MaryC

Catherine,<BR><BR>I'm so sorry about your experience. : ( So glad you and your family are okay, though!!<BR><BR>Just wanted to weigh in on this subject. My best friend Kristin and I JUST came back from Paris (were there from April 11th to the 14th - Thurs to Sun) and Kristin was pickpocketed on the Metro on our way to the hotel from the airport!! Luckily, it was just her backpack (she had all important items and money in her moneybelt) and she didn't lose anything (2 Parisian teenagers started yelling at the pickpocket and he ran). The 2 girls were VERY nice and apologized profusely to us for what happened. : ) But we hadn't even made it to our hotel yet and she was pickpocketed. I thought she would turn back around and go home!!! Needless to say, she was furious.<BR><BR>Anyway, I carried 2 purses: 1 small, grey microfibre one with a flap that snapped (against the body) that I criss-crossed (like Sally) across body underneath my coat (this one kept everything important); the 2nd one was a black leather backpack that held only inocuous items like map, umbrella, books, etc.. My hope is that this might confuse thieves. Seems to work. A few times I noticed the flap on the backpack undone but nothing was ever missing. As Catherine says, those pickpockets are slick!!

Anon

I am surprised no one has ever suggested what I do with my paper money - I put it inside my bra; I can feel it is still there. If it needs to be used, a quick trip to the ladies room does it. Believe me, no one is going to lift it (the money, that is!) without my knowing it. Coins, who cares? They go in my wallet inside my zipped and clasped purse. My "Healthy Purse" has a clip inside, and I found a small change purse with a ring and clipped it inside the bag. I could pull it out enough to use, but it wasn't going to fall out or be stolen without the whole bag going with it. And, yes I realize that is a possibility. Also, I carry it so that the zipper pull is towards the front of me, not opening from the back. And always my hand is on the top of it. I do this at home too. I have never been asked for a passport and only carry the copy with me when walking about.

Sue

Brilliant Mary C. That is the smartest thing to keep your bag close to your body in front. Someone would have to be very bold to try to get something out of that bag. I do that at night - photo ID, some cash, and a lipstick. During the day I have a tote with a bunch of zippered pockets. You have to be a magician to get down to the good bits. All other stuff is in the safe.

MBrown

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Being pick pocketed is terrible.<BR><BR>As an American living in Paris for the past two years I have only had that experience once. I had met a friend at Gare du Nord who had just come off the Eurostar. I was running late and forgot to move my wallet from my back pocket. As we wrestled to get his luggage through the turnstile of the metro I felt a hand brush against me. I turned very rapidly and crushed said hand against the turnstile. The thieve ran away and my wallet remained in my pocket.<BR><BR>I made two mistakes. I left my wallet in my back pocket and I was too lazy to ask the metro ticket agent to open the larger door for me so that i could get the suitcase through.<BR><BR>Here are the tips I can give you to avoid problems with pickpockets in Paris. <BR><BR> Tourists = $$$$$$$$ Locals = very little $ Therefore tourists are targets. If you advertise that you are are tourist you are making yourself a target.<BR><BR>Hotspots for pickpockets are the subway system and heavily touristed areas such as Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower. If you have to pay to get into a site such as the tower or the Museum you are less likely to have problems once inside.<BR><BR>Some of the high risk metro stations are chatelet, Gare du Nord, St Michele and the entire trip between CDG and Paris.<BR><BR>The best way to avoid pickpockets in the subway is to keep a low profile. Try to blend into the crowd.<BR><BR>Plan your metro trip in advance. Do not stand around and discuss the route you are going to take in a foreign language (english) while in the metro station. Sit at a cafe and plan out your route.<BR><BR>Do not have objects of value hanging off of you. Camecorders, cameras, sunglasses.<BR><BR>While on the metro sit quitely or converse in a low voice. Americans speak louder than the French which immediately draws attention.<BR><BR>Pick pockets are often gypses. They often have olive complexion and dark hair. Many are children as they learn their profession at a young age. <BR><BR>Do not linger in the metro looking lost. Your best defense is to keep moving.<BR><BR>If you are asked "Do you speak English ?" by a young woman while walking in the street keep moving and ignore them. If they insist, frown and state NO forcefully and move on. I have seen this tactic first hand many many times. If you answer yes they will start to beg money from you. Of course if you decide to give money to them who knows who is around the corner taking notes on the location of your wallet.<BR><BR>Pickpocketing is a rampant crime in Paris and it is on the rise. Tourists are the main target unfortunately.

