How to Avoid Pickpockets in Paris

Old Mar 14th, 2014, 04:11 AM
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How to Avoid Pickpockets in Paris

Lot of tourists in Paris have unfortunate encounters with pickpockets. I have visited Paris last year and I was also the victim of these pickpockets. Again, I am planning to visit Paris this year, might be in a couple of months and this time I want to take some precautions to handle this. Can anyone provide me some suggestions to tackle this problem?
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 04:59 AM
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Welcome to Fodors. This has been discussed a lot on the Europe board. However, my advice is the same regardless of where you travel: wear a money belt!

I use this one: http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/L...p/grlkwmbb.htm

Keep one day's supply of cash somewhere else so you don't have to access it in public. It goes on under your clothes when you get dressed in the morning, and then you forget about it until you get undressed.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 05:19 AM
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It's much easier to avoid pickpockets in the winter and early spring than in the busy summer season, when you're not wearing a coat. I simply put my wallet and phone in an inside pocket in my coat, and it's safe. I carry nothing in my back pocket.

Women can carry a very small cross-body purse under their jacket that holds only the stuff they need for the day.

Women should make sure to have a bag that closes tight, and make it small not gigantic; it's also nice to have one with an cut-resistent strap. In the summer I tend to carry a bit of cash and a credit card in my front pocket in a small card case rather than a wallet. But being aware of your surroundings and avoiding situations where you are likely to be pickpocketed is as important. In the Metro, don't stand by the doors, and sit whenever it's practical.

I have a little Pacsafe backpack; they also make women's purses and smaller bags.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 05:38 AM
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really nice tips..
thank you
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 06:11 AM
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I stay alert, keep my wallet in a secured front pocket, and steer clear of gypsies.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 06:12 AM
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Make yourself an unappealing target by hanging around people with easier to steal stuff than you have.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 08:18 AM
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What was the circumstance that you got pickpocketed last time? Were you carrying a purse or backpack, or they actually picked your "pockets"?

Avoid it by carrying a small pouch type purse that you can wear with a strap across your body and the purse sits tight against your torso.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 08:20 AM
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I like those little flat passport size bags on a string. I wear it inside my blouse or shir and carry only credit card, drivers license, and money, so it is still light and not uncomfortable. That is it - my only real precaution.

I hate all those purses and bags that look as if you must be carrying important stuff, so I carry a light weight bag like a le Sac or something attractive, and big enough for guide book, hand cleaner, water bottle, camera, etc., etc.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 08:25 AM
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Posted too soon. My measure to feel secure is I don't carry around in my bag, anything I couldn't afford to lose, or anything that if It were stolen or lost, my trip would be ruined. Since I am bad about dropping and spilling things, my purses are always zippered, no open pockets.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 09:29 AM
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Zippers will not stop a talented thief.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 10:58 AM
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Thursdaysd, you are right. Though I think they are a tiny bit harder to get into than the open pockets on some purses, the zippers are mostly to keep me from spilling things out. If I wanted to, I could secure them with ties or something but never do - too much of a pin. I am more likely to lose something than to have it stolen. I know we have been lucky, but the only time we have been pickpocketed was right here at home, once DH outside his office and once me at BWI, after our return from Europe. In both cases, it was annoying, but not earth shattering.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 01:13 PM
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Many 'horror stories' I read about this aren't actually pickpocketing. They are a purse stolen because the person had it hanging over the back of a chair in a restaurant or café, or set it on the bench in a train station and turned their back. Basically 'crimes of opportunity' where the purse wasn't even on their person at the time.
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Old Mar 14th, 2014, 01:44 PM
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If you are staying at a place with an in-room safe, you can leave valuables there instead of carrying them around all day.

If you use a moneybelt, do NOT access it in public. Keep some money (no more than you can afford to lose) in a pocket for your small purchases. If you really need to get more money out of your moneybelt you should go into a locked toilet stall.

