Just another warning to all traveling to France. A rather innovative attempt was made on my husband and me by a very well dressed pick-pocket. We were coming up the escalator in one of the stations. About half way up I happened to look at the gent in front of me. Well dressed in a suit, seemed to be minding his own business. I was standing in mid-step, my husband just behind me. Others were coming up but no-one was trying to walk past. About 5 steps to the top, this gent looked down at the stairs but toward me, threw his arm out and tossed a package of cigarettes on to the top corner of the escalator and said "I dropped, I dropped". As the pack fell, he swung his arm in front of me to where my handbag was resting against my waist and he tried to grab the bag, pretending to reach for the cigarettes. I was holding onto it for dear life anyway. As this happened, I yelled to my husband to watch his pocket. We wear money belts so we would not have lost much more than a days worth of $, a few tickets and misc. other items in my bag. It happened so fast that the people behind us all bunched up at the top. All knew what had just happened and warned us about some of these diversionary tactics. This one took the cake. Will check in later to tell of a few notable France happenings when I get over this Jet Lag. I had to get this scheme out soon in case its a new one.

Hi yy4me, another testimony as to why it is a good idea to wear a money belt (although I hate them). BTW it isn't just France. The SF Chronical had quite an article the other day regarding the SFPD warnings about pickpockets on public transportation now that tourist season has arrived. That and the fact that the SF city budget no longer allows as many police to ride the public transportation.

It behooves all of us travellers to be alert and prepare for the "scum" that spend their life trying to make a living preying on others. What a miserable life they must truly have.

When we were in the Musee d'Orsay last week, an announcement came over the loudspeakers that pickpockets were at work inside the museum. We didn't have any problems ourselves, but as you say, you can't be too careful.

Thanks for the warning and I'm glad nothing was taken. As mentioned pickpockets are everywhere and the Paris metro has quite alot of them roaming around. At home in the San Francisco metro cars I guess I hold onto my bags too. Sometimes I think I'm not as careful as I should be thinking I'm in my hometown. But really one should be just as careful at home as elsewhere.

The good ones know every trick in the book. The general pattern is the same.
Diversion first, then carry out the grab.

I have heard stories of how skilled some of them area. The ones who use a razor to slit pockets open to get the billfold are the ones who frighten me the most.

They are as skilled than a surgeon in that respect.

Did you grab his cigarettes?

That kind of crime happens everywhere. We were walking to our car after a late night party and a guy in larceny shoes, (sneakers to you)silently ran up to us and cut my shoulder strap, grabbed the bag and ran.
Alas, the bag was not paid for yet.
Hooray, got my keys and etc back when someone phoned me that they found the bag and stuff in their yard.

To: clevelandbrown...Didn't like his brand. BTW, how do I reply to a direct question like this on this board? Maybe I missed it on the "rules" page. Thanks, yy4me

You just did.

I'm always wary of nicely dressed men in the metro wearing sneakers. Mid day when everyone else is at work. You will often see them just leaning against the wall watching for their next opportunity. As for announcing that pick pockets are in the metro or museums, I don't understand that. If they are aware of the presence of pickpockets why are they not stoppped? Also, I've seen these guys jumping the turnstyles in the metro. How do they get into the museums without paying admission?

Do they get to write off their <i>Abonnement Int&eacute;grale</i> (annual M&eacute;tro pass) as a business deduction?

Maybe a museum admission is just a price of doing business? Or maybe they get a Museum Carte? I believe that EU citizens get reduced museum admission prices in any event.

Wow.

I think they periodically make that public announcement about pickpockets in various places in Paris, like the museum, just as a public service announcement to try to keep tourists aware. I don't think it means they know of any specific person or attempt.

And also to warn off anyone that looks as though they might be thinking about doing it, but hasn't actually done anything that would justify the security guards wading in. Plus, of course, there's the possibility that those people are in league with, and acting as decoys for, the people the security guards might not have noticed.

I think my brain hurts now.