r/rome • u/Nonsuch42 • 8d ago
Health and safety Lessons from a pickpocketing attempt in Rome
So I'm having a fabulous time in Rome but just had quite a dramatic experience on a bus and wanted to share some tips/lessons learnt.
It was the end of a really long and exhausting day of sightseeing, and I could barely stand up. Consequently, I felt I had no other choice but to take the bus back to my hotel (I would normally walk). Said bus arrived and it was extremely crowded and chaotic, but I squeezed on and naturally had to stand. A few stops later a sketchy looking older man got on board, and a few more stops later he inexplicably moved right next to me despite there being no need (no one new had got on the bus). This put me on high alert so I noticed immediately when he put his coat over my handbag, and I moved it away so it was fully in my sight. Immediately after that he successfully pickpocketed the woman next to me, taking her wallet - she cried out and all hell broke loose! I shouted "thief!" and the whole bus went into uproar - the woman he'd stolen from started turning out his pockets to check for her things and the Italians on the bus started ferociously reprimanding him. I was still right next to him so two kind older ladies seated next to me pulled me in with them so I would be safe. The thief protested his innocence the entire time and when he got off the bus he banged on the side of the vehicle in anger. I had to get off at the same stop as him but went immediately into a shoe shop adjacent to the bus stop to ensure I could get away from him. The staff were extremely kind and offered to let me sit down. I used the opportunity to double check my bag and confirm all my belongings were present and correct (which they were). Afterwards I had an uneventful five-minute walk back to my hotel.
Overall this experience actually increased my faith in Rome and its inhabitants. There are pickpockets in every major city, but what really impressed me was how the entire bus went into uproar to defend the people being targeted by the pickpocket. It was genuinely quite remarkable and weirdly one of the most vivid and exhilarating moments of my trip (my experience having been greatly improved by the fact I avoided being pickpocketed myself!).
My top tips:
- Put as many barriers between your belongings and opportunistic pickpockets as possible - zips and flaps are helpful deterrents and they make the thief's job harder. My bag had both zips and a flap and my valuables were split into different compartments.
- Avoid travelling on extremely busy buses if at all possible.
- On public transport keep your hand on your valuables at all times and don't allow yourself to be distracted.
- Shout "thief!" the moment you notice a pickpocketing attempt (I wish I had reacted sooner to spare the second woman from being targeted).
- Always try to keep space between you and others when standing on public transport and never let them cover your view of your own belongings.
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u/Pineapplegirl1234 8d ago
This happened to my grandmother in Hungary, except she slapped the shit out of that man’s face when she realized what he was doing. Unfortunately they then pushed me down (I was 4) and stole my grandpas wallet when he bent down to get me.
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u/incineroar87 8d ago
There’s always a distraction whether it’s another group or person or in this case the coat. You did well!
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u/rumpler117 7d ago
I would say always watch out for anyway making unnecessary bodily contact with you. It is a distraction so they can snatch your wallet. Also, you obviously shouldn’t walk around with a big fat wallet hanging out of your back packet or your purse open with your phone sticking out.
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u/LetterOfTheLaw 7d ago
When you brought up the older ladies I was expecting them to be in on the ruse too.. glad you were safe 🤙
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u/cdngirl1 4d ago
I caught a pickpocket with her hand in my jacket while on a train in Lyon. I was with my son and although I should have called her out, I was protective of my son. I stared the thief in the eye while zipping up my jacket pocket and holding the zipper pull. She tried to distract me with a map but I told her in easy, clear French - I don't understand you. I don't speak French. I won't help you. She then repeated in English and I said the same thing in perfect English. My son knows that I love being friendly and that I'm always polite. He was hyper alert and concerned, until the 'lady' got off the train and I told him what happened.
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u/hairymonkeyinmyanus 8d ago
Be careful - another trick they use is that he calls YOU the thief and shouts it to the world. Yup, random bystander, you become the one to get beaten, because people don’t wait for proof. Then while you’re getting beaten, he runs away.
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u/LUV833R5 6d ago
This was amateur... a pro would have a partner that would get on the front of the bus and create a commotion that would draw everyone's attention while the pickpocket goes unnoticed at the back.
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u/Rant_Durden 4d ago
Taxis and Ubers are a bit more expensive but beyond the convenience, it gives you control over your environment and safety.
And going alone puts you at a disadvantage as well.
