Venice's Tiny Thieves: How Child Pickpocket Gangs Target Tourists in Italy's Holiday Hotspot

Venice, the picturesque Italian city famed for its canals and historic charm, is facing an unsettling crime wave. Organised gangs are exploiting children as young as six to steal from tourists in the crowded streets of this popular holiday destination.

The Rise of Child Pickpockets

Local authorities report a sharp increase in thefts carried out by minors, many of whom are recruited from marginalised communities. These young thieves operate in groups, using their small stature to go unnoticed in busy tourist areas like Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge.

How the Gangs Operate

Children work in teams to distract tourists while stealing wallets and phones
Older gang members coordinate operations from a distance
Stolen goods are quickly passed to accomplices to avoid detection

Police sources reveal that some children can earn up to €500 per day for their criminal handlers, making this a lucrative enterprise for organised crime groups.

Tourists at Risk

With Venice welcoming over 25 million visitors annually, the city provides rich pickings for thieves. Tourists are particularly vulnerable when:

Taking selfies or consulting maps
Queuing for attractions or transport
Dining at outdoor cafes

Local police have increased patrols, but the transient nature of both perpetrators and victims makes prosecution challenging.

A Complex Social Problem

Behind the criminal activity lies a deeper issue of child exploitation. Many of the young pickpockets come from impoverished backgrounds or are victims of human trafficking networks.

"These children are both perpetrators and victims," explains a social worker familiar with the phenomenon. "They're trapped in a cycle that's difficult to break."