Concerning the #64 bus in Rome:

I remember, many years ago, reading in La Rupubblica's local news pages that the police had plainclothes policemen travel back and forth on that bus. I don't remember the exact stats but they said that the number of cases had dropped substantially. No idea whether they still do it.

As for tourist areas or not, I "lost' my wallet in Rome in '97 on a very crowded bus at 7 pm on Corso Trieste which is anything but a tourist area. As our mod wrote, one has to be careful!

@Perche: Matera in the snow, this must be quite an experience. I've been there in July (never again, hottest place on earth) and then in March (absolutely great). Can you post a picture?