Just a friendly reminder. My friend was in Italy for 10 nights 3 weeks ago. Her first night in Rome, her and her friends were eating at a restaurant. She had her purse on the floor down by her feet. Thinking it was safe. It was stolen, the whole purse. Even with all those people at her table. Her passport, $$$, and everything else were gone. She got a replacement passport at the US embassy. My mom and I were in Milan 20 years ago, and I caught them in my moms purse as we were walking. It was the old distraction-newspaper in the face technique. Anyways, everyone please be mindful. You can never be too careful. Don't use the "it won't happen to me" method. We all know that doesn't work. Last year in south america, I had a great black, velcro pouch that was a "leg bag". It was meant to strap around your leg. I got it at REI. I wore it under my pants, no one knew. Be careful Lil' Lori

Pickpockets and purse thieves are very prevalent in Italy. I remember a fellow sailor getting his wallet stolen by two guys on a Vespa. One guy got off the scooter and started walking down the sidewalk while the scooter driver pulled down a ways and waited. My friend had his wallet in the back pocket. In a flash the wallet was lifted, the thief was on the scooter and they were gone into the Naples traffic.

A chap on a Vespa attempted to steal my bag in Rome when the bag was across my body. He didn't get the bag. I would have been better off if he had as I ended up being dragged along behing the Vespa on a cobbled street for a while until he gave up. I ended up with a fracture to a (small) bone in my pelvis and was off work for 6 weeks. Fortunately it was the last night of our holiday. There was hardly anything in the bag. I now try not to take a bag in tourist areas. I have been back to Rome since then. I also had a bag stolen in England from below my chair in a cafe (not in a big city). Fortunately my purse and keys were not it the bag, only books and phone. I now can't stop myself from telling strangers to zip their bags etc as it can happen anywhere.

Be careful all along the mediterranian. My parents got roobed in spain, and avoided an attempt in southern france. They are getting more and more clever with new "tricks" every year.

Lil' Lori, that's what I do too.

We toured Naples with only a few euros well hidden in my underwear pocket; no cameras, no phones.

The first person we met in town just out of Molo Beverello was a guy riding slowly on a Vespa who showed us a videocamera for sale. As I turned my head on the other side and didn't reply at all, he went away bawling out curses.
Do not be familiar to these people.

Just returned from our cruise. on the train back to the port from Rome, one couple had their backpack stolen. First mistake, they put in on tope in the luggage rack. The thief was sitting in the seat in front of them. At one stop he got up, as passengers were getting on the train. He dropped a couple of coins on the floor. While everyone looked at that, he grabbed the backpack and got off the train. The couple noticed almost right away, but were too late to get off the train before it started up again.