Watching them work in the Rome subway was pretty amazing. I watched them
go for the Designated Traveling Companion's (DTC) fannypack (which had
nothing in it but tissues with this in mind). Thought I had all of them.
There were 2 kids causing a diversion (tussle), two women, with sweaters
over their arms (the picks). I missed the old guy who was next to me, up
against the wall, supervising the whole thing, who tipped them that I
was onto them, as I was tipping the DTC off.
They had managed to get her fannypack open even though it was safety
pinned shut.
I want to go back with a fannypack full of stinging nettles...:-}
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Randall wrote:
>
> GuyotLeonF@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > I have heard that Italian Cities are famous for Pickpockets
>
> One scam I learned of first hand in Rome, I thought rather amusing. A
> whole gaggle of little boys, not more than 8 or 9 years old ran up
> trying to sell us newspapers. While two of them spread the papers out,
> several more ducked underneath, and I felt light fingers going over my
> pockets. My friend yelled "They're pickpockets !" (in English of
> course) and they ran away.
>
> Petty theft is also apparently a big problem in Italy. Several people
> told me that the reason none of the cars had radios was so they wouldn't
> be stolen.
>
> Randall
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