Almost everyone dreams of visiting Italy at some point in their lives. However, the fact that Italy is a tourist hotspot also makes it a prime destination for pickpocketing. Especially if you plan to visit during the summer months, it’s essential to know how to keep your belongings safe. Now, don’t let this thought hamper your dream vacation. Your trip to Italy will still be amazing; it’s just always a good idea to take extra precautions! In this article, I’ll be sharing a few tips on how to avoid pickpockets in Italy. Although we will be focusing on that particular country in this post, most of these tips apply to almost any big city. I would recommend giving this article a quick read-through and deciding how meticulous you want to be about following my guidelines. You do not have to follow all of these tips to be safe; just keep them in mind! As further preparation for your trip to Italy, you may also want to review these essential Europe travel tips.
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Recommended items to avoid pickpockets in Italy
- Anti-theft backpack: if you’re planning to carry items such as your wallet, camera, passport, or any other valuables, you may want to consider an anti-theft backpack. These bags are designed so that pickpockets will be unable to open them. For example, many have zippers that face your back instead of facing out like on a standard backpack. If you don’t want to invest in a new bag, wear your normal one on your chest in busy areas instead of your back.
- Money belt: when carrying around cash, you might want to look into wearing a money belt. Although it’s not the most stylish option, it’s better than someone pickpocketing your cash. If you don’t want to wear a money belt, I would at least recommend carrying your wallet in your front pocket instead of your back.
- The anti-theft crossbody bag: if you prefer to carry a purse over a backpack, these bags are a great option. They will typically have anti-slash straps to prevent thieves from cutting your handbag as well as smart zipper security. At present, many also include RFID safe pockets.
- RFID blocking wallets: the idea behind these wallets is that they keep your passport, credit/debit cards, and other forms of ID safe from external scanners. I don’t consider these to be extremely necessary, but they are an excellent form of extra precaution.
READ MORE: THINGS TO DO IN ROME AT NIGHT
Some quick tips to avoid pickpockets in Italy
- Don’t carry all of your credit/debit cards at once. I recommend only taking one of your cards and leaving the rest in a safe at your hotel. This way, if the worst-case scenario did occur, you would still be able to withdraw money during your trip.
- Invest in a cheap luggage lock that you can use to lock your zippers on your backpack or purse in busy areas.
- At restaurants and cafés, leave your purse in your lap instead of setting it on the ground or hanging it off of your chair.
- Don’t leave your phone out on the table. Someone can easily walk by and grab it without you noticing.
- As mentioned before, carry your wallet in your front pocket instead of your back pocket.
- Wear your backpack on your front in crowded areas.
- When taking photos in a popular tourist spot, you may want to put your camera away after you’re done. This is much safer than wearing it around your neck all day.
- In very busy spots, keep your hand on your bag. Furthermore, wear your bag crossed over your body instead of just on one shoulder.
I hope that these tips help you to have a great time on your trip to Italy! I would hate for a pickpocket to ruin your vacation by taking something special to you. Make sure to pick and choose which of these tips work for you, and I’m sure you’ll be fine!
