more scams and Roman thievery, Part 2...
Romebuddy has been contacted by a number of readers who have sent in some of their first-hand experiences or hearsay about specific scams and criminal tricks suffered by themselves or others visiting Rome. Thanks for the contributions guys - We've reprinted a few of them here and on the next few pages. (Real names have been changed):
Nick writes to us and also to the Rome police:
"Firstly I would like to congratulate you on a really good, informative
site. I hope that the information in the attachment might warn prospective
visitors to Rome of the very real dangers of pickpockets in Rome.
We visited Rome from 10th June to 16th June 2004 and on the 15th June
had our camera stolen by pickpockets. I am describing this as I hope it
will give you some useful information that might help to catch this gang.
The incident happened when getting onto a number 64 bus in the Via Del
Plebiscito on the way to towards the Termini at 22.30 (15th June). We
were waiting for the bus and there were about 5 or 6 other people waiting
for various buses. We had previously noticed a thin man aged about 19
years old walking up and down the line of people waiting for the bus.
We later thought he was looking at people’s pockets to see where their
wallets or valuables were. He was about 5ft 9 inches tall very thin wearing
a white tee shirt, white trousers and was smoking. At this time no other
gang members were to be seen. When the bus arrived the other passengers
got on and so did my wife in front of me. As I was getting on someone
tried to push in front of me and someone else tried to hold me back. This
distracted me but I had my left hand in my pocket that contained my wallet
but the camera was in my right trouser pocket. When I got on board the
bus I realised the camera had been stolen. I noticed two groups of 4 men
who had each got on behind me and who had not been standing at the bus
stop. I suspected one group had the camera I made it obvious that I suspected
them and one man of about 22 years of being the ringleader. He was about
5ft 10ins tall with a round face and stockily built, he wore an orange
tee shirt. I went from person to person to try and see who had the camera
but it was impossible. At the next bus stop this gang of 4 men got off
together with a thin girl carrying a brightly coloured large shoulder
bag, she was dressed in a dark skirt and blouse she was obviously with
this group and I suspect that the camera had been passed to her by the
thief. I did not follow them off the bus as I suspected that they might
become violent. The second group stayed on the bus and I looked closely
at them. Their leader was tall and thin dressed in black. The other three
members were shorter and appeared to speak in Italian. The first group
did not say a word. The second group got off at the next stop. I did not
talk to the bus driver as he was in his cabin and my Italian is very poor.
I did not report it to the police at the Termini as we were leaving for
the UK next day. The two groups looked eastern European but as they didn’t
speak much it is only a guess. The camera was a Samsung Digimax 800k with
an 8mB smart card and was only worth approximately 30 Euros.
I have read of exactly the same mode of operation of pickpocket gangs
that operate in London, but when it happens to you, no amount of reading
of similar events has much effect. It's individual and it's happening
to you. I was in a way lucky that I had my left hand in my trouser pocket
covering my wallet. My camera was in the right-hand pocket and I used
my right hand to haul myself onto the bus while members of the gang were
trying to barge in front of me and also pull me back. I also wore a belt
purse on my trouser belt and they would have had to cut the belt off to
get at that. In hindsight I should have shouted out to bring the gang
to the attention of the other bus passengers and the driver (cocooned
in his glass cab) but the thought of being knifed has a debilitating effect
in the heat of the moment. I think they were a bit surprised that I noticed
the camera gone the minute I got on the bus as they were trapped on the
bus - Had I managed to convince the driver as to what had happened, I
doubt if he would have wanted to get involved anyway and it would have
been the usual shrug of the shoulders. I hope that you can print the story
on your excellent web site in some form so as to graphically warn prospective
tourists of the pitfalls of Rome travel (or for that matter any big city).
I hope you can make use of this information and that you can catch this
gang as it is bad for tourism in Rome and marred what was otherwise a
very enjoyable visit to your beautiful city!!"
