Bare breast and picket pockets scams

Bare breast and picket pockets scams

 During our last visit to Rome (2001) my wife and I found ourselves face to face with pick pocket artists we had read warnings in Rick Steves Rome book just before our trip. I'll explain how it worked below but first I'm writing to ask what are the latest techniques we should watch out far on our upcoming trip. As we approached the top of the steps leading down to the colosium I saw her ahead on the left side of the walkway. She was holding an infant wrapped in a small blanket (could even have been a doll but not sure). She was still some 30-40 feet ahead of us as I whispered to my wife reminding her of the scam we had laughed about a few days earlier. On the right side of the path was the 2nd young woman also in her early 20's I'd guess but seemed to be completely on her own. They both seemed to be ignoriing us but as we approached the one holding the child turned and began to speak and move in our direction. She then opened her blouse fully exposing a breast as though she was about to breast feed her child. I immediately put my hand on my front right pocket. As I did I struck another hand that was already moving into the very top of my pocket. I turned quickly to find the second girl had moved from several feet away to my right side and was attempting to take my wallet. I yelled NO NO NO and they both yelled back at me and ran. After the shock had passed we both laughed a sorta twisted laugh a little. We could not believe how quickly they had distracted me but for a brief moment which could have ruined our trip. I had also read about some doing a similiar thing but with a newspaper yelling as they stick a paper in your face.

Gottagocit - 01:05am Oct 14, 2007 EST