1: 64, 40 Bus Stop Via Nazionale 5

Via Nazionale, 5, 00184 Roma, Roma (Lazio), Italy

Just off Piazza Repubblica heading towards the city center / Vatican this can be a very busy stop and is a favorite hunting grounds of pick pockets. Especially early morning when tourists are heading to the Vatican.

2: Coliseum

Colosseum, Pomezia, Roma (Lazio), Italy   [+39 06 39967700]    website

Thieves, especially Gypsies are very active from the Coliseum to Piazza Venezia, but mostly clustered around the Coliseum, Metro, to the Maps on Via Dei Fori Imperiali.

3: Piazza Barberini

Piazza Barberini, 00187 Roma, Roma (Lazio), Italy

Common hunting grounds of the Con Man. Especially towards Via Sistina and Via Veneto. Why, because there are a lot of "secret" bars. Remember at all costs look at the drink price menu before ordering anything.

4: Spanish Steps

Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma, Roma (Lazio), Italy

Major center for friendship bracelet scam. Also a common place for teenagers to collect spare change in boxes which "look" like they are collecting for charity

5: Termini Train Station

Via Marsala, 00185 Roma, Roma (Lazio), Italy

Usually the main arrival point into Rome. Make sure that you keep your luggage in front of you. Also, a place where the fake police scam can happen. If approached by undercover police officers and asked for money (under the guise of its being counterfeit) or your being "fined" for not having proper documentation MAKE SURE that they bring you to a station- there is one in the station- or that you check out their ID with a uniformed Police officer.

6: Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma, Roma (Lazio), Italy

Piazza Navona is the favorite stomping ground for \"Bracelet Makers\". They can be quite quick and have a bracelet already started before you know it. Under no circumstances let them near you. They are very easy to spot because they will be draped in all the raw material \"colorful yarn\" necessary to their trade.

Hello Travelers!

As one of the tourism capitals of the world, Rome has thousands of things to do, see, smell and taste. It’s an exuberant and friendly city that bursts with light, passion, art, pasta, wine and millennia of wonder. Millions of tourists pass through Rome annually, and most go home saying “La vita e’ bella! What an amazing city.” There are, however, those unlucky visitors who return home (after having spent hours of waiting in line at their embassy for a new passport—which was pick-pocketed on a bus) saying “WTF. Never going back.”

As a tourist in Italy, you must never forget that you are easily spotted: you’re carrying a map or a camera; you’re wearing (not-so-cool) sneakers or sandals; you’re (probably) under-dressed, and most importantly, you’re smiling at all the beautiful things (Romans rarely smile as they walk down a street… they’re either complaining or talking about food). The petty thieves that want to take advantage of the naïve tourist can spot you a kilometer away (as you sprint across that pedestrian walk way while praying to sweet Jesus that you don’t get mauled by a psychotic Roman driver who sees you like a bowling pin–and he, the big ball).

PLACES OF RISK

The more tourists there are in a contained area, the more likely there will be pick pockets. To a large extent pick-pockets don’t hunt at St. Peter’s or the Sistine Chapel—why? Because they’re looking for an easy escape. We’ve here mapped out the risky areas Rome, but by no means is this map complete. Please feel free to send us your stories about where and when you got scammed (though, we very much hope that this has not and never will happen to you in Bella Roma).

Termini Train Station and its Vicinity

There are many places to get pick-pocketed or scammed in Rome, but certainly one of the best places to have this act performed on you is the Termini Train Station (and its immediate vicinity). Because this neighborhood is teeming with tourists, it is also teeming with pickpockets.

The Public Bus (specifically the 64 and 40) and Metro (i.e. subway)

Crowded buses and subways are the gypsies’ favorite haunts (and the 64 and 40 buses run straight to the Vatican). Remember that more tourists have walked off the 64 bus without a wallet than on almost any other bus in the world. Gypsies love the 64 because it’s so f…ng crowded! Gypsies have been known to cut through backpacks, cargo pants’ pockets and purses for a wallet—they’ll even rob nuns of their rosaries. What’s your best defense? Keep your valuables in front of you and BE TOUGH! Remember that if the gypsy senses anger or severity in your eyes, you are less likely to be taken for prey.

The Bar or Coffee Shop

First off, don’t leave your cell phone on an outdoor Roman table…ever! Know that those cute five-year-old girls who inhabit all the major Roman piazzas and dance around selling roses, are not as innocent as they seem. While you’re buying that sweet red rose…abacadbra…you’re phone and ipod disappear!

