Venice Speaks: 'Beware, Pickpocket!'

Monica Poli has become an internet sensation in Venice, earning the moniker "Lady Pickpocket" for her viral videos. In these clips, she audaciously follows suspected pickpockets through the city's crowded streets, loudly shouting "Attenzione Pickpocket" – "Beware Pickpockets" – to alert unsuspecting tourists.

Poli is an active member of a citizen initiative attempting to combat petty crime in Venice. The group feels compelled to act because they believe the police and judicial system are failing to adequately address the issue. Their frustration stems from the fact that apprehended pickpockets often spend no more than a night in jail. This is largely due to Italian laws requiring victims to file formal complaints and appear in court for proceedings, a difficult, if not impossible, task for tourists on short visits.

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Beware Pickpockets

The pickpockets targeted by these laws are often part of organized gangs that exploit these legal loopholes, even employing children for their operations. Venetian police have reportedly caught children as young as eleven engaging in theft. Consequently, citizens like Poli feel they must take matters into their own hands.

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We decided that we had to warn people.

Poli's activism gained significant traction after her group recovered the emptied wallet of a 95-year-old man. This incident, she stated, motivated them to start warning people. Her efforts have made her a local celebrity, leading to her election to the city council in June representing the right-populist Lega party. While her confrontational methods have drawn some criticism, online praise is widespread, with comments like "Never give up, Monica" from YouTube user Gaetano.

However, the tables turned dramatically last week when Poli found herself protecting a pickpocket. The thief had targeted a group of foreign tourists near the Rialto Bridge, only to be apprehended and subdued by the victims. Poli, who happened to be nearby, was called by the thief for help. She knows him well, having reported him to the police multiple times over the years, as Italian newspapers have noted.

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Never give up, Monica.