It's also a good idea to split your money and cards up so you don't lose everything if something happens. This is easier if there are more than one of you travelling together.
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Old Mar 15th, 2014, 04:58 AM
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#1--Be aware of your surroundings, as they operate in high traffic places like train stations and subways.
#2--Look for pickpockets to hit in tight places, like at the foot of an escalator. One might trip and fall in front of you while the partner swoops in from behind and completes the act. My wife walks closely behind me when in high risk places.
#3--Carry no purses and no billfolds. My charge cards and ID's are kept in a money belt under my clothes. I carry just a little spending $ deep in a pocket.
#4--Many travelers try to be too nice or courteous to other people when in tight places. If I'm pushed around or run into "by accident", I'm simply a very disagreeable person.
#5--You have to be proactive and defensive when traveling in places where pickpockets are active. Or, stay away from those places.
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Old Mar 17th, 2014, 10:49 PM
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As an experienced traveler for many places around the world. I would suggest every traveler to carry comfortable luggage, so, that you feel secured and you can focus on tourist sites. Use Credit cards for any kind of transactions and maintain some currency for a day plan everything before you leave the hotel or vacation apartments, in which you are staying. I have shared my personal opinion on your question. I generally prefer more reading because every destination has its own issue. I frequently go through this sites for information about safety, restaurants, tourist places etc.,


http://www.tripadvisor.in/Travel-g18...ckpockets.html

http://www.eveparis.com/blog/tips-fo...h-pickpockets/

http://france.usembassy.gov/pickpockets.html
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Old Mar 19th, 2014, 04:15 AM
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Some of the thieves function as snatch-and-grab artists, rather than slipping velvet hands into back pockets. They depend on distraction, whether the famous splotch of mustard on a shirt or the currently popular insistent petition to sign. Often they work in pairs, one distracting, the other making off with the goods. Concealing valuables is important but you also need to be, well, rude. Reject unexpected in-your-face conversation, and walk away without eye contact when someone nearby suddenly discovers a gem or old coin on the ground.
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Old Mar 19th, 2014, 09:51 AM
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I recommend being extremely careful when on the trains. When i was in Paris, I was on the train and it was cramped with tons of people, and someone started pulling at the bag I was holding. Luckily I was aware and started pulling back, I didn't see who it was but nothing was stolen. Just be very careful of your surroundings!
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Old Mar 26th, 2014, 05:42 AM
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I use a money belt and just have a small amount of money in my purse which is a cross body one that I can keep one hand on the strap in any public situation. It also sits on my lap while I eat rather than on the floor or the back of a chair.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 05:04 AM
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I do as KT does, holding the strap of a cross body bag that is large enough to hold my iPad but can be held snug against my body with my elbow. I use a credit card where possible and ATM's for cash so I don't need to carry a lot with me. I also stash a little bit of emergency money in my belongings left at the accommodation. No doubt a competent thief could find it, but I figure the chances of my person being robbed or losing my purse are greater, and it would be useful to have it on hand while we negotiate replacement of credit cards, passport etc. Plus it's always nice to have little bit extra at the end of a trip when I've already blown my budget!
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Old Apr 1st, 2014, 09:00 AM
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I use a travel purse from Magellan's or PacSafe (I have one of each brand) that are both slash-proof, the purse fabric and the strap. The Pac-safe also has a lock on the zipper.
I also try not to carry lots of cash on me, and just use credit cards.

When on the metro,(and everywhere else, actually) wear your purse across your shoulder, in front of you, and with your hand on it at all times. Watch people around you and watch their hands, in relation to you and your belongings. Do not open your purse or bag while walking down the street, or on the metro, or while walking through crowded places.

In Paris, last week, we encountered young women coming up to us with clipboards asking us if we spoke English. I'd heard about this being a ruse to try and get into my bag, so when they approached, I cut them off mid-sentence and said, in a firm voice, No. And keep walking. If they keep talking to you, just keep walking and say No, until they get it. Or just keep walking away.
A "Don't mess with me or else" look goes a long way. Sad that one has to appear "mean" but it works.

I tell my teen daughter, even about living here, in the suburbs of Chicago - Always assume someone else wants your stuff. Lock it up, put it away.. Make it hard for them to get to your stuff. Thieves always go for the easiest targets. Don't be an easy target. Don't act overly distracted, and don't be, or seem, naive.
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