My wife and I are visiting Rome in September. Will a trucker's wallet be safe from pickpockets?

Question

I have read many yahoo answers on pickpockets in Rome and gleaned that it is not good to telegraph where your valuables are, so I question whether the chain is a plus or a minus.

Answer 1

Watch out for pickpockets! Tips for travelers

Sightseeing in some cities can be a very expensive experience. More, when you allow pickpockets to steal some or all of your valuables. The following rules are not a must, but a save way to make sure that your trip will be a good experience.

Credit and cards are a must while traveling, so nearly every traveler has them for making reservations, buying and paying. One of the major rules is, always have some traveler checks with you!

If you have your credit and bank cards stolen, it will take some days to receive the new cards, depending which country you are in and how quick your bank or card company is. The good thing about traveler checks is, they can be replaced in an hour! That way, you do not need to make phone calls, getting your family to wire you money, and you do not have to pay the expensive fee (or your family) for the transaction. If you get them stolen, you call the company (like Visa or American Express) and they will direct you to the nearest bank or post office or currency exchange office they are working with.

If you need to get a money transfer, Western Union is available in nearly every European city. Mainly at post offices. Western Union has a great website with an office locating site ( http://westernunion.com ). But the fees for a transaction are high.

By the way, if you have a credit card with no PIN number, but you need to withdraw cash, go to a bank a ask for a “Over the counter cash withdraw!” Fee is about 3-5% of the amount you are taking, but you will have cash. Don´t forget your passport and, of course, your credit card.

If the unfortunate moment really comes up, and you got your funds and cards stolen, you need to make a report at the next police station. Your card companies need it. It is pain in the flesh you sit on, but..

Going sightseeing in the big touristy cities, just take with you what you really need for that trip or day. Leave your passport back at the hotel or hostel, if they do not have lockers, hand them to the reception. Same with cards and else. Just take as much cash with you that you will need.

Day bags are a target for thieves with sharp razor blades. They cut your bag at the bottom and wait till something falls out. Cameras, music players, wallets, all.

http://www.backpackernews.co.nr

Answer 2

I just lived in Italy for a year and never have I once been pickpocketted-it's not as bad as people make it seem! Just don't go flashing around the wallet and you'll be fine.

Answer 3

oh please, Italy has the smallest number of crimes-per-citizen of all the Occidental Countries... Be careful, of course, and probably nothing will happen to you! Good trip! :)

Answer 4

It's completely false, Rome is one of the safest cities in Europe, the 3rd done after Lisboa and Zagreb, according to the EU Crime and Safety Survey Report.

The only dangerous quarter is the Termini Station area.

Answer 5

I would say leave the chain at home. Pickpockets know you're Americans anyway, so don't draw attention to where you keep your wallet. If you're smart and keep your wallet in your front pocket you should be ok. If you're really worried, buy a travel wasit-pack that fits under your clothes around your middle. You'll always be fishing under your shirt, which for me was annoying and this last time I didn't take one. My dad really liked his waist-pack, though. He kept his passport and money there.

Answer 6

Oh my gosh, you're not going to war!!

just avoid to draw attention on where you keep your wallet and you'll be fine. Avoid also wearing big jewels while travelling on buses, because gypsies are attracted by gold and stones. In my personal opinion, the chain would only worsen things.

Answer 7

Ever thought to just put your wallet in your front pocket?  I lived in Madrid and Barcelona Spain.  Barcelona being the better know city in spain to have pick pockets especially in Las Ramblas.  I never had trouble and I have been approached by many gypsies. Try your front pocket.

Answer 8

It is best to get a moneybelt....  If it is stuck inside your pants in the front, it sure will be difficult for anyone to pickpocket you..  Leave the chain wallet at home

They will do anything to get your wallet if it is on the chain , they can just yank it hard enough and it will be gone. With the chain you are just tell them where to find your wallet.

It really doesn't matter which city you are in. The best thing to do is be aware of your surrounding, do not carry a lot  of cash , wear a money belt. If you wear shorts or pants, do not carry your money in your back pocket or if you are wearing those cargo type shorts/pants do not place your money in the pockets.

Be aware on the buses, metro, at the train stations and in crowds.

Put your wallet in a shirt pocket with a button closure or in a pocket with a closure, not the back pocket. You should carry only small amount a cash in your shirt pocket. If you are going to use your credit card or need additional $$ , be aware of your surroundings when you go to retrieve things from your money belt. If you are in a restaurant, go to the bathroom and act as if you need to use the toliet and go inside the stall to get what you need.

When traveling with a back pack wear it in the front and do not put your important documents inside. Put your important documents, credit cards, atm card, etc. in your money belt hidden inside your pants.

You can also put your important documents in your money belt and keep some cash available in places I mentioned above

If you have anything of value, leave it at your hotel in your room in the  safe... Most hotels have little safes in the rooms.  Do not carry what you do not need to.

Always keep your money, documents, and valuables in different places.

Answer 9

Divide your money into two parts:

main reserve and daily spending.

Put the main reserve and other valuables

such as passport and backup credit cards

in a pouch under your clothes.

There are two kinds of pouches you can buy,

one has a strap around the waist, and you

can put the pouch in front or in back, and the

other has a strap for around the neck.  Choose

whichever you prefer.

Then in order to avoid having to get undressed

all the time, you take the money you'll be spending

that day and carry it in a safe pocket in as flat a

wallet as you can get.  Leave your fat wallet

and with your library card, union card, frequent

shopper card, and all that other c**p at home.

If you want to be extra cautious, divide the daily

money into more parts and spread it around to several

pockets, and give some to your wife to carry.

Then, even if the pickpockets do strike, they

will only get a small part of what you've got.

You also avoid taking out large sums and peeling

off notes, advertising to all around how much

you are carrying.

The other thing to do is not take a lot of cash

or traveler's checks.  Take you ATM card and

visit a machine every several days to stock up.

It saves time, gets you a good exchange rate,

and you avoid carrying large sums around with

you.  Don't go too often and take too small an

amount each time, because then the $3-4 fees

will start to add up.

Answer 10

the pickpockets in italy are ferocious, wear a money belt or such under clothing.

if they target you, 90% percent they will get it, so avoid being a target by hiding it.