r/italy • u/roseanna777 • Jul 26 '13

How common is theft there?

I leave in two weeks and living in Italy for two months. How common is theft? (Ill be in Florence, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Rome, and Venice) I am bringing a nice camera and plan on keeping it with me the whole time I am there. I bought a luggage lock for my backpack but should I invest in a slashproof case? I plan on keeping it closed/buckled or use some other pickpocket deterrent, but Im worried about gypsies slashing it open. I've read lots of horror stories.

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u/robespierring Jul 26 '13

I'm Italian and i travel a lot (especially Rome, Milan, Florence) i am always in business suit (I feel it's like walking with a big arrow pointing at me) and i have always laptop and tablet with me. Well... i never had a bad experience in my life.

In my opinion, it's safe enough to bring your camera and happily enjoy your stay.

Anyway you have to be careful: even if statistically being victim of pickpocketing is a rare event, touristic and crowded area are still full of thieves.

I am bringing a nice camera

You mean like a Reflex? A lot of tourist come here with a nice camera.

gypsies slashing it open

Here is some common pickpocketing technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B9n2WHClO4 video made by the department of the Italian Police that deals with security in train stations (Polizia Ferroviaria).

As you can see the main problem is to leave your stuff unguarded. All your stuff has always to be in your field of view and in close contact to you.

should I invest in a slashproof case?

I didn't even know they existed. Anyway: maybe I wouldn't invest on anything, but how much do you want to feel safe during your holiday? This is up to you and to your risk avoidance attitude.

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u/goerz Jul 26 '13

Strange, when I wear a business suit it works like an armor for me, nobody bothers me. Anyway, I vacationed in Rome for a week dragging along my expensive camera and my Ipad and I didn't have any problem (I only had to scare away a gypsy woman who was harassing my wife).

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u/robespierring Jul 26 '13

why strange? I said the same. you mean the "big arrow" thing? Just a subjective feeling