[Idyllchat] Thievery in Rome

[Lynanne Guynn]

These "thieves" are called gypsies, and are also in Venice.  They are professionals, their livelyhood - and train their children likewise.  They are not in neighborhoods, just in the high tourist areas, and generally work like we do - 9 to 5 - esp in Venice when the daytrippers leave the island.  There is no violence, just hit and run.  If you happen to see them in the act and yell, they usually just disappear.  Keep what you don't want to lose in your apartment/hotel, and carry what's needed under your clothes, or in a locked pocketbook as I do, with the lock clearly in sight.
They also have "diversions" where a child may beg while another gets your money, and you don't know it until you go to get your wallet and it's gone.
 
I've not experienced this personally, but I've been told horror stories from other tourists.  Just be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in high crowded areas, then relax and enjoy your vacation!
 
Lynanne
Visit my Blog at www.lynanneg.blogspot.com


From: dtrees at hughes.netTo: kegonsalund at charter.net; idyllchat at lists.untours.comSubject: Re: [Idyllchat] Thievery in RomeDate: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:13:49 -0600CC: 



Be very careful in Rome.  We were on a bus tour and as we exited the bus at a popular bus-stop, pickpockets "attacked".  We literally had to hold onto our purse straps with one hand and slap thieves off with the other.  We had our purse straps slung over our necks and across our bodies and I guess that saved us.  I have since purchased a bag with a cable in the straps.  If they had had knives, they could have sliced through our straps and been long gone.  They were only after us for a minute then all ran off before any security could arrive.  It was a little frightening but I wouldn't hesitate to go to Rome again.  It's such an incredibly beautiful city with so many nice people.  The thieves there are very good, though.  Some friends were sitting on a bench with a bag of souveniers between their feet and someone got the bag....they even had a foot sitting on part of the bag and still never knew when it was taken.  I've heeded advice given by more experienced travelers to have things like credit cards, passport, etc. in a money belt hidden under my clothes (in a plastic bag for warmer cities where I "glow" more.....you know women don't perspire, we glow).  
 
Deb

----- Original Message ----- 
From: kegonsalund 
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com 
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 8:52 PM
Subject: [Idyllchat] Thievery in Rome


Rick Steves’ Italy 2008 warns about the theft via pickpockets (kids in a group with an adult handler nearby; i.e. Coliseum, busses, trains), purse snatchers (either the grab and run variety, or the Vespa Mounties).
 
Is he overdoing the warnings? What have been others experience in Rome?
 
Don Lund



_______________________________________________This message was sent by IdyllChat.To reply or send a new message, email to:IdyllChat at lists.untours.comVisit the IdyllChat archives:http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at: http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html>Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours: > http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to digest delivery, or temporarily pause delivery, visit:http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/attachments/20080113/6386b9bc/attachment.htm