If you have been on TikTok during the month of July, you have probably seen the work of Cittadini Non Distratti, an Italian organization of volunteers whose name translates to “Undistracted Citizens.”
“Attenzione, Pickpocket!” is a phrase commonly used in TikTok videos by 57-year-old Monica Poli, and it serves as a warning to susceptible tourists that someone is trying to pickpocket them. Poli, a Venice local, spends her free time wandering the streets on the hunt for thieves. In the process, she has raised awareness among current and future visitors to be vigilant about their belongings.
“We want to protect all of the tourists and let them know what is happening in Italy,” Poli told The Washington Post in an interview. She hopes that more attention to this issue can minimize damage and reduce tourists’ losses. “If you are pickpocketed and you don’t go immediately to the police, the thief will stay free,” she said.
Pickpockets target distracted and unaware travelers. “That’s not to say that anyone can be prey, but if you’re engrossed in your phone — you’re less attentive to what’s going on around you,” said Maria Pasquale, a Rome-based travel journalist, and author. “I always carry my bag crossbody, never leave it sitting on or hanging off a chair out of my line of sight, and I am just a little more observant if I’m in a crowded area.”
These thieves are looking for highly valuable items like cameras, designer bags, phones, expensive jewelry, or an abundance of shopping bags. They are often seen keeping an eye on people’s pockets and bags and staying behind their victims as they walk.
Travelers recommend keeping fewer valuable items with you when in public. Though this may not help all the time, it certainly will decrease the chance of losing items through theft.
Soft News Article: https://eb18600f7bb2916037f5ee8e636ce199.cdn.bubble.io/f1690730288022x375736116869708400/How%20to%20spot%20pickpockets%2C%20according%20to%20TikTok%20watchdogs%20in%20Italy%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
“Attenzione, Pickpocket!” is a phrase commonly used in TikTok videos by 57-year-old Monica Poli, and it serves as a warning to susceptible tourists that someone is trying to pickpocket them. Poli, a Venice local, spends her free time wandering the streets on the hunt for thieves. In the process, she has raised awareness among current and future visitors to be vigilant about their belongings.
“We want to protect all of the tourists and let them know what is happening in Italy,” Poli told The Washington Post in an interview. She hopes that more attention to this issue can minimize damage and reduce tourists’ losses. “If you are pickpocketed and you don’t go immediately to the police, the thief will stay free,” she said.
Pickpockets target distracted and unaware travelers. “That’s not to say that anyone can be prey, but if you’re engrossed in your phone — you’re less attentive to what’s going on around you,” said Maria Pasquale, a Rome-based travel journalist, and author. “I always carry my bag crossbody, never leave it sitting on or hanging off a chair out of my line of sight, and I am just a little more observant if I’m in a crowded area.”
These thieves are looking for highly valuable items like cameras, designer bags, phones, expensive jewelry, or an abundance of shopping bags. They are often seen keeping an eye on people’s pockets and bags and staying behind their victims as they walk.
Travelers recommend keeping fewer valuable items with you when in public. Though this may not help all the time, it certainly will decrease the chance of losing items through theft.
Soft News Article: https://eb18600f7bb2916037f5ee8e636ce199.cdn.bubble.io/f1690730288022x375736116869708400/How%20to%20spot%20pickpockets%2C%20according%20to%20TikTok%20watchdogs%20in%20Italy%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
