Tourists in Rome are suffering ‘100 robberies a day’ due to a wave of street crime

Mauro Cicala, who runs a restaurant on a busy street near the Roman Forum, told Italian daily Il Messaggero that he had identified five attempted thefts in one day, targeting his customers.

“We will raise the alarm as soon as we recognize any of them,” he said. “We learned how to identify them because they wear hats, sweatshirts and backpacks to stand out among tourists. From their dress and their behavior, I know who a potential pickpocket is.”

Thefts on public transport in Rome have also made headlines in recent months and police have stepped up patrols on the city’s metro lines.

Matteo Piantedosi, the Interior Minister, ordered dozens of police officers on Tuesday to carry out random checks on the Metro Line A, often used by tourists to reach St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums.