Thief

I had been warned by several people about the Gypsy thieves in Rome and had my first personal encounter with them yesterday. These warnings came frequently so I was well aware of what could happen and how.

First of all there are people who go around with Roses and push them into your hands. It is an innocent looking thing to do but when a person accepts these flowers they won't leave you alone and follow you around until you pay them an exhorbitant price for the flowers. When we reached the Spanish Steps there was a concert and about 5 of these people running around. I had three try to give me flowers. We were with Joseph, one of Jenessa's investigators, and they didn't bother anyone else in our group but me. They probably thought I was an easy mark. So we left the square and went to the subway.

The subway was extremely crowded and I stood by the door, which was my first mistake. There were three women around me and then a small little man in a red shirt with a blue towel over his arm worked his way to us. He started with one of the woman who quickly pulled her purse away from him and then he went after me. I moved before he could touch me but he persisted and followed me. This whole time Jenessa and Joseph were in an intent conversation. And I was watching this little guy case Jenessa out but he was still after me. So Joseph moves down the aisle and I try to move again all the while having this little guy trying to get to my purse. Then one of the women in front of us gets off the train, leaving an open seat. So I sit down and look at him, disappointment shows on his face.

Then I watch him go after Kerry. Kerry has taken precautions agains pick-pockets and is wearing his wallet around his waist under his pants. I tell Kerry to move down, which is away from this guy. He is really persistent. Kerry then notices him taking his glasses out of his pocket and throws the man's hand away when he has them halfway out. He looks at Kerry's waist knowing that it would be a hard thing to steal his wallet. Finally, the thief leaves and moves down the train to the next victim. And now we are free from him. I wish I had known the words for pick pocket in Italian. That would have solved my problem very easily.