The European Country Where You Should Be Most Concerned About Pickpockets

We hear plenty about packages getting stolen from porches or stolen identities online. Unfortunately, theft of all kinds is pretty much endemic to human civilization, and pickpocketing is the type of theft about which travelers throughout the world have likely heard the most. These acts of petty crime can happen without you even realizing it until it is too late. Europe is no different, but some places on the continent see more cases than others.

British travel insurance company Quote Zone compiled pickpocketing reports to create their own European Pickpocketing Index. These experts found that the most pickpocketing reports came from Italy. More specifically, you are most likely to encounter pickpockets around major tourist attractions in Rome, Florence, and Milan. Those looking to do some pickpocketing can use the world-renowned sites throughout these cities to their advantage as tourists keep their attention on the impressive art and architecture rather than on their personal items. Quote Zone CEO Greg Wilson explained that busy tourist attractions "are particularly popular with pickpockets as they can move more inconspicuously amongst larger crowds" as well.

Pickpocketing schemes in Italy might not be what you'd expect, and pickpockets do not always act alone. Look out for people trying to create distractions around you, as there could be a team effort underway. While your attention is elsewhere, someone in cahoots with the distractors could be snatching something from your bag or snatching the entire bag itself. Thieves might not always be on foot, either. Vespa scooters are common in Italy, but one of the ways that they can be a danger to tourists is the fact that riders can swipe a bag and make a quick getaway. They may hardly even need to slow down the scooter.

While there are simple tricks for avoiding pickpockets, like using crossbody bags with extra fasteners or even locks to hold zippers closed, Greg Wilson wants travelers to look at the details of travel insurance plans. "[M]ost travel insurance policies cover important documentation such as passports but rarely cover stolen cash and phones," he explains. Wilson and the Italian National Police website both emphasize the importance of leaving valuables at the hotel as much as possible.