Rome is infamous for having some light fingered locals.
A few years back - on the day after leaving the Eternal City - I read an account of a train station police sweep netting nearly 30 pickpockets.
That's 30 pickpockets on a fairly slow, late fall weekday! Imagine the crew working a busy summer weekend?
And that happened on the very same day & from same station where I left Rome.
I silently thanked Rick Steves & his money belt advice.
Today, most tourists are aware of the scam where a group of children approach, with the most doey eyed of them all (usually a very young, sad faced girl) holding out a newspaper or piece of cardboard. If you allow them to get too close, the paper/cardboard goes under your chin & you can't see (or feel) all the tiny hands that are deftly picking your pockets.
But have you heard the one about the flying baby?
With this trick, a woman carrying a 'baby' trips and catapults the 'infant' on to the ground in front of you. Sometimes her aim is better & the 'baby' actually lands into your arms.
A few years back - on the day after leaving the Eternal City - I read an account of a train station police sweep netting nearly 30 pickpockets.
That's 30 pickpockets on a fairly slow, late fall weekday! Imagine the crew working a busy summer weekend?
And that happened on the very same day & from same station where I left Rome.
I silently thanked Rick Steves & his money belt advice.
Today, most tourists are aware of the scam where a group of children approach, with the most doey eyed of them all (usually a very young, sad faced girl) holding out a newspaper or piece of cardboard. If you allow them to get too close, the paper/cardboard goes under your chin & you can't see (or feel) all the tiny hands that are deftly picking your pockets.
But have you heard the one about the flying baby?
With this trick, a woman carrying a 'baby' trips and catapults the 'infant' on to the ground in front of you. Sometimes her aim is better & the 'baby' actually lands into your arms.
Confusion reigns & your pockets/bags are fleeced (usually by those same small children who are looking for new work since everyone is now aware of the newspaper/cardboard scam), before you realize that the 'baby' you're holding is a wrapped doll or a bunch of rags.
Oh, those resourceful Romans!
The morale - always wear a money belt, refuse to play catch with strangers & let flying babies lie.
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