My bag has been stolen!
'Rubato' — ru-BA-to. Stress on the second syllable; the 'r' is lightly rolled.
Shout this immediately if you witness or just discover a theft. Then go to the nearest police station to file a report for insurance purposes.
'Mi hanno rubato' literally means 'they have stolen to me' — Italian uses the indirect object 'mi' (to me) to express possession in theft constructions. This is a key structural difference from English: 'mi hanno rubato la borsa' vs 'they stole my bag'. The passive English version 'my bag was stolen' maps onto this active Italian construction.
Al ladro!
Thief! Stop thief!
Shout this loudly in public to alert others.
Qualcuno mi ha borseggiato.
Someone has pickpocketed me.
'Borseggiare' is specifically to pickpocket.
Devo fare una denuncia.
I need to file a police report.
Essential for insurance claims.
Pickpocketing (borseggio) is the most common crime against tourists in Italy, particularly in Rome, Florence, and Naples. Common tactics include distraction, fake petitions, and crowded metro carriages. Keep cards in a front pocket, use a crossbody bag, and never put your phone on a restaurant table.