Compared to many other european countries, when we talk about crime, unfortunately Romania stands on top of the somber statistics and it is characterized by a somehow frightful statute for a freshly landed newbie foreigner (and not only).
Far from doing an analyse about crime's causes of which roots are feeding from the chaotic pith of historical evolution of the last years, we only want to warn the users of this website about some events in which they could find themselves against their will and of which disconfort is better and particularly possible to be avoided, if some simple rules will be followed.
You ought to know that the most common crimes in Romania are the theft and threatening acts or even the use of violence, but all of these types of breaking the law take place mostly in some areas and only if some favorizing elements are combined.

First, we'll inform you about the most frequent methods of theft:

1.-Thefts from public areas or transportation.

a).-This kind of theft is usualy performed by one or more thieves that count especially on victim's inattention, most frequent happening in public transportation. If the offence is committed with some accomplices participation, one or more of them will play the "blocker/distraction" role drawing your attention with all kinds of discussions or annoying questions, while the real thief will be busy stealing your pocket or handbag. Moreover, after stealing the object or money, this one is "handed" further away, thisway if you observe the theft immediately, it will not be possible to prove it juridical cause the author will have nothing on him.

b).-Another frequent used method is through "accidental" physical contact, the thieves operating in this manner around or inside of big commercial centres, hotels or another crowded public areas. The victim is "accidentally" touched (as often happens in crowded places) in a certain part of body, to draw its attention and to not feel the hand which discretly slip into the pocket or bag (generally into the opposite part of the place where the touch had been felt). This type of thieves can be easly identified through the fact that, no matter how the weather is or in which moment of the day, they carry on their arm a sweater, a jacket, a coat, this having the role to mask "the theatre of operations".
As well, it must be mentioned that the pickpockets are not necessarely poor dressed or looking like tramps. They can look, at the first sight, like respectable persons, clean and even elegant dressed. However it would be recommendable to be careful when this type of individuals seems like going the same way with you, or if you notice their presence too close to you more than twice in a short interval of time. The chance of being just simple hazard is too small to not take precautions. To avoid even more the chanceof a theft, keep your wallet, money and documents in pockets as "hiden" as possible. The back pants pockets, the side coat pockets, small handy bags, waist bags or small weight handbags are the most aimed and the easiest target.

2.-Thefts from cars.
Theft from cars is usualy performed by two methods. Either at the moment the car is stoped at the traffic light (and the victim has the window open on the opposite side to driver's chair) by quickly inserting the hand inside the car and grabbing out any objects found on the car's chair, or by burglary (breaking the window, the bolt) while the car is parked and the victim is not inside or nearby car. The last variant it usualy happens when the car owner forget some valuables inside the car and they can be seen from outside. Due to this fact, one of the best precaution is to not leave ABSOLUTELY NOTHING inside your car, even when your absence can be considered insignificant. For example just one minute… for you very little, for thieves more than enough.

3.-Robberies.
This is a method which includes the use of violence over the victim and take place mostly on less circulated areas (not a rule though) or over old-aged persons or women (categories with lower defence or reaction capacity). Particularly, the robberies have as aim the theft of cellphones, laptops or even the bags which catch the attention by their shape or quality. The use of violence can be unexpected (namely before theft) to cut any attempt for defense or if the victim try to put up resistance.
This kind of infractors disclose their presence and intentions through appearance and attitude (aggressive).

4.-Thefts by swindle.
This kind of offence is particularly encountered around or inside hotels or commercial centres from the big cities of Romania and is performed by professional thieves. First they propose to their victims advantageous currency exchange (Romania doesn't use yet european money) or sales of all kind of bargains. It must be known that the currency exchange through unauthorized persons (others than banks or exchange houses) is illegal in Romania. Though, many times the foreigners get swindledcause they agree on this kind of transactions hopping in an illusive advantage. Unfortunately, the benefit will be theft's only who will quicklydissapear with his victim's money, either giving fake money or folding up among banknotes scraps of common paper or newspaper, either will count bended-double banknotes and this way even the counting will appear to be correct, at the end, the ignorant will realize that he has only half of the amount. Romanians have a word somehow interesting which tells that: " The thiefis only an unofficial penalty of your own listlessness or greediness".

Precautions:
-To reduce as much as possible the risk of falling victims of professional thieves, first of all you must be more careful than you usualy do.
-Keep your eyes on your suitcase or bag, your cellphone or laptop!
-Don't put any valuable on table in the cafe or restaurant where you decided to relax or relish the tasty romanian traditional food.
-Don't let yourself be drawn into discussions with people you don't know and they accost you (even politely) on the street or in any other public area.
-If you are driving, don't ever let the both lateral front windows open.
-Avoid quarreling with your traffic partners (during such incidents you could fall victim of thieves that may happen to be there).
Don't let yourself overwhelmed with mercy for beggars, no matter how young or convincing they seems to be.
-Avoid, as much as possible, using public transport, especially at peak hours (7 – 9 morning and 17 - 19 evening). Use the taxi. It's a little bit more expensive but much more safe and certainly more confortable.

5.-Thefts commited by escorts.
Even it rarely happens, it must be mentioned also the theft commited by some escorts. This kind of theft occurs in special situations, when the male clients either forget their wallet, full of banknotes, at sight, or tryes through arrogance to show a superior attitude ostentatiously displaying valuables. This kind of inattentions or behaviors can only be favorizing factors for thefts.
Our advice is when you appeal to escort service, be somehow moderate and confine yourself getting the pleasure your paid for.
Another side that can easly make you a victim is to appeal to some intermediars that are present in hotels reception, car parkings, or even nearby hotels (though, pretty often the receptionists does this type of intermediary). Those will draw you only with verbal presentations of some (would-be) first rate girls, but in most of cases you will have the unpleasant surprise that the ones who will cross your threshold or you will visit at their place, to see they have gypsy origins and then, unfortunately, youcan think thatyou are unsafe. You must understand that high class girls advertise their services in a professional manner ONLY by websites, agencies or specialized announcements. Any other kind of intermediary reveals the belonging to an unsafe social background, tipical for low level individuals, where are no rules, no education and therefore favorize any type of offences. Over the last few years, the girls listed on this site have never gave a handle to such incidents. Therefore, we recommend you with the greatest pleasure to use their services. This doesn't mean to not be watchful and careful to everything it seems suspect!