Venice's growing problem with pickpockets

Venice’s gondolas are a sought-after tourist attraction, and pickpockets thrive near the platforms where tourists wait for the boats. — Photos: CHRISTOPH SATOR/dpa

The warnings are impossible to miss – posted at Santa Lucia train station, St Mark’s Square, and every Venetian water bus (vaporetto) stop, spelled out in multiple languages: “Attenzione borseggiatori”. “Attention pickpockets”. “Beware pickpockets”. And of course, “Achtung Taschendiebe”.

Yet, despite the warnings, wallets still disappear from trouser pockets or handbags. This happens to dozens of tourists in Venice, Italy every day.