I recently traveled to Rome, Italy, and unfortunately had a very unpleasant experience at one of the city's main train stations. While Rome itself is a beautiful city with much to offer, my time there was overshadowed by an incident on the train. The level of security seemed lacking for such a high-traffic area. While I did see some security staff around, there was not much active enforcement or visible monitoring in certain areas, which made me feel uneasy. There should be cameras mounted throughout the train station and on the trains in order to eliminate thiefs. unfortunately, my backpack placed on the top compartment of my seat. When I stood up to grab a bottle of water, I realized that my bag – containing my money, and important documents, and other belongings for the trip – had been stolen. The thief had managed to slip away unnoticed while I was trying to help my niece with the 3 little kids getting them seated. I immediately alerted the train conductor and the station staff, but there is nothting they can do. No cameras on the train to monitor thiefs. It’s crucial to mention that the lack of security on the train and at the station was a major issue. The fact that thefts like mine happen so frequently is concerning. As a tourist, I felt vulnerable and unprotected in a place I had expected to be welcoming and secure. This experience has certainly made me more cautious when traveling, and I strongly recommend that anyone traveling through Rome’s train stations be extremely careful with their belongings, particularly when the trains are crowded. I would advise fellow travelers to stay extremely vigilant, especially on crowded trains, and to keep their valuables secured at all times. I also hope the authorities take stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Until better security measures are implemented, I would recommend exploring other transportation options or being extra cautious if you do choose to travel by train.