UK tourists in Italy have been warned after the holiday hotspot was named as the worst place for pickpocketing. The European Union nation, which welcomes Brits to the likes of Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice and Milan each year, has topped the ranking.
A new study has unveiled the European country where British tourists are most likely to be targeted by pickpockets. New research from the travel expert team at Quotezone.co.uk has unveiled which top European country is the worst destination in the world for pickpockets.
Spokesperson Tiffany Mealiff said: “European cities are famously popular tourist destinations for sightseeing, with the recent surge in holidaymakers expected to continue throughout 2024, unfortunately this also makes them some of the danger zones for pickpocketing.
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“With many people starting to plan out the details for their summer holidays, we are warning holidaymakers to be aware of the potential hazards that come with travelling to these tourist hotspots.” The worst nation was Italy followed by France and Spain.
Completing the top five was Germany and the Netherlands. In sixth spot was Portugal, ahead of seventh placed Turkey, eighth placed Greece, and Poland and Ireland, in ninth and tenth.
Rome’s Trevi Fountain was the worst attraction for pickpockets with over 470 mentions of ‘pickpockets’ on Tripadvisor reviews. France was the second worst destination for pickpockets and Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was the worst sport.
Spain was only the third worst destination for thieves with Las Ramblas the most likely spot to meet a thief. Warning on Reddit, a Brit said: "I went to Florence in 2015. Someone in my group got their card pickpocketed. Don’t even know when it happened. We went to a leather shop and when she went to pull her card, no card found.
"It’s a real thing and they’re REAL good at it. Store nothing in your back pockets. A money belt, money lanyard pouch thing, fanny pack… all these, but under your shirt will help. Zipper pockets can also help, but are not fool proof.
