'Warning, potential pickpocket!': The woman who gained notoriety combatting crime on Venice's bustling streets
"Watch out, pickpocket!" she shouts loud enough for everyone to hear a block away. "Watch out — thieves, pickpockets!" (She makes her announcements in Italian, English, and Spanish to inform as many tourists as possible.)
People stop and look. One woman replies in English, "Thank you," and brings her family over for a photo. A French tourist approaches Poli to thank her for everything she does. Alessandro Lavardato, like 605,000 others, follows Poli on Instagram. "I thank her for the work she does and the help she gives tourists," he says. "These pickpockets are a real problem."
Forget artists like Titian or Tintoretto — for many people today, the person most readily associated with Venice is Poli, a 58-year-old Venetian who spends much of her free time patrolling the streets of the canal city in search of pickpockets.
Since she posted her first video on social media in June 2023, her videos have accumulated millions of views across multiple platforms. That first video racked up 69 million views on TikTok alone, she says (though she’s no longer on the platform).
Her sharply powerful voice and signature phrase — "watch out pickpocket, watch out bag snatchers" — has been featured in dance anthems, played over footage of basketball players swiping the ball from under their competitors’ noses, and even used by protesters marching against Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
But it’s by seeing her in action in Venice that you truly understand her impact.
After she sends a suspected pickpocket running down a nearby alleyway by shouting until they retreat quickly, people applaud. "Brava Monica" ("Well done Monica") calls out one onlooker. The suspect was just walking past H&M, not stealing, but Poli says she recognized him. She estimates that around 100 male pickpockets work regularly in Venice alone, and their goal is to learn their faces.
Even when she goes into shops and bars, Poli is stopped by people who recognize her and appreciate her efforts. Walking around the city with her is like being in the presence of royalty. Virtenze's past rulers in its republican heyday, the doges, were always male. But today, Poli is the city's unofficial dogaressa.
Spiraling petty crime
Despite the fun, Poli's videos — which number 461 on Instagram — have shed light on a spiraling issue of petty crime in Italy.
According to a September 2024 report from the Italian Interior Ministry, reported by L’Eurispes, data from 2023 and early 2024 suggests that thefts on public transportation have seen steady growth since 2021, with 2023 seeing the highest number of thefts in the past 10 years.
Thefts on trains across the country were up 21%; but thefts on trains in Venice were up by an astonishing 38.8%.
The vast majority of victims were foreign: 78% of bus thefts, 81% of train thefts, and an astonishing 94% of those robbed on the metro.
Just last month, local paper Il Gazzettino wrote that Venice "seems to have become [pickpockets'] preferred place of work... a gold mine" thanks to crowded streets that allow thieves to come into contact with their unsuspecting — and usually foreign — targets.
Perhaps vacationers tend to be less alert; perhaps Italians are more aware of the issue. But for Poli, there’s another crucial reason foreigners are targeted.
The December 2022 law, known as the riforma Cartabia (Cartabia reform), changed how petty crimes are handled by the Italian justice system.
It means that in order to arrest a pickpocket, police require the victim to make a formal report. What’s more, if the victim does not show up for the trial, the charge is automatically dropped.
“The Cartabia reform was implemented to streamline Italy’s judicial process and reduce case backlogs,” says Vincenzo Senatore, senior partner at Giambrone Law. “However, it has faced criticism for potentially enabling pickpockets to evade prosecution. Under this reform, if a theft victim does not file an official report, the perpetrator may avoid legal consequences.”
Italy’s Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Because of this loophole, tourists are the easiest targets, says Poli — because even if they catch the thieves in the act and make a report, by the time the trial comes around, they’ll likely be back home.
And that means that Venice, whose estimated 30 million annual visitors dwarf the under-50,000 local population, has become a magnet for petty crime.
According to figures from Il Gazzettino, in 2019, the last "normal" (prepandemic) year before the law was introduced, 82 pickpockets were arrested in Venice. As of November, 2024 had seen just two arrests. The rising statistics have seen Venice leap into the top 10 Italian cities for "criminality" according to Il Sole 24 Ore.
Senatore "agrees" with Poli’s theory. “The Cartabia reform has raised concerns, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Venice, where pickpocketing is prevalent,” he says, adding that volunteer groups like Poli’s Cittadini Non Distratti (“Undistracted Citizens”) are taking “proactive measures to protect visitors.”
Natasha, a native Venetian, carries an unexpected "Batman" vibe. She spent time working in a clothing store in London before returning to her cherished city, living in Venice's historic center with her family, maintaining a low-profile blue-collar job (she prefers to keep the specifics private for safety reasons).
She bristles at the suggestion that keeping tabs on pickpockets is her hobby. "I have other interests," she states. "This is my... quest."
Originating from the 90s, this quest emerged while working in a Venice shop popular among Japanese tourists. "It was when pickpocketing started to surface — people knew Asian travelers carried lots of cash," she explains.
She joined a volunteer group called Cittadini Non Distratti, established in the 90s. Over three decades, their membership has grown, currently consisting of around 50 volunteers with a wider network of vigilant informers.
Their ranks include individuals from various backgrounds. Some are employed in the tourist industry, others serve in transportation services, and a few work at local souvenir kiosks.
And then there's Natasha, who tracks the streets in her leisure time. She claims that even heading back from the supermarket, if she spots a pickpocket, she drops her groceries and gives chase.
"I think I do it out of civic spirit," she shares. "I believe if someone witnessed a pickpocket robbing my wallet, they'd do the same."
Natasha isn't merely devoting time. She's also putting herself at risk. Since she began broadcasting her activities, drawing global attention to Venice's petty crimes, she reports that her smartphone has been stolen, and she's been physically assaulted in March, pepper-sprayed in June, and spat upon in November.
