Tyle - I have been to Italy many times and Rome about three. My wife was robbed with me alongside her in Rome by gypsy kids in a 30 second effort. I found them the next day and we ended up in the main police station. They told me most tourists end up in a different station where there is a long queue every morning reporting thefts. They told me that there were thousands of gypsies camping in and around Rome living off tourists. That doesn't include the spivs operating at railway stations, out of vehicles, at every major tourist location, some tax drivers and some restaurants.
I guess most people get through OK but it's not a great place imho.
