 | Rome Pickpockets and Purse-Snatchers Reviews | Tips 31 - 40 of 163 |  |
SKIP ROME! We read the warnings and prepared, but still were taken! We let our guard down when my husband failed to return his credit card to his security pouch. We were the victim of a pickpocketer on the subway,but that was only the beginning of our adventure in Rome.
We immediately went to a police officer who sent us to a
office (four officers seating/talking/smoking) in the Termini AND they sent us to ANOTHER OFFICE! We were told to wait with others to make a police report. Others were waiting, too! We waited and waited and WAITED, after one hour of being totally ignored we just gave up and left.
We chalked it up to us being careless,twice in one day cashiers attempted to short change us! Of course after you insist and are persistent they apologize. My son-in-law was given change in the form of coins from South Africa.
On the subject of change, they don't like to give it and are always asking if you have
correct change and then get irritated if you say no.
Beggers on the sidewalks and streets! Vendors with their wares blocking the walkways and streets everywhere! So many that at times we had to walk in the street to go around them. Selling fake purses, jewelry, watches, umbrellas, tripods...etc...
In Florence street vendors selling fake purses were arrested.
Subway ticket machines don't always work after taking your money or they issue tickets that won't work on the turnstills. We attempted to report to the man at the station that we didn't get our tickets, but he just told us we needed to buy more tickets. At one point when we purchased our 4 tickets at the same time, one ticket read 1 hour LATER than the other 3 tickets! Because of having difficulty with the machines we decided to purchase 24 hour tickets only to realize that the next day the tickets wouldn't work on the turnstills! CRAZY!
We saved our money to visit Italy and looked forward to visiting Rome, but I now tell everyone SKIP ROME! Dishonesty and rude people are everywhere! We loved Florence, Venice and Milan! Leave a Comment
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Rome is a wonderful city, however, with all the tourist activity there are a lot of pickpockets and petty thieves. Here are some ways to avoid becoming a victim of these thieves. 1) Don't make yourself a target. Don't flash wads of cash or wear a lot of expensive jewelry. This makes you a target. 2) Wear a money pouch. The travel section in most stores will sell these. They are worn under your clothing (I like the ones for inside your pants) and can hold money and credit cards. 3) Only carry enough cash to get you thru the day. Estimate how much you will need for the day, add between 20 and 50 to it for emergency, and put it in your money pouch. Limiting the amount on you limits the amount that can be stolen. 4) If you carry a purse or bag, carry it across your body, not just hanging from your arm. Put it on the wall side of your body (when you are walking down the street, the side that is closer to the wall, not the street), that way no one on a vespa can ride by and snatch it. 5) Never, ever put anything on the floor or chair beside you while you are eating. It will be gone when you get up. Put it on the table or in your lap. 6) Don't act like you are lost or confused. This makes you a prime candidate. If you are more worried about where you are, then you are not paying attention to what is going on around you. If you are in a group, let one person look at the map while the others check out the surroundings. 7) Do not accept unsolicited help. People who just come up to you and offer to help are usually after something... 8) If you are going to ride the metro, secure all your belongings before you enter the station. Putting your valuables away while you are in the station only tells the pickpockets where they are. Also, if you see a sign that says "beware of pickpockets" don't pat yourself down to make sure where your wallet is, this shows the pickpocket where your wallet is. He is probably the one who put up the sign. Hopefully these tips will help you to be more secure in your travels. Leave a Comment
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It is just about a rule that in any tourist area, there will be pick pockets. Guys, don't put your wallets in your back pockets! Girls, make sure your handbag is not over your shoulder, but around your neck and across your body. These guys are good, you will not know pick pocket from tourist as you move through the crowded streets. Especially look out for guys on motor bikes who will scoot past and grab your bag off your shoulder, or the guys at the Trevi Fountain with their bubble machines! Just use common sense and take care. Leave a Comment
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I just got back from a wonderful 'European Vacation' with my wife. We saw several cities in Italy, including Venice, Vicenza, Milan and Rome. We even made it to Paris for 2 nights and a day.
We were in Rome November 14 and 15. Not a pick pocket in site. I read on this site the 'dangers' of it all before and it was nowhere near what I expected.
But maybe that is because I 'thought' like a pickpocket and therefore avoided any trouble.
I had a backpack on during my whole trip, my camera in my front pocket, and even carried some things in my back pocket. Everyone who saw us KNEW we were 'not from around there' especially because my wife wore pink, unlike most Italians and Parisians who seemed to mostly wear black (all very stylish, by the way!).
