[Idyllchat] Thievery in Rome

[Terry Baraldi]

Our last day in Rome: My husband and I took a pre-breakfast stroll to get a paper and to check the hours for the National Museum just a block away (this is in the area of the opera house as well).  Since we were only going to be gone for a few minutes, we didn't bother to "gird our loins" as we normally would  My husband just put his wallet, and his hand, in his pocket...BIG mistake!  This amounts to the international sign for "if you want my wallet, it's right here!"

The gypsies, a family group, were waiting right in front of the museum, and did the old "baby toss" in my husband's face.  As soon as he reached to grab the baby (instincts WILL kick in) they were in his pocket.  Together we wrestled with them for a few minutes, getting nowhere. (The long account is very funny in the retelling, but then, not so much!) Fortunately, this is a busy street and morning rush hour traffic was picking up...and miraculously, two well-dressed Roman businessmen (I'm assuming) jumped out of their car and came to our aid.  Happy ending.

In two trips, this was our only real encounter, although we saw plenty of suspicious situations in all of the major cities.  

LESSON: Keep only loose money, in small amounts, in your pockets.  NEVER your wallet.  That and all else should be carried next to your skin.  Be discreet. Try not to telegraph in public (by patting, constant checking) exactly where on your skin that is.  

NOTE:  Gypsies are different from beggars, who are passive.  The Italians tolerate begging as a form of employment...a benign nuisance.  Gypsies are altogether different...unbelievably aggressive and lightening quick.  They are not tolerated, and much is being done to crack down on them, because they create such a bad image, and impact the tourist trade.  But they will always be there, so beware.

I'm not normally a suspicious person, so I'm maybe more trusting than I should be...but one good reason for staying at smaller, family run-hotels is that the staff is small (no place to hide), and everyone has a vested interest in seeing that you have a wonderful stay.  Petty burglery would be very bad for business.  However, identity theft is less obvious and can take a long time to discover...so keep your papers, credit cards and passport safe no matter where you are.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: kegonsalund 
  To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com 
  Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 9:52 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



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