Rome, Italy, ranked second out of the ten worst cities for theft in Europe. It is understandable. Millions crowd into the Italian capital every year. With all the distracted tourists busy snapping photos of the Colosseum or Vatican City, pickpockets have easy pickings. However, an alert mind and travel-savvy tips can free tourists to fully enjoy the wonders of ancient Rome without losing valuables.
When guarding against pickpockets, the first step is preparation. Review the travel safety checklist.
Travel Safety Checklist
- Before travel abroad, copy passports and important documents. Keep the originals on hand at all times. Store the copies in a secure compartment of luggage.
- When planning each day’s excursions, prepare money and valuables in private. Count out sufficient spending money for one day. This cash will go into the inner pocket of a coat or a front hip pocket. If storing the money in a wallet, do not place wallets in a back pocket, shoulder bag, or backpack. Wrap the wallet with a rubber band, and slide into a front pocket. The rubber band will make it harder for thieves to slip it out unnoticed.
- Next, place passport, travel tickets, credit cards, all important documents, and extra cash, in a money belt. Money belts, or neck wallets, really are a tourist’s best friend. Wear the pouch under clothing as designed and don’t plan on taking it off until the end of the day.
Travel Protection for Cameras
Photography is a must in Rome. The Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Sistine Chapel, to name only a few of the most popular Italian attractions, beg for pictures. But cameras are often the prime target for a pickpocket.
Solutions?
Store cameras, and other expensive electronics, in a plain bag rather than the usual case. A camera bag practically advertises that a camera worth stealing lies inside.
Another simple deterrent is to keep cameras buried when not using them. Upon returning the camera to a backpack or bag, place it at the bottom. If pickpockets have to rummage to find something, chances are higher that they will be noticed.
Travel Warnings Regarding Jewelry
Wear modest jewelry during travel abroad. Flashing gemstones and expensive watches invite a pickpocket to see what else a tourist owns.
Once money and valuables are stowed in a money belt, the camera nestled at the bottom of an unassuming bag and the Rolex exchanged for a simple watch, the tourist is ready to face the wonders of the Eternal City and the wiles of a pickpocket.
Pickpocket Haunts in Rome
Pickpockets frequent the most crowded attractions in Rome. Some of the top haunts for an Italian pickpocket are the Piazza Navona, or nearby Trevi Fountain, the other Bernini masterpiece, St Peter's, the Colosseum, and busy train, bus, and metro stations.
When visiting these hot spots, be aware of the surroundings.
Often thieves work in teams to try to distract tourists so a light-fingered partner can disappear with camera or cash in the other direction. Bag snatching is more common in Italian cities than in Prague, for example. Take shoulder bags or backpacks with a sturdy strap. Some prefer metal lining so the strap cannot be slashed. Wear across the chest to prevent it from slipping off in a crowd. Keep purses or shoulder bags on the side away from the street.
An alert mind is the best defense. Enjoy the sights but keep belongings near. Never leave bags on the back of a seat or stashed under a chair.
When navigating crowded public areas, keep a firm grip on belongings. Rest one arm casually across on the front pocket where the day’s cash is stored so no one can touch that pocket unnoticed.
Thieves at the ATM
Another popular haunt for the pickpocket is an ATM machine or currency exchange office. Elude thieves by scanning the area beforehand.
Choose a location that is well lit and clean. Scan the crowd for lingerers. A common travel warning that bears repeating: Beware of over-friendly strangers, even children. Make sure no one stands close enough to snoop. If possible, do the transaction with a friend present so that one person can scan the surroundings, and the other can complete the financial business. Avoid displaying cash in public places. Quickly and quietly count money received, then return cash and cards immediately into the secure front pocket or neck wallet. Never put in a back pocket.
Last Hints for Travel Abroad
Stay alert. Keeping valuables in a money belt ensures peace of mind about the most important documents. By following simple precautions about jewelry, cameras, and daily money, tourists can roam the Eternal City without suffering anything worse than tired feet.
Do other destinations lie ahead? Stay informed about pickpocket haunts in Florence, Paris, Amsterdam or Barcelona.
Josanna Simpson - Josanna Simpson, who holds a BA in Literature, is an aspiring novelist in her late twenties with a passion for British literature and the ...
