Am i pickpocket proof in italy??

[annisha]

Hey there...ive read so many experiences of ppl being pick pocketed in Barcelona, Paris and italy eeeek!! Im soon to be travelling in these areas by myself and just need some advice...During the day ill leave my big backpack in the locker at the hostels...and then ill take my daypack out with me...in the daypack ill have my essentials such as map, iriver and camera...however ill padlock my bag so no wandering hands can find there way into it. I shall also have my money belt which will store extra cash, passport, tix, insurance ect. So do u think these methods will deter thieves from trying to pickpocket me??? Im freaked out about all these stories so im trying to stay as safe as possible. Padlocking my daybag is abit of a hassle tho..because ill have to keep unlocking it to get my camera out Any advice...thanks and very much appreciated

[me]

none of that stuff will "deter" pickpockets. they'll undoubtedly still try to get your stuff.

the point is to prevent them from having success! the money belt, if you keep it secure, will make it less likely that pickpockets will be able to steal your stuff. [there are reports of some who wear the money belt outside clothing, feeling the bulk of it under one's clothes "will make me look fat." if a thief can see the money belt, he thinks, "ah! that's where the goodies are!" and will steal the money belt.]

[herrbert]

Pickpockets tend to go for the easiest target, so be sure that you are not an easy target. Wearing a moneybelt, will help a lot. But make shure, that you are not using it out on the streets, in busy stores, or other places with a lot of people.

Also don't wear a white T-shirt, if you are wearing a moneybelt, that is black (or another dark color).

Reading a little bit on their methodes, and the places they tend to be 'working' will help you, to be more prepared. Always be more careful in the popular touristspots and the metro.

[madamtrashheap]

annisha, at the risk of sounding like a public service announcement - don't be scared, be aware. Taking the advice offered to wear your moneybelt sensibly is a good start. I wrote an article for GFE about this last year, so here are some of the points to note:

• Don’t store your wallet/valuables in your back pocket – first and easiest place to target
• Use a lock on your day bag or keep it on your front if you prefer
• Be aware of your surroundings - even though you’re on holiday and in carefree-mode, you should still take notice of things going on around you; notice any “odd” behaviour such as someone looking at your bag, someone standing too close (Europeans don’t have the same personal space as others, but you’ll know the difference).
• Do not leave your day bag/money belt/purse unattended at anytime, not even for a second, whether it be in a restaurant, station hostel or out on the street; when sitting leave your bag between your feet or on your lap, not on the back of a seat.
• Be aware but not scared – confidence and calmness are everything.

There are, unfortunately, many stories of how tourists are targetted by the pickpockets in Europe, and they are always coming up with new scams. Somthing else worth doing is to have photocopies of your passport and any other important documents. Leave one at home with someone you trust and keep one in a safe place (not next to your passport) with you whilst you travel. If your passport is stolen, this will help identify yourself at your country’s Embassy for a temporary passport and in some circumstances serves as ID for crossing borders (although an accompanying Police Report will substantiate your situation). There are also secure websites dedicated to storing your personal details whilst travelling which are a great idea and worth looking into. And record the numbers of credit cards,etc and keep them somewhere safe, or leave with someone at home for quick reference.

There are companies that offer "secure storage" online of your personal details if this interests you. The idea is that you enter your card numbers, passport details, phone numbers and any other info you'd want whilst away and you are given a password to access them.

Again, don't stress yourself out about it, just take precautions and don't let these theives have the chance to spoil your holiday.
Happy and safe travels!

[annisha]

Hey thanks for the replys! Lol i would never wear my moneybelt on the outside of my clothing..it defeats the whole purpose of having a moneybelt...i also never wear white, im more of a black top kinda girl What i plan to do is take out a certain amount of money every 3 days from an atm and keep most of that in my money belt. The most i will ever have in my daybag is about 50 euro's..if that is taken then at least its not alot of money..ive also decided to go to the public toilets if i desperately need something from my money belt...anyway im looking forward to this trip and if anyone looks suspicious i will give them an evil stare...i can give good stares if i need to lol..thanks guys

[Eagle]

annisha, I have a few comments to add to the excellent advice in the previous Posts!!!

If you're really concerned about the safety of your Passport, you could leave this locked up at the Hostel. One caveat though -- make sure you use a good quality Padlock (I posted earlier on what to look for when selecting a Padlock for travel, but can't find the post at the moment -- I can repeat if you want further information).

It's often a good idea to take at least one piece of I.D. with you when day touring (a Driver's license, for example) as this will be required for deposit if renting an audioguide at most Museums and other attractions.

