Roma Gypsies

That's like saying 'I been to Asia once and all people there eat dogs'.

 

Which I why I said that I have no notion of them.

 

Why bother to post in this thread then?

 

Because having no notion of them gives an insight in other peoples perception of roma too

 

Answering the OP. And answering for my boyfriend. If she wants to get more than a few answers .

 

My mom and stepdad spend a lot of time in many parts of Europe and have tons of gypsy stories. They send their kids out to steal from people who look like tourists, running up in big groups and being loud and distracting while one of them picks their pockets.

Over here that kind of stuff doesn't happen because they'd get their ass kicked or shot.

There is a big problem with the Irish gypsies trying to scam the elderly though.

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-12-10/irish-travelers-scam-warning-isssued#.UnUTGBBKY1I

 

Unsuspecting tourists are good targets.

 

All in all this sounds like the rep of hippies in many places.......

 

Where oh where is this mythical place where crime does not exist?

 

Good point.

 

Like if they get caught in the act here they would just get a piece of candy and a pet on the head... Dude, pockets get picked in every country. Especially when there are lots of tourists around.

 

In some countries they have entire tribes of thieves in grey flannel suits that sit in offices and rob you, your family, the neighbors, and each other blind.....

 

I didn't say crime doesn't exist.. but they don't play games like those gypsies do, that's how people get hurt over here.

If someone wants to rob you here, they stick a fucking gun in your face.

 

You have my sympathy

 

Perhaps that's why they try to rob tourists instead by secretly picking their pockets? :sunny:

 

What? You are strange.

And when's the last time you've been to the US? People get things stolen, especially if you leave it laying around. But there's not this gypsy/street con artist phenomenon like in Europe.

 

I never been robbed in the Netherlands and I do not know a single person who has, so it is not a big problem. Sure, it happens sometimes. But I am sure it happens in your country too sometimes. It has absolutely nothing to do with guns.
Besides that, don't you have gangs? That's a phenomenon nearly unknown here.

 

Especially at airports and similar locations it is a almost a global practice. Pickpockets easily pick out the tourists by the stuff they carry and how they look and behave in a spot they've never been before. When you're not a tourist you likely don't look like one and are less of a target. It's not like if you come here there is a 100% change of catching someone trying to get in your pockets either...
Perhaps they just don't advertise it in your country? I'm sure there are far less gypsy's over there and so this specific problem is likely also far smaller over there. But it's a fact pickpockets (gypsy or not) are all over the world and there's a bigger concentration where there are lots of tourists (equals easy target for them).

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people_by_country

 

I didn't want this to get into a Europe vs America argument.. just pointing out that people don't walk around here with hidden pockets or money belts so that they don't get pick pocketed by gypsies. And as far as I understand it's not bad in all of Europe. I think most of their run ins were in eastern Europe, France and Italy.

And yes we have gangs here, but if you don't go into their territory you are fine. I have a friend who was stabbed 28 times for getting out of a car on the wrong corner. (in DC)