I live in Paris, and use both the inside and outside machines.
Two years ago, two kids came out of nowhere and tried to grab the money while I was using an outside machine - that was in the 7th arr.- but they didn't get lucky.
I've never had another problem, but pay attention to my surroundings a bit more than I did before those kids showed up.
I have often had to press "wait" and "enter" buttons to gain access to the machines in the foyers, but the rest of them just have doors that open automatically. I've never yet had to use a card to enter, so I guess it depends on the neighborhood.
There are sometimes people hanging around inside the foyers, who don't seem to have anything better to do. If I see them - or anyone hanging around the outside ATMs - I just move on. There's always another bank nearby.

>>>>"Actually, you might be amazed at the number of people who go to ATMs in Paris just to check their account and not at all to withdraw cash.
So people lurking at an ATM have a very limited chance of encountering anybody who came to get money."<<<<


Not true, you still must enter your pin to get your balance thus setting you up for the theft.

But those people who "rush in" would not see the screen asking what amount to withdraw and they probably don't know how to get to it in 3 seconds.