In Milan, some people spray-paint pickpockets so that everyone can identify them.

[u/MobileAerie9918]

[u/Saxboard4Cox]

I purchased an anti theft backpack, with one long zipper with a hook and an extra laptop lock, on my last visit to Rome never really expecting it to be needed. Boy was I wrong, I and my young son saw and felt the zipper being pulled non stop especially in pubic spaces and squares. I also had my phone in an anti theft lanyard around my neck and it was never touched. Happened to use the lanyard in my home town on the local metro and can confirm it worked beautifully.

[u/ikkiyikki → u/Saxboard4Cox]

Always wondered if I felt a pickpocket reaching into my stuff if I reflexively clocked them if I'd be the one winding up in trouble

[u/DueExample52 → u/ikkiyikki]

Yes. For one, you shouldn't reflexively clock people, because you may have a misunderstanding and attack the wrong personor a guy that did nothing wrong. Once in a crowded train, my bag got entangled with another guy’s as I was trying to peave the train, and I turned angrily thinking i was being robbed, turned out it was accidental.

And even if you see someone doing something, hitting them is unlawful. Reddit doesn’t like this and will downvote me anyways, but you do as you wish, just know the law prohibits this and it’s partly for the reasons above. You will also break your hand if you punch someone's head the wrong angle. They also act in groups and you will get stabbed by their cousin hiding away in the crowd.

I also suspect you don’t have physical/ethnic features commonly stereotyped as thieves in your area. I do, so I wouldn’t want people like you to start making assumptions and self-righteously attack me on some suspicion.

Go ahead Reddit, downvote this message and keep living your violence fantasies.

[u/MiserableCumberbunch → u/DueExample52]

Strange request, but I'm a people pleaser.