Adoring Fan Steals Dubya's Watch

BPSCG said:
No. I've lived and worked in and around DC for almost 25 years. Never came close to getting swarmed like that, and never heard of a tourist getting swarmed like that.
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if you'd actually like to be swarmed like that which you'd find "in any european city" i suggest you try wherever marion barry was scoring his crack fixes.
 
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BPSCG said:
No. I've lived and worked in and around DC for almost 25 years. Never came close to getting swarmed like that, and never heard of a tourist getting swarmed like that.
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And I'm European, and have had exactly the same experience w.r.t. my own continent.
 
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Darth Rotor said:
Rome.

Been there, got out with my wallet, but only due to active measures taken to do so. I still like Rome, but one needs to keep a wary eye out.
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And the "ragged-looking kids"?

Do you have photographs?

So far, your anecdote tell me that you didn't have your pocket picked, but you thought you might.
 
In my 55 years I had never hand an attempt made to pickpocket me until I visited Rome for three days. There were two attempts made at picking my pockets in those three days.

The first one was on a subway by two men. One of the men came up behind me and the other attempted to work my camera out of my pocket. My daughter who had been living in Europe informed me that the thief was probably attempting to get a hold of the camera strap and pull it from my pocket. I tried to move away but there wasn't room. So I turned, confronted them and suggested that I would appreciate it if they didn't steal my stuff ( I also made it clear that I intended them great harm if the planned to attack me).

The second attempt was on a subway also. A young girl that looked like she might have been about 17 put her hand in my front pocket and attempted to remove my wallet. Fortunately the wallet was solidly jammed in my front pocket and she couldn't get it out. She timed the attempt so that she and her partner were able to get off the subway just as the doors were closing. A local gave me a knowing look and suggested that this was a pretty common occurrence.

In addition to the two attempted thefts, our stop at the Trevi fountain was detracted from by a constant series of street vendors who seemed to be illegally harassing tourists. This was confirmed when a cop came by and chased them off.

Overall, I enjoyed Rome and would go back. My wife was sufficiently scared and annoyed that she says she'll never go back.

FWIW, I've visited major cities all around the world and it looked to me that Rome probably had the highest petty crime rate of any of them.

As for the PC comparisons of Rome with bad areas in the US in the above comments: I have spent a limited amount of time in bad areas in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington DC. I never had a concern about petty thievery, I was concerned about getting mugged or assaulted. So my guess is that your chance of getting murdered is higher in Washigton DC than in Rome but I don't think you need to worry all that much about the pick pockets.
 
We were warned about the swarms of pickpockets in Rome, but did not encounter any of them. The only time I thought I might be in for something was on day one when an American guy and his wife asked if we'd take their photo against the Trevi Fountain - no problem. Then he asked if I'd like him to take our photo against the Trevi Fountain. With my new digital SLR. Er. Um. No thanks. Oh, well, Okay.

So we have a photo in our collection of me and my wife, with my wife smiling happily and me scowling suspiciously and getting ready to run after the "thief". Paranoia is a terrible thing.
 
I didn't have any trouble in Rome at all. Of course, all of my money was in my front pocket in a small one fold wallet. Maybe I wasn't an easy mark. Or maybe the pickings were just too fruitful that day - Rome was very crowded. They'd had some festival or other on the Spanish Steps the day before. The Trevi was packed.
 
When I lived in China I was pickpocketed a couple of times, but thankfully never my entire wallet - had that on a chain. Some thwarted attempts, though. Every time by a 'ragged looking kid'. One failed attempt was by a kid who had to be no more than 7. I felt bad so I let him have what was in my pocket at the time.

I suppose China isn't Europe though, so...eh.
 
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Wheezebucket said:
Thats with them colored pictures a dirt on em, right? Thanks, Doc! You ser do love dem Euro-kids!
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If you're going to ridicule yourself, my work here is done.

I wonder if Art Vandelay has said anything mind-bogglingly stupid lately.

Wait, of course he has.

I wonder if I can find it.
 
SteveGrenard said:
Besides Rome you can be pickpocketed and have your watch lifted in a number of Spanish cities, in Athens and even in some areas in Amsterdam.
Not that some heavily (foot) trafficked areas in
NYC don't expose you to the same sorts of things either.
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I'm going to Bucharest for half a year, and I've been warned agaisnt pickpockets. Not sure of they take the form of swarms of haggard looking kids though.
 
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