What Is 'Attenzione Pickpocket?' One Italian Woman's Viral TikTok Crusade, Explained

Over the past month, TikTok has been inundated with the sound of an Italian woman crying, ""Attenzione Pickpocket!":https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/attenzione-pickpocket Here's what you need to know about "cittadininondistratti2," her crusade to catch the pickpockets of Italy, and how she's become a folk hero and meme source on TikTok.

What Is 'Attenzione Pickpocket'?

In May of 2023, the TikTok account "cittadininondistratti2" (which translates to "Citizens Not Distracted") began posting TikToks in which the woman presumably behind the account would catch pickpockets in the act of trying to swipe wallets from Italian citizens and tourists. Her siren-like call of "Attenzione Pickpocket!" would cause the perps to hide their face and the marks to look on in bewilderment.

How Has 'Attenzione Pickpockets!' Become A Meme?

TikTok has become enamored with Monica and her crusade, and her audio has proven surprisingly malleable for users of the app. As users have expressed appreciation for her work, they've found that "Attenzione Pickpocket!" works well for cute videos of pets trying to steal food or friends trying to nab a fry.

What Is "Cittadini Non Distratti"?

The woman has been identified as a 57-year-old Venetian named Monica Poli, according to Newsweek. "Cittadini Non Distratti" is a volunteer group of citizens who attempt to disrupt pickpocket attempts, of which Monica has been a part for 30 years. According to The Economist, the group is responsible for helping Italian police arrest a third of the total pickpockets they book in a year.

Poli spoke with the New York Times, where she answered questions related to her work and her newfound fame. According to Poli, she has never been concerned that she has misidentified someone as a pickpocket, saying "When I see them, I know they are pickpockets. It is so strange to say… I have something inside me and I recognize immediately." She also said she is glad she has gone viral because it has helped the message of her group — that tourists should be on the alert for pickpockets — spread far and wide.

For more information, check out the entry for "Attenzione Pickpocket" on Know Your Meme.