Travellers heading to Europe are being warned to look after their
personal items, especially when visiting destinations notorious for the
presence of pickpockets.
Chief among these destinations is Italy where the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon in Rome as well as the Duomo di Milano in Milan and the Gallerie Degli Uffizi in Florence are singled out for the highest volume of stolen personal items on online travel reviews.
France has the second highest number of pickpocketing mentions while Spain ranks third on the pickpocketing index with Las Ramblas in Barcelona a hotspot for pickpockets
Travel insurance experts at Quotezone warn that pickpockets can move
inconspicuously at these popular spots and snatch purses, wallets,
phones, jewellery and other valuables, often without victims even
noticing.
Their advice: Non-essentials such as jewellery and extra cash should
be left in a safe at the hotel, and tourists should keep their credit
cards, phones, cameras, and wallets zipped up and close by if they need
to carry them.
Even better, use a cross-body bag and wear it on the front of your body when in crowded places.