Paris

We were in Paris end of March. 4th trip, the new tactic I saw and was approached twice was "do you speak english". She hardly had a accent, then she asked for money. Did not stop me in my tracks the second time!! PJ

MaryC

Thanks, Sue! LOL<BR><BR>Yes, MBrown, you're very right. Once on the Metro we tried to make sure we didn't speak to each other and would communicate with just looks and nods. We'd speak in low tones in English, because otherwise heads would turn heavily telegraphing the tourists in the area. We'd also make sure to be aware of people around us and anybody who seemed to be checking us out we immediately held in suspicion. We desperatly tried hard not to smile too much (people looked strangely at us when we did). Once, we even darted off the Metro when we noticed 2 men smiling and gesturing towards us (I know, they were probably flirting) with the plan to jump onto the next car to evade potential pickpockets. After that initial pickpocket incident we couldn't be too careful.<BR><BR>And MBrown, around the Notre Dame area we had men asking us where we came from/were we from America. We just ignored them!! I suppose this is a version of the young girl/do you speak English tactic.<BR><BR>But don't worry, we did enjoy Paris thoroughly!!! : )

Maggie

My feeling is that it is all down to common sense!<BR>I never walk around with a handbag or backpack. I just use a plain white supermarket bag to carry camera, maps etc. I learned this trick in Rio ten years ago and it has worked ever since.<BR>For large denomination notes and credit card, I use a wallet that is threaded on to my belt and tucked down inside my jeans. This also contains a photocopy of my passport.<BR>I only keep small denomination notes and change in any pocket.<BR>I never wear jewellery or anything ostentatious and just a cheap wrist watch.<BR>The main point is just try not to look like a tourist.<BR><BR>

Sherry

Nancy. My husband wears his money belt across his body. It also can be worn around the waist, but he prefers wearing it across his chest, sort of over one shoulder and under the other arm. He says it is very comfortable that way. I wear mine at my waist under my clothes, even my underwear.

Ronda

I carried a black backpack type purse with a zipper in Paris with only umbrella, maps, and water. Every single time I got off the train where I had to stand, the zipper was open. My husband wore a money belt.<BR><BR>I think the the high unemployment rate in Paris must have something to do the prevalance of pickpockets.<BR><BR>How about those men and little boys who play the accordian on the train? Do you donate to them or not? I bet they make a mint. <BR><BR>

MaryC

Oh, Ronda, the accordian men! Yeah, I saw/heard them so many times I was almost convinced they were following me until I realized there were just so many of them.<BR><BR>We saw a duo playing very bad French rock on a guitar on the Metro. Couldn't WAIT to get out of there. The accordian was actually better. LOL : )

Amy

Catherine, you did everyone a favor. There are so many posters at this site who view a money belt as a ridiculous item. I carry my passports in a money belt until I get to the hotel. Then it either goes in the main safe or in my room safe. One of my copies, however, travels with me. Like one of the other posters, even if I'm carrying just guidebooks, my satchel is guarded like the crown jewels.<BR><BR>My husband uses pants with deep front pockets. However, he and I argue about this a lot. I'm showing him this posting.<BR><BR>Catherine, do not let some of the negative reactions bother you.You said it yourself--hindsight is always 20/20; so is critiquing behind a computer.<BR><BR>As to having thieves in the US--yes, we do. I live in one of the safest cities in the US, but there is an area that is "safe" bodily but "unsafe" as far as theft. These areas of town are inhabited by groups of people who live by theft. I know their street corners, and I know their scams. Someone coming in from the suburbs may not.<BR><BR>However, even the dumbest person who passes this group is not carrying passports and is not carrying room keys, etc. We are not a tourist mecca.<BR><BR>I'm happy you still managed to have a good time, Catherine, and your report about how you were treated by your French neighbors was quite heartening.<BR><BR>

Ronda

Once we met an American man who was HUGE, like 6'8" 250 lbs, who was pick pocketed on the train carrying. He had his money in his front pocket. Thought he was safe. <BR><BR>By the way, one of the worst stories I have heard of mugging/robbing of tourists occurred in San Francisco where the tourist was actually killed. I believe he was German. It does happen in America. Tourists are just targets no matter what country they are from or in.

suzanne

I almost got robbed when I was near Sacre Coeur in Paris when I was 18 (14 years ago). I wore a long-strapped purse across my body, and a gypsy woman unzipped it while I was leaning over some sales bins and the purse dangled towards my back. She didn't get anything - luckily - because my friend Lisa caught her and she ran away. I was really pissed off when Lisa told me, so we decided to follow the woman up the hill. We saw her pickpocketing left and right! Within 5 minutes she collected about 10 wallets! Then I saw her starting to unzip a man's backpack (with "USA" emblazoned across it) and I couldn't restrain myself any longer. Lisa grabbed the woman by the wrist and spun her around, and I smashed her across the face with my fist. She fell over crying and was immediately surrounded by people trying to help her up. Several people tried to restrain me, and I just kept shouting "Elle vole!" ("She steals"). *I* was nearly arrested and the gypsy woman was set free. The nerve!!! <BR><BR>Needless to say, I have never bought a long-strapped purse since then...I only wear short-strapped ones that fit neatly under my arm. And no one has ever laid hands on MY wallet. I also try to not look like a tourist, and ignore the "Do you speak English" spiel...they do this ALL over Europe. And the people usually have a non-English-speaking accent. Just learn to say "no" in the local language...it does wonders.

