Caution! Pick-pocketing in the métro on the rise.
 

Within the last 3 months, there has been a 33% increase in gang related pick-pocketing according to a recent article in le Parisien. The groups of 5 or more consist mostly of young girls from eastern European countries. Knowing that minors cannot be held by the police, these groups operate almost unencumbered.

How to avoid them (according to the article):

1. Avoid backpacks or keep them in front

2. Use waist packs kept in front.

3. Increase awareness near known tourist areas (Eiffel Tower/Louvre).

4. Keep wallets in interior pockets.

5. Never lose sight of luggage, keep bags near you.

6. Avoid looking like a tourist (good luck with that!)

7. Keep valuable objects out of sight

8. Pick-pockets can disguise their appearance, even looking like a tourist themselves.

9. Be alert to any unusual situation

10. Carry a minimum amount of cash.

Remain cautious, stay vigilant.

I'd just bought a new portable TV from La Defence, then carrying the box got on an RER Line 'A' train home to Le Vesinet. Almost immediately got robbed....fortunately my Mrs was stood next to me, and thumped the assailant....who promptly scarpered.

That was in 1996.

There is also the coin/ring trick used by many burglars in Paris. Beware if someone asks you whether the fallen coin/ring on the street is yours. It's a scam to loot you. Happens often on the sidewalks and near the Pont des Arts (or Lock Bridge).

Have a safe trip!

And, beware anyone coming up to you for any reason - the old distract and have an accomplice pilfer your bags happens - sad but anyone coming up to you should be suspect - especially with offers to help at metro ticketing machines and be vigilant when enering metro turnstile - great places when crowded to pickpocket from behind.

This kind of article rarely tells the larger story.

1. Avoid backpacks or keep them in front – It is not the backpack that needs to be avoided. What needs to be avoided are the contents -- valuables worth stealing. I have seen calling cards on my bags – zippers open, but nothing stolen. They are not looking for my umbrella, rain jacket, city map, water bottle, guide book, tissue papers etc.

3. Increase awareness near known tourist areas (Eiffel Tower/Louvre). – This is practically useless. The pickpockets know how to distract you naturally.

5. Never lose sight of luggage, keep bags near you. -- Another area the pickpockets know how to distract you.

9. Be alert to any unusual situation. – Another practically useless recommendation. -- Many things look unusual in new places. Pickpockets know how to make it look routine.

10. Carry a minimum amount of cash. – The recommendation should be not to carry unnecessary cash. And if you do have to use cash, divide into several parts and only expose cash into dispensing location, such as your pocket or wallet, from a safe hidden location in a safe place – your room, restaurant, restroom, etc. When I have to pay cash to buy bus ticket, I carry precisely that amount in my shirt pocket which seems to escape sticky hands which always seem to like to explore my pants pockets. If you are eating lunch at a restaurant, there is no reason to carry the cash you need in the afternoon in easily stolen places when walking around in the morning.

Another ploy is for someone directly in front of you on the stairs up and out of the metro to suddenly trip. When you stop because they are down right in front of you, the accomplice following directly behind you makes his/her move. Don't be distracted!

I live in NYC... and if you are carrying your wallet in your front pocket or carrying your purse across your body... how are they stealing from you? This would be good information to know. I cannot picture how someone tripping on the stairs is going to get a wallet out of a man's front pocket or out of a zipped cross body purse. But... I also don't want to be dumb and a victim of a crime. Thanks

>>> if you are carrying your wallet in your front pocket or carrying your purse across your body... how are they stealing from you?
Trivial.
A team of pickpockets work together to create artificial logjams at doors when you get on or off. In order to get in or off, you have to squeeze your body tightly against the team. You will not feel any hands getting into your pocket or purse. They can do this in many different ways. Then know when the trains brake hard or make hard turns to allow them to push their body against you without raising suspicions.

Our friend was pickpocketed on the Paris metro a couple of weeks ago.

The wife has Parkinson's and walks slowly and, at times, unsteadily. She also has started showing some signs of mental fuzziness. The husband was holding her hand as they boarded the metro, but she hesitated as the doors started to close. While still holding hands, he ended up inside and her outside. He just knew he couldn't let go of her hand unless the train started moving. Some passengers jumped up to help while, apparently, others did the pickpocketing. Their losses were insignificant, but this is so sad because they knew this was their last trip internationally.

It means TripAdvisor has more traffic than Fodors.

The pickpockets in New York are amateurs. The easy availability of guns in the US has put a big dent in skilled pickpocketing. I know more than one person who has lost a wallet from a front pocket in Europe. Also from a cross-body bag. In Europe, the tripping on the stairs ruse is only one in a large arsenal of distraction techniques.

I've lived in huge cities for most of my life and travel extensively all over the world. I'm not paranoid but I also am not over-confident that my basic, common sense precautions (like wallet in front pocket when you're in a very busy area) cannot be overcome by people who pickpocket for a living.

Common sense precautions:

• Remove unnecessary cards from wallet and keep at home when traveling
• Further remove cards and any large cash sums and keep in hotel safe if not needed for your day out
• Keep passport in hotel safe (no debate on hotel safes necessary...I know the risks and the different views on them)
• Wallet in front pocket when in very crowded areas and lock thumb over that pocket if, for example, you're in a very crowded metro.
• No significant valuables in backpack or bag (can be forgotten in a restaurant or swiped in a busy bar/restaurant) and anything of any value in inside pockets of bag (e.g. medication, camera, nice sunglasses, etc)
• Extra caution at pools and beaches, etc - e.g. someone in group stays back with the valuables
• Never put things down anywhere but rather put back in pocket when not being used - e.g. phone, wallet, glasses, etc. Can be swiped but more likely, forgotten.
• Always glance back at seat or chair when you get up to see if anything has dropped or been forgotten. Get in the habit of this and do it always.
• Use what works for you everyday - do not try complicated new 'systems' when you travel - like separating your money/valuables all over the place, using different wallets, money belts or pouches, etc. You're more likely to get confused and lose track of things when you are in an unfamiliar place, doing different things and managing your valuables in new and different ways.

I always assume that I'm not going to be at 100% mental and physical adeptness and alertness all day. You get tired. You forget things. You get stressed. You get distracted. You have a glass or two of wine. You're preoccupied finding your train that you're about to miss, etc, etc. So I try to make things as simple and foolproof as possible. The above has worked for me for a long time and everyone will know what works for them personally.

In addition, could also be that Fodor's draws a more experienced group of travelers. TAs seem to be many first timers with first timer sets of anxieties.

These are good tips... I guess I am just reluctant to wear a money belt but if people are saying these pickpockets are the artful dodger... Hello Money Belt. I thought you needed to carry an ID with you in France? I had thought we would leave the Passports hidden in our apartment.
What do you do with your cell phone??
Finally, do I have to be this paranoid in Provence? I mean I am always aware because I live in a city but I kind of wanted to relax a little! Thanks

Last trip I had all my important stuff inside my Jack wolfskin jacket, best-hidden pockets. My cross bag had lip gloss, tissue and a few euro. My husband bought a concealed carry jacket. Not super expensive and the pockets were crazy. He had vent zippers and this guy tried getting inside them at the ticket kiosk which was very crowded. Two cops yanked his butt out of the line. I was impressed. I was watching at a distance and knew they were just vented zips but those cops were good. We also had a man follow us up the train platform in Lille and he had no luggage. He asked me in English where the Brussels train arrived. It was late and told him. Two minutes later three undercover guys were there and took him away. Once on the train, they all walked passed us into the first train and left with a group of men who apparently had no tickets. I think there are a lot of cameras watching.