I know what you mean pinco.

There's an online news site in Cagliari (I have the impression that it's mostly run by young people) which seems to specify the apparent race of people rather too much. It could be just lazy reporting but I don't really recall them ever writing "Sard steals from shop" or anything like that.

And judging by the bank vault like doors on many Italian houses, housebreaking must surely have a long history.

To help me and Pinco out does anyone have any figures?

<<oh PS, pinco - fine for you to use that term with me - was clear to me that your intentions were good - I'm not for picking folk up because they don't use whatever this week's acceptable word is - intention is usually clear - all the best.

Yes, the truth is often unsavoury and politically incorrect.

It may be a bit unsavory but let's not forget the robberies in villas, the episodes of youngster at Milan Central station, the appalling car accidents in which these people are involved. Beside italians are always being plagued by and had a fear of the ''gypsies''.
In more than one case rightly so.

Figures would help highlander.

I had the impression that much alarm was created in Italy fairly recently when a young Italian died at the hands of some East European west of London (Maidenhead?) - in truth the unfortunate youngster could have ended up killed by anyone. I couldn't help but think that a certain "bad stuff happens away from home"/"foreign is dangerous" paranoia was afoot.

Many years ago a gypsy tried the old newspaper trick on me in Rome but I was warned off. Later in the same trip my bum-bag was raided on a bus (they didn't get anything) and I never knew who that had been - could well have been an Italian from almost anywhere, in fact it very probably was.

Figures anyone?

Figures, no. Can't be bothered. Direct experience, yes. And when they had the gaul to return to a friend. Caught, know what they said to our friend? 'We'll be out before you.' And they were, waving to our friend on the way out of the police station! No doubt, off to the next 'job'. A few weeks ago, our next door neighbour in To was subjected to a violent, armed robbery. Same outcome. I've also recently been in a large upmarket clothes shop in the presence of a professional shop lifter. Again, non Italian. But yes, years ago we were burgled by an Italian.