How do you protect yourself from pickpockets ?

Question

I'm a middleaged female and travelling to Rome for the first time in October. I'd like to think that I'm a smart traveller and can prevent such an unfortunate experience but I'm wise enough to know that they are much smarter and faster than I. So, what should I be doing, not doing, looking out for, etc. What type of scams do they use ? Please give me some suggestions to help me keep my money, tickets, and passport safe. Thankyou

Answer 1

Make a secret poket inside your dress. My grandma went to India and that's how she protect the money, passport and everything that is valuble.

Make a small atatched sack inside your dress. Oh... only keep little about of moeny in your hand.

Answer 2

Be vigalant in crowded public place.  Be very carefull in open markets in Rome along with train stations.  Do not stray away from your bags to get directions in train or bus stations.  Keep your money and passport at hotel safe.  Use a debit or credit card for cash and purchases.  Carry very little cash.  Have a great time!

Answer 3

I hope you enjoy your time in Rome. I went to Rome and it was an amazing experience!

Although I did get some money stolen by a pickpocketer.

There are many children there and some of them beg you for money so that they distract you, when one of their little friends is snatching your money from behind, and you'll never feel their hand reaching into your pocket or whatever, that's how good they are.

if your carrying a purse, keep it closed with the zipper.

Becareful near the tourist areas where there are lots of people, that's where it can get pretty heavy and your most likely to get pickpocketed.

It happend right in front of me to some lady who got her wallet stolen with ALL her credit cards and stuff. and this was in front of the Trevi Fountain, i felt sorry for the lady.

Don't try to stand out too much and don't carry your money all in one  place on you.

Keep your purse close to you and keep your eyes open for children.

in other areas of Italy, like when i went to Florence and Venice, there were TONS of gypsies that will come up to you and beg for money, be careful because they distract you, and again kids will come and take your money.

always try and bargain with people.

Oh, if you go to the Colosseum(spelling?), there will be guys dressed up at roman fighters or wahtever, at least when i went, they were there.

and they're in front of the colosseum especially for tourists, so if you want to take a picture with them, you can. But, they will charge you afterwards, although they don't tell you this before hand.

i was on my tour bus, before we got off the bus, our tour guide warned us about them because they will try and charge you big bucks.

so you make the choice.

umm, i know this doesn't pertain to Italy, but i was in France as well and you see many many vendors selling bracelets and watches and stuff on the street. and they will come up to you with a bracelet(s) and tell you how pretty it is and oh how you should buy it and they'll encourage you to try it on. but DON'T!!!

they will try to put the bracelet on you, and tie this bracelet as hard as they can on your wrist, so that you can't take it off,so this way, you are FORCED to pay them for it.

but if this does happen to you, just walk away with the bracelet on.

this happened to a person that was traveling with us, and our tour guide had warned us about them.

but our tour guid saw what was going on and started yelling at the vendor really really loud and telling him to take the bracelet off the person.

oh, and there are people on the streets that are willing to write your name in chinese or soemthing like that.

they travel with a little table and ink, and they're usually asian..they offer to write your name in some weird chinese thing, it's really pretty though. but Don't buy one!

i say this becusae you could end up paying a BIG fine. about $200 USD.

because these asian people are not supposed to be selling things liket his, it is illegal. and if they police just happens to drive by, and sees you buying from them, you will be fined $200 USD by the police.

and as soon as they see the police coming their way, they immediately pack up their little table and RUN!

you don't want to get caught.

and this was in front of the museum thing that has the statue of David inside.

so be careful. and i hope you enjoy your trip to Italy.

Answer 4

Put your wallet in your front pocket.  Always make eye contact with someone you expect to be a pick-pocket (never glance away as it shows timidity).  Rome, in my opinion, is a fairly safe place despite the graffiti.  Don't walk down by the Tiber River (especially after dark).  Staying near the Vatican is very safe; we walked around the Vatican late at night and there were always people around (especially priests & little old nuns).  It's pretty safe and the people are friendly.

Answer 5

My tip: Have several purses/wallets.

I always store some cash at the hotel or my suitcase, then my credit card in a money belt, my traveller's cheques in a second wallet with a bit more cash and finally a small purse with no more than 20 EUR for small purchases. I try to make it so that even if one or two purses get stolen, I can still enjoy my trip.

Answer 6

A lot of good suggestions in the answers above, but let me give you one piece of advice from personal experiance.

The worst thing to worry about in Rome is the bands of kids there. They go around and pretend to be begging. In reality one or two are distrancting you by obnoxiously begging while from another quarter the rest of these kids are trying to lift something. They will try for anything, camera, money , ect. So try to keep everything in hand when these kids come around you.

Answer 7

I prefer to carry a purse rather than a money belt or f***y pack because it is easier to keep an eye on.  Keep your purse held tight to your body with the zipper closed and accessible only from the front.  You'll know if someone is trying to mess with your purse where it might be too late before you realize a f***y pack is missing.  Try not to look like a tourist......don't wear bright colors and sneakers or a camera around your neck.  Try to blend in and make it seem like you are not paying attention (even though you are) because I notice that tourists really stand out because they stare at people more whereas locals do not.  If you use the subway system or if you are standing still in a crowd, hold your purse on your shoulder but angled toward the front and not just dangling to the side or back.  

I've been to Rome many, many times.  I have never been victim of a pickpocket but other with me have.  It's quite common but you can prevent it if you just take precaution.

Answer 8

I would recommend a moneybelt , not a  f***y pack; bum bag , etc.

There are all kinds of scams .It is hard to just choose one.

You have asked a lot of questions  all in one post.  To  answer all your questions fully would take a long post.  Therefore,please take a look at these links  for helpful information.

I have posted a lot of information on traveling at this site.

http://www.impariamo.com/forum/viewtopic...

These sites have excellent tips for women traveling alone.

http://www.ricksteves.com

http://www.slowtrav.com

Addtional links to check out regarding traveling in Rome

http://www.impariamo.com/forum/viewtopic...

http://www.impariamo.com/forum/viewtopic...

Also pick up a guidebook on Rome: Rick Steves' Rome, Lonely Plant Rome, Frommer's Rome, DK Books Rome are all good guidebooks. You will have to check them out to see which one is best for you.

I hope that this is helpful.

Answer 9

use those neck pockets, that way it will be very diff for pickpockets unless they actually attack. use zip pockets, dont carry stuff with u that u dont need!

Answer 10

The best advice I every got about traveling was to wear a hidden pocket.  It doesn't matter if it is around your neck or around you waist, just make sure you have one.  Place all of your money, credit cards, tickets, identification, and passport in this pocket and have it on you at all times.  Also make sure it is under your clothes.  When you know where everything is at every moment it helps keep you calm and worry free.  If you carry a purse make sure it is under your arm at all times and that you don't keep anything too valuable in it (purses are good for camera, sunglasses, etc.).  Don't make yourself a target, try not to look like a tourist, blend don't stand out.  There really aren't as many pickpockets as everyone makes you think there are.  Just keep an eye out for strange people and keep a hand on you purse in crowds and you will be fine.  Rome is a wonderful city, have fun!

Answer 11

wear a bum bag - one that you wear around your front and only take necessities with you, that way pickpocketers won't target you so much, and if you are taking camera/mobile take the oldest and worst looking ones with you, that way thieves will think that you don't have anything that is worth taking