Most Money Belts are supplied in somewhat of a "neutral" colour, such as beige. It might not be as much of a concern travelling at this time of year, but if you're using a Money Belt in warm weather it's a good idea to place the contents inside a zip-lok bag inside, as they tend to get a bit "damp" with perspiration otherwise.

As pointed out in previous posts, if you're alert and aware of those around you, the likelihood of being victimized is reduced. It might help to read a few web sites about the current tactics being used by pickpockets, so that you'll recognize these if someone tries to get at your valuables. I believe Rick Steves has a section on "Scams" on his Graffiti Wall. You could also type "Barcelona scams" into Google, and you'll get LOTS of information there!

Be sure not to "let your guard down" at any time. People can be victimized even in smaller towns, such as the Cinque Terre. When I was there in October, some American tourists were victimized on the small local train, including one girl that had her Passport "lifted". Apparently, the experienced crooks from Genova and larger cities tend to ride the smaller trains just for that reason - people let their guard down. I don't even want to think about how much trouble it would be to have to attend the closest Embassy and get an emergency Passport replacement.

Be especially aware if there are any Gypsies around (they're not too hard to pick out of the crowd). I found them most prevalent in the Metro in Rome and under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Try to stay at "arms length" and be especially careful in crowded places (the No. 64 Bus in Rome has a bad reputation for pickpocket activity). If they try to thrust a piece of paper in front of your face with a "hard luck" story written in English, tell them to bug@#er off!

I'm not sure what to recommend regarding your Camera? Yes, it would be a bit of a nuisance to have to unlock your Daypack every time you want to take a photo (you might miss a lot of good photos!). I usually carry my dSLR right in the open, and had no problems at all on my last trip. I'm not sure if my size was a deterrence or not???

When I expect to be day-touring in a "high threat" environment, such as the Metro's in Rome or Paris, I tend to leave my Passport and some credit cards locked up in the Hostel or Hotel (DON'T leave these locked in your main Backpack though). I usually wear shirts with two chest pockets, and carry about Eu$50 there for easy access. The pockets are usually inside a photo vest and fastened with buttons and/or Velcro, so they are not easy to access.

Hope everything goes well with your trip. Happy travels!!!

[madamtrashheap]

annisha said:

What i plan to do is take out a certain amount of money every 3 days from an atm and keep most of that in my money belt. The most i will ever have in my daybag is about 50 euro's..if that is taken then at least its not alot of money

Great plan annisha, good to see you thinking ahead about this one.

Eagle's point about the No.64 bus in Rome is also applicable to the No. 44 Express bus (runs between St Peter's Square and Piazza Venezia). And the Eiffel Tower is also a target area (thanks for the reminder Eagle), both underneath and on the tower itself. Musuems, particularly the lines to get in, are also known areas for pickpockets to be, so be aware when standing in line to get in.

Just do what you're doing, take on board all the advice offered here and enjoy your trip!

[lia]

I must say that pickpocketing is something real in Italy, and even though there may be some cities where it's more frequent, I think there are some places where it's actually more easy..like crowded buses/boats/metro, and apart form that - which is quiet obvious - beware of what you buy in the street markets. always check that the boxes they give you actually contain what you supposingly bought (I know of someone who bought a camera and, once at home, opened the box and found a bottle of water instead of the camera..it sounds funny, actually, but it must have been quite upsetting)..anyway, don't worry; as madamtrashheap said, "be aware but not scared"..just enjoy and everything will be alright!

[scribbledhearts]

Anyone know if Milan is safe? My school went to France and our teacher said some girls would put money and such in their bras. Most of the people got this pocket thingy that you wear as a necklace and you can hide it under clothes.

How do these pickpocketrs sneak into purses? Do they unzip them or something?

[WillTravel]

Yes, the pickpocketers are literally trained to be pickpockets, and to take stuff almost as if by sleight-of-hand. So yes, unzipping your purse, sneaking into your back or front pocket, creating a staged disturbance so they can grab stuff, are just some tactics.

If you are going to be in Milan for some time, I would just take a small amount of cash as you go out each day, and one credit card. If you are traveling from place to place, and have everything on you, definitely consider a concealed moneybelt.

[europebound]

We took money belts but didn't wear them. We simply left everything in our backpacks and had each zipper locked up. I'm pretty sure we were targeted in Paris train station by some teenagers who were lingering behind us while we got our bearings with the aid of a map.

The only crime we actually witnessed in 14 cities was 1 picket pocketer and 1 bag snatch both while we were in the line for the Duomo in Florence..

Dont let that deter you though, there's 3 million other tourists to be targeted in florence while you're there so the odds are good haha