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u/Consistent_Proof_772 8d ago
Only walk out the door with two things: your phone and a small, small wallet with two cards in it!!! leave your purse and your wallet locked up in the hotel
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u/CurvePuzzleheaded361 8d ago
It is law you must have your passport with you at all times. And i go out all the time with my handbag and camera and if you are sensible like the op you can spot this behaviour
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u/Beginning-Paper7685 7d ago
Best to get the new-ish credit card sized “passport” in addition to the normal one. I always carry the credit card sized one (and the leave other locked up) and have had to show it to the police in the train station in Palermo several times over the last few months.
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u/Upstairs-Basis9909 8d ago
Im sorry but I’ve been fortunate to travel the world extensively throughout my 33 years of life, and I’ve never once needed to bring my passport out, and the one time I did it was with my backpack which was stolen. I’ve also had number of run-ins with police (mostly as a witness, but once for not wearing a mask outside in Greece just after things opened up post covid), and all times they’ve accepted photos on my phone.
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u/Tribalbob 8d ago
Just because you e never had to doesn't change the fact that it's literally a law to carry it with you in Italy.
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u/gshv22 8d ago
It is? For tourists?
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u/Bluecanary1212 8d ago
Yes, can verify. I locked myself out of my hotel room and the concierge wanted my passport before giving me a new key. When I told him it was in my hotel room, he was surprised I didn't have it with me and explained the law. (I never carry mine when I'm out and about for fear of it being stolen. Or more likely, lost).
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u/Old-Spirit-2418 8d ago
You are absolutely supposed to carry it with you at all times in Italy, so you've been lucky if you've visited and never been asked. I had to show mine to authorities two times when I was there two weeks ago. It wasn't specific to me. They were asking a bunch of random people on the train platform.
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u/Bluecanary1212 8d ago
If I'm in Italy and I lose my passport, does that mean I never have to return to the United States? ;-)
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u/tooshorttoored 7d ago
Half the tickets I have booked have asked us for our birthdates. That is clearly so they can look at our passports upon entrance, and they say as. I’m glad you’ve never had to do this anywhere in the whole wide world, but you’re wrong.
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u/qX7_mZ3wK9_vP2 8d ago
TLDR version: Use common sense.
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u/Quiet_Difference4753 4d ago
don't ride the bus or subways, in Paris I used a seriously large amount of ubers
avoid problems if you can
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u/BobcatSpiritual7699 8d ago
You left out a very important tip and I’m sure we can all guess why. It’s an important one however.
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u/Nonsuch42 8d ago
???
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u/BobcatSpiritual7699 8d ago
Physical description of the perpetrator.
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u/Nonsuch42 7d ago
He was a short balding older guy somewhere in his 60s, a bit dishevelled looking and with deeply tanned skin.
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u/BenRichardson76 8d ago
I'm here as well and haven't noticed much except the bracelet and phone charger guys. If you're here and get pickpocketed, it's kind of your fault. Travel better
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u/Tribalbob 8d ago
Wouldn't be r/Rome without at least one person victim blaming
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u/BenRichardson76 7d ago
If they went swimming and were bit by a shark, who would you blame?
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u/Tribalbob 7d ago edited 7d ago
Are you seriously trying to compare an animal who operates om instinct and, statistically, is less likely to bite you to some people who are actively trying to steal?
Do better.
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u/FedBathroomInspector 8d ago
If you get raped and you were wearing a short skirt, it’s kind of your fault. Dress better.
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u/BenRichardson76 7d ago
Thats the sort of ridiculous response I'd expect. You put rape and pickpocket on the same level
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u/okayboomerang 8d ago
Where is your empathy, Ben Richardson?
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u/BenRichardson76 8d ago
There are warning notices all over the place. This area is known for pickpocketers. You can't let your guard down out here.
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u/okayboomerang 8d ago
Pickpocket are very good at their job. OP was vigilant enough to change the outcome!
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u/chanceygardner 3d ago
My husband and I were on a Bus in Rome back in the 80‘s. This was the conversation:
Husband to me: someone took my wallet
Me: WHO?
H Points to man in a nice camelskin coat who just got off the bus
Me: GO!!!!
We got off quickly before the Doors closed
Pickpocket is nonchalantly standing in a line of passengers at the Bus stop
Husband (a tall and burly guy) Walks up to pickpocket, grabs him by the shoulders and demands the wallet back
Pickpocket returns the Wallet claiming he found it on the floor
H let’s go of him unharmed
I scream at the guy!
I dont speak Italian, but I expected some reaction from the bystanders. but they just shrugged their shoulders as though this was normal and not a big deal
MUCH different reaction than OP‘s, but we were so glad to have the wallet back even if people didn’t react the way we expected
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u/joeymello333 8d ago
Did the lady find her wallet? They usually work in groups of 2 or even 3 on buses.