How terrible, but glad u are okay minus the sunglasses..
We had a similar scary experience in Old Town Barcelona. We wanted to visit the Old Synagogue..but access down a narrow lane led to a group of "gypsies" in blue jeans. They started to surround us . We realized it , and were able to escape. Sadly, they also had a group ready to pounce at an alt street...so sadly we missed going to the synagogue...
Barcelona and Rome both have crafty pickpockets and thieves, in town, markets, restaurants, trains,etc..must be on guard!