She claims she's received numerous threats, necessitating careful navigation.
"Me wandering into deserted alleyways? Best avoided," she says, taking it in stride.
Natasha isn't the only one facing retaliation. In the past year, according to local media, one of the Cittadini Non Distratti founders, Franco Dei Rossi, was punched in the face and struck with a mobile phone. A barista who intervened to stop thieves on his way to work in November ended up in the hospital after being pepper-sprayed and punched in the face. Even a waterbus worker was hit with a bottle in September when he caught two pickpockets red-handed.
Natasha mentions that group members have been threatened with knives.
"Worse and worse" is how she captioned a recent video showing a male suspect spitting at her and making indecent gestures.
Despite these challenges, she continues her rounds most days, warning victims in this, her watery Gotham City. "I go to work, and when I come out, I'm operational," she says.
She abruptly cuts off our conversation twice, once to pursue a known pickpocket and once when she spots three men acting suspiciously in Piazza San Marco. As she strolls through the city, she maintains constant vigilance, scanning the crowd for any sign of suspicious behavior - anyone getting too close to someone, or subtly signaling to accomplices.
When we meet, Natasha is dejected. Not because of the man who spat at her on camera two days earlier, but because, the day before, she witnessed pickpockets swindling an elderly man, but couldn't intervene in time.
The thieves' penchant for targeting the vulnerable upsets her. She frequently mentions the precarious financial circumstances of many Italian pensioners, where nearly 10% of individuals live in "absolute poverty," as per government statistics.
An 'organized criminal network'
It's not just pickpockets who pose a threat to Natasha. Last year, opinions about her shifted dramatically when followers realized she's a city councilor for the Lega – a populist right-wing political party. Current leader Matteo Salvini (Italy's deputy prime minister) has been outspoken in his criticism of the Roma community, and has defended Italian police's racial profiling tactics as recently as October. He is currently on trial for blocking a boat of asylum seekers from docking in Italy in 2019.
However, Natasha insists that her political beliefs are distinct from her fight against petty crime in her city. She acknowledges that some have accused her videos of being racist against the Roma community (though Natasha herself has never racially profiled anyone in her videos), but she emphasizes that the individuals in her videos are familiar faces – people she's encountered week after week and, in some instances, for decades.
Another member of Cittadini Non Distratti, Antonio Incandela, shares her perspective, stating that their movement is non-political. He has no affiliations, he says; another volunteer is a communist party member.
Europol, the European Union's agency for law enforcement cooperation, asserts that the vast extent and organized structure of pickpocketing across Europe indicate the involvement of organized crime groups. A representative from Europol explained to CNN that there are well-established, frequently family- or clan-linked gangs that are highly active in tourist areas such as Venice, Barcelona, and Paris.
The face-revealing videos of alleged pickpockets posted by a certain Poli have drawn criticism in response. She reports that her TikTok accounts have been closed two times due to causing distress to those featured, prompting her to switch to YouTube. Despite repeated attempts from CNN to get a response from TikTok, they remained silent on the matter.
Some individuals argue that the privacy of pickpockets need to be protected. However, Poli rebuts this by advocating for those who have been victimized to justify the remuneration for the stolen items, particularly the elderly, disabled, and daily tourist victims.
Poli was criticized last year for suggesting to the New York Times that she possesses a "sixth sense" for recognizing pickpockets. Regardless, she maintains that it's their conduct that alerts her rather than their appearance.
"There are certain behaviors that we notice, and as days go by we evaluate them. Sometimes, they are seen in the company of the 'historic' ones [pickpocket veterans], so we become suspicious. When we observe those who have been here for more than 10 years, if there is a group of two or three of them, they might be walking together, but I have my doubts. We analyze their movements, but 100% of the time we see them preparing to act as they approach people. That's the moment I let out my famous 'attenzione pickpocket' shout," she explains.
Protecting Your Belongings from Pickpockets
If you plan to visit Italy, Poli advises against wasting time trying to identify pickpockets. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of safeguarding your personal belongings. Carrying internal pockets in jackets or bags can be beneficial. Split your cash and cards in one internal pocket, while your ID and driving licenses should be kept in another.
Avoid having anything behind you, whether stowed in a pocket or a bag. Poli suggests that "when you're in a crowded pier, you put yourself into a situation where you feel like you're being pushed. In an instant, they've taken your wallet, or you're in a crowd. You don't even feel it – they close the zipper back up. Always keep your bag in front and have your hand over it."
She advises tethering cellphones to bags or garments using a cord. Furthermore, while buying a vaporetto (waterbus) ticket, be wary of individuals who may be watching you enter your PIN and are ready to swipe your card and empty your account upon exiting the pier.
She concludes by saying, "Everybody thinks they cannot be robbed, but that's not true. When they stole my wallet, I was driven to insanity. We have our entire lives stored in our wallets – cards, money, photos of our families, valuable documents. Imagin for an elderly person who has photos of loved ones who are no longer with them – maybe they have the only photo left."
She stresses that by adhering to her guidelines, you will ultimately savor a peaceful holiday experience.
Before meeting, Poli refuses to disclose her contact information. She prefers to meet in a public space under the watch of regular police patrols and arrives with a male companion by her side.
"I receive threats, I was assaulted two weeks ago, pickpockets spit on me, shove me. Yet I persevere because it's not right. I will continue this battle as long as I am able," she concludes.
In light of the spiraling petty crime issue, one tourist shares their gratitude to Poli, saying, "Thank you so much for what you do, it's really appreciated." Another visitor, influenced by Poli's actions, decides to help spread the word, commenting on a news article, "I saw what Poli does in Venice and think it's important to share this news to warn others."
