A dramatic confrontation in Venice has gone viral after a US tourist tracked down a group of suspected pickpockets using Apple’s Find My Friends feature and physically restrained one of the teenagers by the ponytail until police arrived.
A purse stolen on a Venetian bridge
The incident took place on 14 August when a woman from the United States, holidaying in Venice with her husband, was crowded by several young women on a narrow bridge. Moments later, she realised her backpack had been unzipped. Inside, her purse had vanished, along with her credit cards, cash, passport and even a metal water bottle.
The American, a mother of eight, quickly acted with her husband. She had AirPods in her purse, which allowed her to use Apple’s tracking function to locate the bag. Following the signal, she and her husband discovered that the items had been taken by three teenage girls still in the area.
An American tourist grabbed a pickpocket girl by the ponytail while vacationing in Italy and refused to let her go until she got her passport and credit cards back😭
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) August 25, 2025
pic.twitter.com/FWcscLBr61
“You’re not getting to me”
Footage posted on TikTok by the tourist’s daughter, Karis McElroy, shows the woman clutching one of the suspected pickpockets firmly by the ponytail. In the video, the girl struggles and screams while a crowd gathers, but the woman refuses to let go.
“I have eight kids, you’re not getting to me,” the tourist tells the girl, to the astonishment of bystanders.
According to Karis, her mother confronted the teenagers, determined at least to recover her passport so she could travel home. Two of the girls remained at the scene, while a third ran away with the purse still in her possession.
Violence erupts before police arrive
While they waited for the authorities, the girl being restrained continued to shout. The family’s Airbnb host, who recognised the trio as well-known pickpockets in Venice, stayed with the American tourist until police arrived.
But before officers could intervene, the situation turned violent. One of the girls swung the stolen bag, striking the tourist in the head. Inside was the heavy metal water bottle that had been taken earlier, which caused a deep gash and a black eye. Bloodied and injured, the woman had to be taken to the hospital for stitches.
Despite her injuries, police apprehended the teenagers, and the tourist’s passport and credit cards were eventually recovered. The cash and AirPods, however, were never returned.
A chase to the airport
According to Karis, the third girl who had fled boarded a train towards the airport, still carrying the stolen bag. Police intercepted her there, recovering the American’s passport and other documents.
The ordeal, though traumatic, did not dampen the tourist’s appreciation for the city. Her daughter said her mother stressed that other Venetians had been extremely kind in the aftermath. The family’s Airbnb host provided support throughout, and a jewellery store owner living next door even gifted her a necklace as a gesture of sympathy.
Pickpocketing in Venice
Venice, one of the world’s most visited cities, has long struggled with pickpocketing, particularly in crowded areas such as bridges, piazzas and near major attractions. With millions of visitors every year, petty theft is one of the most common crimes reported in Lagoon City.
Earlier this year, Travel Tomorrow reported on the European destinations with the most pickpocketing mentions, highlighting that Italy ranks as the number one country where tourists experience theft. Within Italy, hotspots include major cultural destinations such as Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice.
Authorities frequently advise visitors to remain vigilant in congested tourist zones where groups of pickpockets operate together, often distracting victims with sudden crowding or diversions. The Venetian incident is the latest reminder of the risks that come with mass tourism in Italy’s most popular cities.
