Pickpockets in Rome: new solutions to an old problem

The painting you see above might appear to be an ordinary scene of 17th-century Rome: a fortune teller reading a young man’s palm while an elderly woman turns towards the observer. But look again: the older woman’s hand is going into the man’s pocket! This painting (1617) by the French artist Simon Vouet, shown at the National Gallery of Ancient Art in Palazzo Barberini, is surprising because it shows us that pickpocketing in big cities… is nothing new.

A timeless issue

Why is this work by a follower of Caravaggio so important? It helps us understand that even in those days petty theft was so commonplace that it inspired artists. In Vouet’s day there were no tourists, but there were merchants and pilgrims: and since this year’s Jubilee is bringing its load of pilgrims with it, let’s try to discuss these issues without stirring up paranoia or stereotypes about Rome… Shall we?

The pickpocket situation in Rome today: what you need to know

Like any major tourist destination, Rome sees its share of opportunistic theft. Pickpockets typically operate in predictable places: crowded spots with tourists such as the Trevi Fountain, the line to enter the Vatican Museums and public transportation hubs are just a few of these. Pickpockets are particularly active during the height of the tourist season and at peak hours, when the crowds offer a natural form of protection. Most incidents occur in these high-traffic areas and on crowded buses or subways along routes frequented by visitors.

Rome is not dangerous

Despite their presence, Rome remains a fundamentally safe city. The pickpockets we have described are champions of “dexterity” and specifically avoid confrontation and violence, as their success depends on going unnoticed. They don’t carry weapons because that would turn a minor offense into a serious crime. In addition, Rome has developed high-impact prevention systems at the community level. Influencers such as Simone Cicalone regularly patrol the metro, helping visitors identify known pickpockets (although not everyone agrees with his rough methods).
Rome has also recently introduced a police patrol dedicated to public transportation (the linked article is in Italian), whose presence has significantly reduced the number of thefts.

What you can do to protect yourself

If you are planning a trip to Rome and the pickpocket situation makes you anxious, prevention starts with awareness. Here are some practical measures you can take, starting with understanding some common distraction techniques:

• Be wary of staged arguments or attention-grabbing scenes. Similarly, be on the lookout for people shoving you into a subway carriage
• Also beware of people asking for directions while holding maps or placing them on your table – this is a known distraction
• Be careful if someone “accidentally” spills something on you: don’t let them help you clean up
• Don’t “take the bait” if someone tries to get your attention by telling you, for example, that you dropped something
• More generally, if you don’t know anyone in Rome, why would anyone greet you? A thought worth considering wherever you go as a tourist. Ignore and continue walking without acknowledging the person who tried to get your attention

Practical solutions? Only if you are really worried and if you don’t trust your powers of observation, you could consider:

• Investing in anti-theft accessories, such as cross-body bags with reinforced straps.
• Using money belts for documents and extra cash
• Securing the zippers of your bags with small carabiners or cable ties
• In winter, wearing your shoulder bag (fanny pack or other small bag) over your shoulder under your jacket

In general, good practices to follow include:

• Keeping a minimum number of valuables on your person: divide your cash and don’t keep it all in the same place. The same goes if you travel with more than one credit card
• Avoiding getting on overcrowded subway cars: wait for the next train (on line A, the frequency in recent weeks has been between 2 and 5 minutes, so there’s really no need to take the first train coming in)
• When using public transportation, standing against walls or corners
• Keeping bags or backpacks in front of you and not on your back
• Being particularly vigilant when taking photos or checking maps
• Always keeping digital copies of important documents in case of loss

What to do if you have been pickpocketed

If you are the victim of theft, don’t panic. The hotel concierge or vacation rental manager can direct you to the nearest Carabinieri or Police station. If you are near important monuments, you are likely to see police patrols or armored army vehicles: their personnel can immediately help you with directions or by making a phone call for you.

A note from From Home to Rome

Remember that the aim of this post is not to make you paranoid, but to help you enjoy Rome while having information that will put your mind at ease and, why not, correct attitudes that risk attracting the attention of the wrong people. Have a good trip!