Accordingly, Italy ranks first in Europe in the number of pickpocketing cases, followed by France and Spain.

Pickpocketing hotspots in Italy are spread across the country, with many tourists falling victim to the crime, according to QuoteZone researchers. Rome is considered the worst place in Italy for pickpocketing.

Research shows that for every 1 million visitors to Italy's top tourist destinations, 478 people complain about pickpocketing.

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Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain is a popular spot for pickpockets. Photo: Travel + Leisure

The Trevi Fountain, the ancient Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon are considered particular "hot spots" for pickpocketing.

The study also found that Paris - the world's most visited tourist destination - had the second highest number of visitors mentioning pickpockets in Europe, with 251 complaints about pickpockets per million visitors.

It's no surprise that the Eiffel Tower is considered the top high-risk spot in Paris. Other places in the French capital that visitors should be especially wary of include the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre.

Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are also known as pickpocketing hot spots.

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Tourists should be vigilant when visiting public places in Europe. Photo: Euronews

Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Quotezone , says that while many popular European attractions pose risks, there are things visitors can consider doing to ease their worries.

“It is essential to always be vigilant, leave valuables, such as expensive jewelry, in a hotel safe and always carry a secure zip-up crossbody bag to protect your phone, wallet, etc,” he advises.

Tips for dealing with pickpockets targeting tourists Writer Michael Gebicki of The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) recently shared the tips he has learned to deal with pickpockets targeting tourists.