You should also be aware of price gouging. Most Italians drink their coffee standing al bar (where a coffee will cost half the price). If you sit down outside al tavola (and Roman waiters will charmingly coerce you into doing so), you’ll be paying a service charge, which means you’ll be paying two to three times the regular price of a cappuccino. Indulgences aside, you might not want to sit for every breakfast you have in the eternal city. Peter Kiefer wrote an excellent article for the New York Times on this very subject. Click HERE to read the article.

Monuments and other tourist sites

The Colosseum, the Forum, and Saint Peter’s are all mind blowing sites to see. Because these locations are natural distractions to tourists, they are also feeding grounds for pickpockets. The Trevi Fountain and Piazza Barberini are common con man hunting grounds, while Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna is where you’ll the bracelet makers like to congregate.

THE ENEMY DOSSIER

So, you ask, how can you stave off the ill will of greedy, lusty criminals (no…wearing garlic around your neck does not go as far as it once did): KNOW YOUR ENEMY!

How do you spot your enemy?

ENEMY 1: GYPSY: If she’s a gypsy, you might see her dressed like a nineteen-seventies hippie with a long flowery skirt, a scarf/bandana, a blanket, a baby in her arms, worn down sandals, and a group of other woman tagging closely behind (with gold in their teeth).

ENEMY 2: CON MAN: If he’s a con man, he’s likely way too nice (or insistent) to be sincere; he’s probably well shaven, clean and wearing Emporio Armani. He might want your credit card number in exchange for a free cell phone, or he might try to show you some amazing Roman sights you’ve never heard of before (he may even want to be your tour guide). A common scam is the “Let’s get a drink, I-know-where-beautiful-women-are”: a bored looking guy tells you about a “secret” bar or disco with pretty girls, and when you arrive at the place, one or all of the girls are interested in you and want to sit, chat and pet. One of them might say, “Bello, buy me a drink,” and because you’re feeling lucky you say, “Sure, what would you like?” The girl says, “Champagne.” You say, “Of course.” The girl takes her first sip, you take the bill, and whoa daddy, it’s 500+ Euros.

ENEMY 3: THE BRACELET MAKER: The quick braided scam: you’ll be sitting on a fountain when all of a sudden a smiling, grease-ball comes up to you and says, “I make you friendship bracelet.” You think, “How sweet.” He proceeds to braid a string around your wrist, and when he’s finished he asks for a donation. You refuse the donation, but because you’re now tied to him, philanthropy is your only option. “If you don’t give me the 20 Euro I never leave!” he says.

ENEMY 4: THE FAKE “Tourist” POLICE OFFICER: A“ tourist police” officer will flash a badge and create anxiety. He may ask to see your money to check for counterfeit bills, or may even try to fine you for not having your passport. In any case, never show these people anything, and request to walk with them to one of the many officers that line the streets of Rome, or to the station.

So, how do you deceive your enemy?
With the right preparation, it’s easy to avert disaster.

A) KNOW where your wallet/passport/money is at all times (do not leave it in the back pocket of your pants or back pack!)
B) HOLD your purse or bag close to your body or in front of you.
C) AVOID the aforementioned people (i.e. do not let them approach you —especially in groups), and avoid fanny packs at all costs. Not only do fanny packs SCREAM tourist, but they also are high target value because as a general rule they are packed full of all your goodies.
D) BE AWARE of criminal distraction techniques. Gypsies are famous for disorienting their victims in order to steal their phone, camera, wallet, or whatever it is they know you’re not paying attention to. They might try to show you a newspaper, or they might drop an object in front of you (like their infant child–a rag doll) under the expectation that you’ll pick it/him/her up. They may even innocuously ask you for directions or a cigarette. What to do???
E) IGNORE these people! Don’t make eye-contact! Walk away! And sure enough (they’re only petty criminals and don’t really want to have to work too hard for their money) they’ll leave you alone.
F) SHOUT! When in doubt, shout it out! If you find yourself with a bracelet tied to your wrist, or find yourself too close to a suspiciously touchy person, make a scene and scare these chickens away.

Allora, now that you’ve been sufficiently primed on security measures for your trip, do remember to apply them. Look tough (sunglasses can be of assistance here), be aware of the people in your immediate surroundings (or as Borat put it, “Beat the gypsy, beat the gypsy”) and remember that being a little more street smart will make your voyage to Rome a hundred times more pleasurable.

Buon viaggio!

Elizabeth Farren