5 Takeaways From My Dad’s Near Pickpocket

ATTENZIONE, BORSEGGIATRICI!! You may have seen the viral videos of an Italian woman scaring away pickpockets in Italy. My family I used to roll our eyes at stories of those who have had their wallets stolen right out from under them. All it takes is a little common sense to be able to get through a European vacation with all your documents intact. Between the five of us, we’ve been to over 30 countries and never once had a run-in with a pickpocket. It surely can’t be THAT hard, right?

Dad’s birthday dinner in Rome, 12/26/22

For Christmas 2022, my family went to Rome for six days. It was me, my sisters Isabelle and Katherine, and my parents. Day four of our trip we had a behind-the-scenes tour booked at the Pantheon for 3pm, and around 2pm we loaded on a bus to take us there in plenty of time. As we’re one stop away from getting off, my dad puts his hands on either side of his mouth and yells down the length of the bus, “Girls! Emily, Isabelle, Katherine, and Kris! The next stop is ours!” We all shrunk down in our seats in embarrassment, which unfortunately only made my father believe that we didn’t hear him. “GIRLS! Did you hear me? We are the next stop!” Yes, Dad, we heard you the first time! I’ll just act like I don’t know him when we get off…

As the bus approached our stop, my mom, sisters, and I made our way to the doors. Then, all of a sudden when the bus stopped, my sister Katherine was in front of me yelling, “no, no, no!” and swatting a woman’s hand out of the way. The woman jumped back and threw her hands in the air, saying, “your wallet is right there, you should be careful of pickpockets!” When we got off the bus, Katherine said that this woman was just about to rob our dad. She had pulled his wallet halfway out of his back pocket and was holding it with only two fingers, waiting for the doors to open and for him to walk away without even realizing it was missing. It was the first time I or anybody in my family had been in that situation and we were shaken up for a moment. A pickpocket? Targeting…us? I was in shock at what had happened, Katherine was fired up for confronting the woman, Isabelle was confused because she didn’t see any of it, my mom was annoyed at my dad, and my dad? He was insisting there was no way her hand was actually on his wallet because it was in a velcroed back pocket. *facepalm*

Since this happened, I’ve been thinking a lot about how just about everybody is a target when it comes to pickpockets on a tourist bus line. Here are some of my key takeaways and reminders for keeping your money where it should be, whether you are a new or seasoned traveler.

Try to blend in with your environment.

Europeans can peg American tourists from a mile away, and my family was no exception. *Insert photo of every vacation dad ever*

Dad in Rome including a confident strut out of the Pantheon, layers in case he gets cold, and the guidebook in his cargo pocket for hands-free sightseeing.

Yes, you are a tourist, and there will be some indicators (for example, the language), but there are small changes you can make to your wardrobe to make it less obvious, and therefore less likely you will be the victim of a pickpocket. Items such as baseball hats, bright running shoes, or sweatshirts with American sports teams are a dead giveaway. Try instead to switch those out for neutral walking shoes and a nicer coat or jacket. If you have any maps or guide books, keep them tucked away in a purse or backpack in crowded spaces. And maybe, don’t yell down the length of the public bus you’re on and announce yourself as American tourists…

Be aware of your surroundings.

This may be the most obvious, but it bears repeating. When travelling in an unfamiliar place or a big city, it is important to be cognizant of what is going on around you. Before you get on public transit in an unfamiliar place, taking a moment or two to double check where your valuables are, who is around you, and where you are going will give you the composure of a local. If my sister had not been keeping an eye on what was going on around her, my dad’s wallet would have been stolen and he never would have known. At the same time, had my family taken a minute to ensure we all knew where to get off the bus, my dad may not have felt the need to call us for our stop… Actually, no, he still would have done this. #dadsonvacation

Only leave your hotel/apartment with what you need for the day.

A common misconception is that all of your valuables (money, credit cards, passport, etc.) are safest with you, but that is not always the case. If your backpack gets stolen, or your wallet falls out of your pocket, or you accidentally knock your purse over the edge of a water taxi (it happens, trust me), it is in your best interest to not have all of your money and documents get lost too. Keeping the majority of your cash, your passport, and an extra credit card in a secure location at your hotel or apartment is a smart way to plan for the unplannable. Vacations don’t always go as smoothly as you might like, and only bringing some money for each day will save you if something were to ever happen to it. When my dad’s wallet was nearly taken, he admitted that it would have been a bad grab. He wasn’t carrying any cash, and only had a couple of credit cards and his driver’s license in there. Had his wallet been stolen, it would have been annoying to replace the things in it, but he wouldn’t have lost hundreds of euros.

Keep your belongings in secure pockets.

This is another that may seem obvious, but it is easier said than done. Clothes are not typically meant to be pickpocket proof, and neither are purses or backpacks…they are made to be stylish. Look for backpacks, purses, and jackets with hidden pockets or zippers to stow your wallet. While it may seem convenient to put cash in the side pocket of your backpack, if it fell out or somebody took it, you wouldn’t feel a thing. Back pockets are the easiest part of clothes to steal from, so be careful what you put back there. My dad’s back pocket was velcroed shut and he thought his things were safe, but the thief still got his pocket open and had her hand on his wallet.

Walk wherever possible.

Walking more places means less crowded public transportation, which minimizes the chances of someone trying to swipe your belongings. To make this possible, pinpoint sights and activities each day that are close together so you can walk between each instead of taking a train or bus. For example, you can make an entire day out of Sainte Chappelle, Notre Dame, and the Latin Quarter in Paris, and everything is within walking distance. This saves you from spending the majority of your day on crowded tourist lines, which are the most common places for pickpockets.

In the five years and countless trips I have been on, this trip to Rome was the only time I have ever knowingly encountered a pickpocket. Europe is extremely safe, and you don’t need to be a seasoned traveller to be able to survive a vacation theft-free. As long as you are mindful of what is going on around you and pack prepared, I can just about guarantee that you won’t have an issue, which means more time for gelato.

Gelato from La Romana, my favorite spot in Rome.