Tourist Loses €80,000 Watch in Milan: How Common Is Street Theft in Italy?

An American tourist became the latest victim of a brazen street theft in central Milan this week, when two men snatched an €80,000 Patek Philippe watch straight off his wrist. The midnight robbery, which left the victim physically unharmed, is part of a worrying pattern targeting luxury accessories in Italy’s tourist hotspots.

In June, another American visitor in Naples was violently dragged by a scooter-riding thief who made off with a €130,000 watch. Meanwhile, a US man in Rome chased down two assailants after they snatched his gold chains. These incidents have fueled concerns about the safety of tourists in Italian cities.

The data, however, tells a more nuanced story. According to crime statistics analyzed by Il Sole 24 Ore, snatch-and-grab robberies—known locally as ‘scippo’—are most common in Florence per capita, followed by Milan, Turin, Naples, and Rimini. But pickpocketing remains a far greater risk: Florence recorded 792 ‘furti con strappo’ compared to 11,051 pickpocketing incidents last year.

Experts emphasize the need for perspective. Marco Dugato, a senior researcher on transnational crime at Milan’s Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, noted that overall thefts in Italy have dropped 33% since 2014. The US State Department warns travelers about pickpocketing on public transport and in crowds, but the OSAC Security Report rates Italy as having ‘a moderate rate of crime’ with rare violent offenses.

For tourists, the key takeaway is to avoid openly displaying expensive items, as thieves often target shiny accessories. Despite the alarming headlines, the chances of becoming a victim of violent theft remain low.

Article and image source: thelocal.it