to be gloomy about improved security (I'm all for it), but I'm not sure how much turnstiles will help - you can buy a ticket to Frascati for a few euro, for example. Those tickets are good for several hours after validation. So still be careful of your surroundings, especially as you step up onto the trains (a friend had her backpack opened and wallet - secured with a pin to the inside of the pack - stolen in less than 30 seconds, in Switzerland).

Eek....well, I guess that goes to show you that it would be a good idea to not have anything of value in your backpack if you are wearing it on your back. RS book even says to turn it around in situations like that.

Don't have anything valuable in your backpack anywhere, any time. Messenger-style bags with a strap across your chest, snugged up under your arm, seem more secure to me, and easier to handle in crowded spaces.

Of all the places you visit in your travels, a big-city train station can be high on the list for crowding, bottlenecks, tourists looking disoriented, and others pretending to be "helpful." Definitely not a place to let down your guard. Good for you to have only small amounts of euros that were easily accessible. More tips at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams.