Please be aware

Posted by admin on June 22, 2007 under Rome hotels and events |

Please be aware 22 June 2007

Posted by Danne75 in : Events in Rome , trackback

The pick pocketing is rife again. I have heard lots of stories about incidents happening at the train station, on the bus and the metro. A lot of the situations could have been avoided but I keep hearing the same phrase ” I didn’t know about it”.

 

 

 

Like any tourist you will be spotted a mile away by any local. They are usually the people with loads of cameras, moon bags and are often seen looking very confused with a large map held out infront of them. They are easy targets but they don’t have to be. Please leave all your valuables in the safes that we provide for you at the hotel. Do not take any of the following with you unless you really need them: passports, drivers licenses, credit cards, keys and cellphones. Also don’t wear any excessive jewellery as this will draw attention. Only take the necessary things like the money for entrance fees to museums or for lunch etc. If you have to take a large amount with you for splurging on shopping then please use a money belt. If you dont have one please please please buy one. I have seen them for sale at most of the stores that also sell suitcases and luggage bags.

 

 

 

Like any tourist you will be spotted a mile away by any local. They are usually the people with loads of cameras, moon bags and are often seen looking very confused with a large map held out infront of them. They are easy targets but they don’t have to be. Please leave all your valuables in the safes that we provide for you at the hotel. Do not take any of the following with you unless you really need them: passports, drivers licenses, credit cards, keys and cellphones. Also don’t wear any excessive jewellery as this will draw attention. Only take the necessary things like the money for entrance fees to museums or for lunch etc. If you have to take a large amount with you for splurging on shopping then please use a money belt. If you dont have one please please please buy one. I have seen them for sale at most of the stores that also sell suitcases and luggage bags.

 

 

 

If you take a bag with you wear it with the zips and all the pockets facing the front. That way no one can open the bag without you knowing it. Do not keep anything valuable in the back pockets of your trousers. Now when you do get the metro here are a could of tips to help you get to your destination unscathed. Try to avoid the rush hour times if you can. This is usually around seven till ten in the morning and then again from around four till six in the evening. Always get into the last carriage as it is usually the least crowded. When you are inside the carriage go stand at the opposite door to the one that opens. This way you can get a good look at who is coming in and where they are going. When you are in a carriage and there is plenty of space but you are suddenly surrounded by a group of people move away from them immediately. When you get out of the carriage wait on the platform until the crowd has dispersed a bit. Most of the incidents happen in crowded areas where people are really close together. There is nothing wrong with being at the back of the queue, especially when you still have all your belongings with you.

Try to do the same thing on the bus and and take the same precautions. Do not stop when asked to give directions, do not make eye contact and do not let anything divert your attention.

As far as the police go my personal opinion is that they don’t really care anyway. I have seen long queues of people outside the police offices in Termini all having had something stolen from them. This is the plain honest truth. The Italian station and railway police are useless. So it is up to you to be savvy and street smart. The only information I have heard is a garbled message in very heavily accented Italian over the intercom system and really small signs that are very easily over looked. They do however have tv’s on the platforms and the trains telling you about potential pick pockets. Its a good and a bad thing because you can watch tv telling you about something which is probably happening to you at that very moment.

 

 

 

If you take a bag with you wear it with the zips and all the pockets facing the front. That way no one can open the bag without you knowing it. Do not keep anything valuable in the back pockets of your trousers. Now when you do get the metro here are a could of tips to help you get to your destination unscathed. Try to avoid the rush hour times if you can. This is usually around seven till ten in the morning and then again from around four till six in the evening. Always get into the last carriage as it is usually the least crowded. When you are inside the carriage go stand at the opposite door to the one that opens. This way you can get a good look at who is coming in and where they are going. When you are in a carriage and there is plenty of space but you are suddenly surrounded by a group of people move away from them immediately. When you get out of the carriage wait on the platform until the crowd has dispersed a bit. Most of the incidents happen in crowded areas where people are really close together. There is nothing wrong with being at the back of the queue, especially when you still have all your belongings with you.

Try to do the same thing on the bus and and take the same precautions. Do not stop when asked to give directions, do not make eye contact and do not let anything divert your attention.

As far as the police go my personal opinion is that they don’t really care anyway. I have seen long queues of people outside the police offices in Termini all having had something stolen from them. This is the plain honest truth. The Italian station and railway police are useless. So it is up to you to be savvy and street smart. The only information I have heard is a garbled message in very heavily accented Italian over the intercom system and really small signs that are very easily over looked. They do however have tv’s on the platforms and the trains telling you about potential pick pockets. Its a good and a bad thing because you can watch tv telling you about something which is probably happening to you at that very moment.

 

 

 

This problem is not going to go away over night. As long as there are tourists in Rome that are ignorant of the situation it will continue. Lets make things difficult for these thieves by using the advice I have just given you. After nine months in this city and using the public transport I know a bit about the situation. We want you to come to Rome prepared and ready for a fantastic experience. We want you to leave with happy memeories and not the unpleasant experience and inconvenience of having your stuff stolen. Just take these precautions and you will be fine.

Hot spot areas for pick pocketing are: Termini station, the metro (particularly the popular tourist stops like Colosseo and Spagna) and bus numbers 64 and 40.