Holiday Ayo - The capital of Italy, Rome, is one of Europe's tourist magnets. However, this place also attracts pickpockets all over the world.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Thursday (31/10), restaurant and bar owners in Rome said an increasing number of tourists were being besieged by gangs of thieves and bag snatchers.

Claudio Pica, who heads Fiepet Confesercenti, an organization representing 3,500 restaurants, cafes and pizzerias, said that crime had doubled since 2023.

They also worry that robberies will increase as the number of visitors arriving next year to celebrate the Vatican Jubilee increases.

The moment was a rare event in the Catholic church that would bring pilgrims to Rome. In fact, the number of cases this year is quite tragic, up to 100 cases.

"Now we receive 80 to 100 reports per day of robberies, theft and pickpocketing in bars and restaurants in downtown Rome," Pica said.

An estimated 20 million tourists visit Rome every year. Later, during the Jubilee celebrations in 2025, it is predicted that 35 million pilgrims will attend.

Unfortunately, the theft case also targeted bars and restaurants near the Colosseum and Roman Forum in the city center.

In addition, popular tourist areas such as Monti and Trastevere are also on their list.

Massimiliano Marucci, owner of Rosso restaurant near Circus Maximus, said his restaurant was hit by a wave of pickpockets in June and July.

"This summer we had a group of South Americans targeting our customers, both inside and outside the restaurant," Marucci told the Telegraph.

"They go anywhere they find crowds of people or chaos," he added.

Marucci said business owners have begun sharing information to improve surveillance and detection.

However, he admits that criminals are smart at always being one step ahead.

"They attack a place for a month and then they disappear for a while before returning months later so as not to be recognized," Mauro Cicala, who runs a restaurant on a busy street near the Roman Forum, told Il Messaggero.

"We raised the alarm as soon as we recognized one of them," he said.

"We have learned how to identify them because they wear hats, t-shirts and backpacks to blend in with the tourists. From their clothes and behavior, I know who are potential pickpockets," he added.

Apart from restaurants and bars, theft on Rome's public transportation has also become a problem in recent months.

On Tuesday (29/10), Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi ordered dozens of police to carry out random checks on the Metro A line frequently used by tourists to reach St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums.