Originally Posted by payam81

I find Chinese pickpockets to be amateurs compared to the ones in Rome! I'm pretty sure the Italians are forefathers of all pickpockets in the world! The techniques, sophistication and implementation is just amazing.

A few years back there was a big uproar when they hit the party of Italian Prime Minister! (A pickpocket himself alas...)

That said, I'm gonna be doubly careful with my stuff when I'm passing through PEK next week.

Same advice applies to the streets, as we approach the holiday the less fortunate and desperate thieves are more likely to offend.