Another Story:
Hi there, Just wanted to say a little thankyou for a great site. I stumbled on it by complete accident as I was making my final plans for a short trip to Rome. Although I had several guides that touched upon the crime problem in Rome, your site highlighted the potential dangers far more and I made some quick alterations to my planning. And that planning paid off. Im just back from four days in the city and at first I have to say I thought maybe I had been a little over cautious and your info had been scare mongering. I saw my fair share of down and outs and begging gypsies , but this was no different to back home in Cambridge UK. But when I headed into the big tourist spots I soon realised Rome is a petty crime mecca. Here is my experience for use if you see fit. At the Trevi Fountain its packed wall to wall with tourists and street sellers almost 24/7 (quite a pain if you want to sit back and enjoy the splendid sight ) cast a careful eye about though. And you soon pick up several people who aren't looking at the fountain but are more interested in bags and pockets. If you are switched on , they are fairly easy to spot , but its hard to steer away from them in such a crowd. Just make sure everything of value is hidden away and inaccessible before you reach the fountain. Its worth ducking into a shop or restaurant to make any necessary adjustments. Dont highlight the location of your wallet etc.. I split my money up into several locations on me ( a money belt was very handy ) and I kept my cash card completely separate , that way if the pickpockets got lucky I wouldn't be too out of pocket. Also get to know where each bit is , theres nothing worse than standing around turning out your pockets , it just makes you an easy target. When taking photos in one of the 'hot spots' its best if you are not alone. If you are travelling with someone else as I was , get them to watch your back. Its very easy for your bag to get snatched rifled while you are composing that perfect holiday snap. On cameras as well another word of warning , the amount of people I saw handing their cameras over to complete strangers to take a picture of them!! Not a great idea Im sure you will agree. At the Vatican Museum and at the Coliseum I ran into several English speakers who stood near the queues to get in. They tried to flag us down asking 'do you speak English' and then stating 'we have a tour starting in a few moments and you will not have to queue to get in , would you like to join us?' Now I don't know the end result of this , as my scam radar was sounding off and I just ignored them. But im pretty sure , the tour would have involved parting with cash and then being left standing outside while they went off to fetch the rest of the group which would then never show. Any others have any experience? The queues are long , but surpassingly for Italy , they move along at an efficient pace. Be patient and you'll be in fairly swiftly. If you do want a tour guide , book them through official channels. On my last day in Rome , having been quite relived that I had not had a bad experience and starting to think that I was perhaps being a tad over cautious. I was hit twice in a couple of hours by thieves. The first were a group of gypsy women by Trjans Forum. They had placed themselves right where the pavement was narrowed by some excavation work on the Via Dei Fori Imperiali. I hadn't noticed them and was busy taking snap shots when my missus who was watching my back alerted me to them. Before I knew what was happening they were all around me ; one woman , baby in her arms. All muttering and begging and pushing up against me has i tried to move away. Most unpleasant. The more I told them no and tried to walk away , the more insistent and closer they got ; eventually I felt the tell tale hand in my jeans pocket ; can you believe it was the women holding the baby!! With her free hand she had grabbed at my wallet , obviously thinking I wouldn't touch her whilst she was holding the baby. Luckily Id felt it ( I highly recommend the wearing of tight trousers like jeans , if only on holidays ) and I swatted her arm away shouting Polizia and waving my finger at her ( seems to underline displeasure in Italy ). With this they backed off and I was able to walk away rattled but unscathed. Later on route from The Colosseo to Termini on the metro I was targeted again. This time by a couple of eastern European types. They pushed in with us onto a tightly packed train ( they always seem over crowded ). One stood to my left and one behind. At first I didn't notice they were together but it soon became apparent that the one to my left was communicating with the one behind. The one to the rear first tried for my bag but I managed to take it off my shoulder and drop it to my right holding tightly onto it. I made sure my left hand was in my pocket with my cash card. Then felt a slight movement on my mobile phone attached to my belt on my left. I tried to cover this with my left arm and the guy next to me pushed away at my arm trying to keep it clear of the phone. As we arrived at the stop and the crowd pushed out , they tried one last snatch at my phone but failed to get away with it. (Before leaving each morning I fed the wrist strap attached to the phone onto my belt. Even if it comes out of the holder it wont go anywhere fast. Worthwhile doing if you have got one.) They did get away with some scribbled notes on key Italian phrases from my back pocket ( I hope they were of some use to them ). So it was obvious they had given me a good working over. Just be aware that I hardly felt anything that time and even when I was aware there was something going on I was so packed in there was almost nothing i could do. Only being prepared before hand stopped me losing anything of value. Hope this ramble is of use to someone , thanks again Romebuddy... forewarned is forearmed. PS Dont let this put you off a trip to Rome , I had a great time and found the good people of Rome quite a pleasant and friendly bunch. Just be on your guard for the scum of the world who want to ruin your trip and give this great city a bad name. Regards, Bix
Another Story:
Dear Rome Buddy: First, thanks for your FABULOUS website. What a relief
that you exist.
I am an American, mature, female graduate student in Rome for research
for my dissertation.
Now for my report of a rip-off. Sorry, but it's for what is advertised
as a special and excellent ex-pat enterprise, a bookshop in Trastevere.
I am actually quite shocked at the way I was treated there. On Saturday,
March 12, I bought a novel there - The Lovely Bones - new book, no prices
in Euros on stock, only in dollars and pounds. Thought the £ price would
be something of a guide, but not - price was 2x the £ listing, which made
the book quite expensive, over $20. Told myself live and learn, use another
shop or library in future. However, this expensive object, which I read
rather quickly, was defective. About every thirty pages, the pages were
unattached, and would fall in sheaves of 4 or six, out of the binding
altogether. In my medium-length life, I have handled and/or read thousands
of books, and have never seen one in exactly this state. Appalling that
the publisher gets away with this, etc. My thought was, having worked
in a respected privately owned book shop in Chicago, that these humanist
booksellers who support the life of the mind, would give me a break and
perhaps half the price of the book allowing me to buy another. Instead,
the seller, and another fellow, an assistant, seeming to have the job
of carrying the can and nodding, insulted me. Claimed that by opening
the book, I had caused the pages to fall out, that books are "all like
that," and that he couldn't do anything with it - "Couldn't I give it
to a friend?" Booklovers and sellers to booklovers and sellers who are
booklovers who love booklovers, Unite! Do not shop in this depressing
place! Scandolo. My Italian father was a merchant, and treated his clientel
with respect and sympathy. I actually left the book with them hoping that
the paradox may stir something of an ethical voice somewhere down deep.
Fat chance. I recommend another second- and first-hand English-and-other-languages
bookshop in the neighborhood, run by a very kind Italian lady. I can't
remember the name, but it is on Via Lungaretta between Viale Trastevere
and Piazza Piscinula. Finally - maybe most important. I have discovered
that though the Banca Intesa branch across from Piazza Sonino has an exterior
Banc-o-mat that would not give me 50 Euroson Tuesday, March 15, the amount
has been deducted from my American bank balance. I haven't been able to
contact my bank yet.
JC
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