Pick pockets have existed for a long time, and as time passes, as with all other types of professions, they adapt new unique methods to be more "efficient". The job now is to keep up to date on what to watch out for. Average American looking Jim and Jane must watch out the most - because you're a main target for these predators. Unfortunately they aren’t racist when they pick their prey, so everybody is a potential target, even non-tourists.
The first one I'll be talking of I've encountered several times since I was a little kid wandering around town. I call it "invisible shin soccer" trick. It’s become common to see young guys getting their wallets stolen this way around the Testaccio Area, but even downtown late at night now. Generally these crooks are illegal immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, Albania, or some unclassifiable gypsy race. Commonly in their 20's they dress sort of raggy, wearing tight dirty clothes, and are jumping around a lot with huge smiles, to mask their true intentions. People don't know what to do when approached by these guys. "Their so friendly!" you might say, being the open minded world traveler that you are, as their smiling, laughing, and speaking in riddles. This is the method to create the confusion...
The next step is their game. All of the sudden they are playing invisible soccer between your legs, just lightly kicking in between them, as if dribbling a ball, making you look down and try to understand what they're doing. They aren’t kicking you or playing a game though... they are distracting you, and as they do this, they'll pull your wallet right from under your ass! It seems so dumb to fall for but you would be surprised how many times I have witnessed this in one night in an area such as Testaccio. Whenever I'm approached I either push them away or throw a punch but by the beginning of your punch they have already made their 10 foot jump. Don't be intimidated unless you are a female and in that case all I can say is walk away fast and scream. Men in Italy are very respectful and will come to a womans rescue if they hear her in distress. On the other hand Testaccio is a great area to explore with all it's wild bars and nightclub's catering to all sorts of characters....
Now as I said the "invisible ankle soccer" trick is lethal if done right, causing the loss of all your belongings (identification, money, credit cards, ect.) but it is also done in other variations. Keep in mind they will ask you where you’re from, where you’re going or something to start a conversation, and then begin some game always with words like "Look Look! Hahaha! Yes!" all to confuse you. Be aware of these things and you will be invincible.
Now for a more common problem with women, which I have just herd about more then once, is the "Bag Stab" routine. This is a new Gypsy trick usually occurring in the subway when it’s full of people. The result is that everything in your bag is missing, but your bag is still on you and closed. Yes, you guessed it, these Gypsy fiends will use a sharp hairsplitting blade to cut through your bag stealthily to remove your belongings. I never thought this could happen without anyone noticing... but it has happened to countless people, and their probably thinking about it now as if it where just yesterday, asking themselves "how the hell didn’t I feel that" and the answer is "because you were not expecting it my friend!".
The more you travel around this earth, you will notice things such as these in each place your visiting. America is full of these things, and so is the rest of the world, in all shapes and sizes, to usually a higher caliber also. But here we are, talking about Rome, and there aren’t any gun stores here if you havent noticed yet, so you will probably just get stabbed in the worst case scenerio, or even worse! You may become a priest!!!