We actually kept my wife's purse inside the backpack, and any valuables kept in there were locked up with a combination padlock. I utilized a neck wallet that worked perfectly (I recomment button up shirts for easy access).
Often times I found myself in crowds with my backpack on (i.e. Subway), but the best way to take care of this is to 'sway' a little bit and keep your eyes open. It helps to have your spouses hand on the bag as well, if possible. If not, just sway or move around every few seconds...if any pickpocket sees that you are looking around and are 'minding your surroundings' they will probably move on to the next victim.
I found myself looking at OTHER People and thinking 'if I was a pickpocket, I could get to their pocket or this person's backpack easily'. Yes, I saw some people there that would make it so easy to be pickpocketed.
As others have pointed out on here: use common sense and there will be no problem.
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Be very wary of pick pockets. Rome is very crowded, and this is most evident in the mass transit system. We avoided the buses, prefering to walk and to take the subway (Metro). The Metro is standing room only body against body, the perfect place for pick pockets. Also, there are plenty of beggers and gypsies who are known to distract you while another lifts your valuables. Trust nobody, not even children, unless you approach them. Leave a Comment
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My hand bag was stolen very professional in one of best restaurants in Rome. I am sure that it was done by or with help of waitress. Nobody else was near my table. Just keep your bag on your knees even when you are in good restaurant eating. Leave a Comment
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Fortunately we were lucky in Rome, but we met several people who weren't. Rome is known for its pickpockets. We saw several people chasing small children who had just stolen their wallets. Be careful around crowds and be especially wary of beggars who try to distract you while their children rob you. Leave a Comment
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Like any big city, you should use common sense and try to avoid any area which is dark or isolated. Be aware of your sorroundings and always have your money in a safe place (money belt, bra?). What I usually do is know exactly where I am going, how to get there and if I am taking the metro, have my ticket in hand. Pickpocketers are found in every major city, so being alert is your best bet. Leave expensive jewelry at home and never carry more money then you need. Leave your passport and extra cash and travelers checks at the hotel safe. If you are staying at a hostel, I would recommend that you carry your important belongings in a seperate small bag, pack or shoulder bag. Make sure you have copies of your passport and numbers of travelers checks (if you carry these) in a seperate location for just in case they are lost or stolen. The number to your local consulate is a good idea as well as is the phone number to the local authorities. Leave a Comment
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The same warnings as given by the others, I guess. PICKPOCKETS, gypsies (I'm not against them, but they're potential pickpockets). TRAFFIC: gee, once a bus showed a right turn light sign, and what do you think? He turned left! Then take the SUNPROTECTION cream. I was sunbathing near the pool for less than 2 hours under the umbrella...and still got burnt. That wasn't a nice feeling...yuck...
HIGH PRICES :) I was trying to avoid them. When buying food we went to supermarkets where the prices were twice cheaper! And I used to buy souvenirs on the streets where prices were twice higher than in shops, but eventually got bargained till the trice lower that:). Besides, the cheapest stuff is at the market.
Lastly, SINGLE girls- you'll be definitely attracted by those womenizers...Sweet talks, but not real ones:) Italians are profies in that. Keep that in mind :) Leave a Comment
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These are the things to look out for in anything remotely as a crowd:
Pickpockets:
Never carry more valuables on your person than you can afford to lose. carry money, cards, and passport in a shoulder holster under your shirt. Keep your hand in your pocket if you have a small amount of money, and pay attention to the straps on the camera bag, rarely carried. There are versions to go around the neck or hang from a bra, and some still like moneybelts.
Groups of teenagers, especially (it seems) young girls. If a group approaches you, avoidance is best: shouting will chase away most; kicks will deter the most-determined.
Distractions - especially the Gypsies and their kids. (Apologies for what may be a politically incorrect stereotype -- surely most Gypsies are hardworking and honest.)
Scooters - keep purses and camera bags on the building side, and away from the curb.
Avoid looking like an easy mark - look like you know where you're going.
Fanny packs (bum packs, if you're British) are an invitation to theft.,br>
As far as shoulder bags and belt packs are concerned (as well as purses): Assume anything you have over your shoulder or on your back can and will be opened, cut open, cut off, torn off, etc.
(Cynical, aren't I? Rarely happens, but it does ... at home and abroad.) Keep as little of value in places other people can get to as possible, and keep most of your money, credit cards and id securely tucked away out of harm's reach.
When sitting at a table, or on a seat on the subway or bus, for example, don't put your bag down on the ground behind you unattended. Hold it in your lap if possible. If not, loop the strap around your chair leg, or your chair. Leave a Comment
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