rand

Catherine.<BR>It is nice to hear that Seattle is relatively pickpocket free. Living here in sleepy little Victoria, I always feel I have to be on high alert when travelling. Around here I have seen tourists wear their moneybelts or neck pouches outside their clothing. Something about this place makes people feel safer than they really are.<BR><BR>In Paris we were approached in the latin quarter with the 'do you speak English and please do not notice this piece of cardboard I am carrying in my left hand' routine. I did not say no, just gave her a dirty look, so she imediately switched to German. I guess she thought I did not understand her. <BR><BR>When I saw the huge sign in Notre Dame warning tourists about pickpockets, I found myself involuntarily reaching to check my stash. This made me curious, so I stood back beside the door and watched. Ten out of the next ten people coming in did exactly the same thing. That sure left me laughing at this self fulfilling prophecy. If I were a pickpocket, I would hang around that sign and watch while everybody showed me exactly where their money is.<BR><BR>Clutching on to a purse too tightly on the Metro would send the same message. <BR>On one ride I noticed a young guy holding a cheap yellow stuff sac to his chest with both arms. My thought was, 'I wonder what he has in there that is so valuable to him?'

steveo

Hey Einstein or Sherlock if you prefer,<BR>Did you happen to notice the signs all over the place that said beware of pick pockets? If not, you might want to steer clear of the London Underground because you might miss the warning to "mind the gap".

Duh

Just gotta say that all you people who think you're gonna get past the Paris pickpockets by using fanny packs and money belts and so forth, well, you're gonna be the first to be targeted. Only tourists wear that stuff. If you want to be hassle-free in Paris, look like a Parisian. If you're a woman, wear a regular purse, walk quickly, and look mean and nasty. If you're a man, carry one of those leather purses, walk quickly, and look mean and nasty. I've traveled Paris for the past 30 years and never once had anyone even come close to me - look like a native and you won't have any problems. Obviously, don't carry maps and unwrap them and pore over them while riding the metro - I've seen SO many people doing that, and nothing could be a more stringent call to "ROB ME NOW!!" Know where you're going before you leave the hotel. And, oh, the white sneakers, pink jogging suits, loud voices, and baseball caps - you can write zillions of posts about them on this site, but let's just say the French read Fodor's, too, and they know if you show up in gear like this, you're a ripe target. Look at the folks in line at the American Express office at Op&eacute;ra - the ones who've been robbed. Check out what they're wearing...can you guess? Sure, there are a few who did all the right things and still got nabbed, but most of them are overweight Americans with fanny packs and pink and purple clothing and sneakers who stuck out like a sore thumb and screamed "AMERICAN!! ROB ME!! I'M CLUELESS!" It DOES pay to "blend in" to whatever place you're going to. Americans are really, really bad at that, though, mainly because they are so bad at other languages. I guess they just have to take their licks for being so pathetic in that regard, and for their sartorial weaknesses.

dazed

what are sartorial weaknesses? Are they located on the legs or knees or maybe the back? I need to know.

Duh

Don't you even know what sartorial refers to? Hey, I'm talking about the pink jogging suits and the fat clothes that obese Americans wear to disguise their overweight figures. <BR>Look it up in the dictionary if you're confused.<BR>\<BR>The average French pickpocket gets on the m&eacute;tro and makes a beeline for fat Americans with their purses exposed - wouldn't you?<BR><BR>If you can disguise yourself as a Parisian, you are all but immune from this problem. And it's SO easy!! Take a fashion lesson and forget about the fanny pack lessons - just learn to look Parisian and your troubles are over. As I said, I've been traveling in Paris for more than 30 years and never once was even close to being pickpocketed. Why? I look Parisian. You can too. Maybe I should offer "look Parisian" services at a price equivalent to trip insurance?

sdk

Hey duh,<BR>Are you implying that all Americans are fat (and if they are, it's not a capital offense) and/or that there are no fat Parisians? You are a jerk, or more appropriately,a pig. Go home and commiserate with your non-existent friends.

smarternow

I got pickpocketed in Aruba coming off a cruise ship==it was our 1st port. Bumped from behind ever so slightly with a fabulous looking man blocking my path. I was so busy checking him out that I didn't notice that slight nudge from behind. My hubby and our friends were right behind him and didn't see a thing. Traveled in europe with a money belt and had no problems but in Aruba??