Duh

Hey sdk: Everyone knows that Americans are generally fat by European standards, and that they get pickpocketed far more than anyone else - it's statistics, get it? All I'm saying is, try to blend in and not wear that grotesque crap you wear that signals every pickpocket within a thousand miles and maybe you'll get through Paris without being robbed. And yes, French people, and French pickpockets, are on the lookout for fat people because they are likely to be Americans - excuse me, but it's the truth. Americans are a whole lot fatter than Europeans in general. If you were brought up in Europe you would be conditioned to expect the fat people on the métro to be Américains. Sorry - the hard truth. More than 70 percent of Americans who come to Europe are fatter than the average European. It's a fact. You guys chow down on fast food and snack between meals and don't exercise - it's not a horrible thing, but it's certainly obvious who's American when you survey a crowd of people at, say, Notre Dame de Paris. The Americans are always the fat ones. Can you disagree?

no

This does not warrant rebuttle.

Kris

Dear Duh,<BR><BR>First of all, I am a Canadian and I am so offended with your constant ignorant referrals to the average American being fat. Secondly, you can still wear a money belt and look like a tourist. A money belt is supposed to be worn inside your clothes therefore it is HIDDEN! A pickpocket would not be able to see it.<BR><BR>BUT I will admit you have some good points like act like a Parisian. Don't know about the "be mean and nasty" part.<BR><BR>The whole point of the forums is to give good advice and to leave the nasty insults behind. All in all, you don't have to be so rude.

Terry

I'm leaving for Italy on Thursday. I'm planning on taking a backpack to carry books, maps, camera, etc. I was going to put locks on the zippers. Is this a good idea or not? Would the thieves just rip the locks off?

lze

Hi Catherine, We will be in Paris in June and I thank you for reminding me about being careful especially in crowds. I am sorry for your misfortune but glad you are okay. Last time in Paris we saw a guy running and a girl running very fast after him, yelling quite loud. It was at Notre Dame. Looking around the corner we noticed he had been caught by police. But, I am sure most of them get away with it. When we travel we do use the money belt as well at the pouch around the neck. We leave passports, airline tickets etc. in the hotel safe (jewelry etc. at home,nothing flashy to attract attention). I carry a COPY of my hubby's passport and he carries a COPY of mine. We also leave copies at home. Only carry one credit card with you and keep it in the money belt. Be sure you have all numbers etc. written down at home and perhaps a copy of them in the hotel safe as well. When we were in Bangkok last year we were warned against carrying a back pack. We were told they would be cut right off our back! Also, like others have said do be aware of people trying to stop you and ask if you speak English. We got this in Bangkok as well. Some would tell us they were studdying English and needed someone who speaks good English to talk to. Best thing is to just ignore them. Keep walking. Don't stop. Lots of good common sense advise in this post. Good of others to share their experiences. My brother-in-law just had a pickpocket in Costa Rica. His wife had given him her credit card with a $20 bill wrapped around it. He put it in his pocket. He then noticed a man standing very close to him and then he was bumped by this man and he suddenly disappeared. These people are very street smart and I am sure watch people very closely. They are looking for an easy mark for sure. Just use that common sense folks! Have lots of fun, but do be aware of your surroundings etc. It can happen anyplace. Here in the USA I am sure there are those who pick out the tourist as well to hit on. For sure it happens more in some locations than in others, but it can happen anyplace and any time. Trying to blend in and not look to much like a tourist is reasonable advice also. I have rambled enough. Any more good ideas? Keep them coming folks.

Eric

I've been to Paris two times and am going back in May. We always ride the subways to and from the airport and have never had any trouble. I always carry all my money, credit card, I only take one and my passport in a money belt. I carry my billfold but only have my drivers license in it. No rings, no expensive watch, I leave it all at home. Hey, get as close to me as you want, doesn't matter, I have nothing to rob.<BR><BR>

ThievesAre

A lady , went to a restaurant in NYC and sat at a table with about 6 other people. She put her purse over the back of her chair.She never knew it had been picked until she got home and looked for her wallet.<BR>This can happen anywhere!<BR>YOU have to just be smarter than the thieves.<BR>Anyone living in any city knows about wearing your purse against your chest,not a backpack,not a shoulder bag.<BR>Odds are-you would notice if someone was unzipping your purse if it was on your chest!<BR>Pay Attention and you won't be a Victim!!!

xxx

Looking like a Parisian won't necessarily do you any good. Plenty of Parisians get pickpocketed, too--are they supposed to walk around with moneybelts stuffed around their waist or euros packed into their bras? Law and order and the reduction of street crime are major issues in this year's big French political campaigns. If only tourists were affected, it wouldn't be such a hot potato. Didn't any of you "they'll never bother me" experts see how some kids tried to pickpocket Jospin on a campaign stop? He slapped the kid's face (hooray)--not hard, just a back off tap.

Catherine

To the poster from "no spam":<BR><BR>This is interesting that you brought up the subject of law and order. We found that there is a huge lack of interest on the police's and community's part over pick pocketing. The attitude of many was this is Paris and that's what happens. Which is not to say there weren't those who were sorry it happened. Does anyone out there know what the penalty is if you're caught? What about repeat offenders? I'm wondering if there's not much concern as it isn't considered a violent crime.<BR><BR>Catherine (who is still trying to shake Paris time!)

elvira

Picking pockets is a job (illegal though it is), so those interested in succeeding at this will soon learn the tricks of the trade in spotting a good customer and where the best business opportunities lie. If you want to sell souvenir t-shirts (a legitimate trade), for example, you will set up your shop near a tourist attraction and will be able to spot the customer who's really interested vs the just-looking guy. You don't set up a layette store in a retirement village, nor a bait shop in the middle of the Sahara...you go where the customers are. If you are a salesman for a meat wholesaler, which restaurant do you approach - Billy's Big Burger Barn or Virginia's Veggie Village? You head for the most likely sale...<BR><BR>If you don't want telemarketers calling you, you block your phone, have caller ID or a zapper, or let the machine pick up. If you don't want pickpockets robbing you, you take the same defensive moves. Remember, tourists are seen as a source of income (picture walking into a used car lot); the last thing you want to do is LOOK like a source of income. <BR><BR>If you take the emotion and the indignation out of it, it is just logic.

Bob C

Nancy, don't put the money belt in front but put in the small of your back. it will not look bad and you will forget that is even there. Just keep out the cash that you will need for the day.

AC

There are big signs all over Amsterdam warning of pickpockets. There are signs is the trams and in restaurants.<BR>There are signs all over NYC buses and subways, too. PA announcements are made all the time. Doesn't matter which city you are in.<BR>I hope all is well, Catherine.

real

AC, where exactly are the pickpocket warnings on the subway/buses here? Are you refering to the "Don't Give To Panhandlers" signs? They aren't pickpockets you know, just beggars.<BR>I don't know anyone who has had anything stolen from them here witohut noticing it. Muggings, although rare, are different. I guess city dwellers are more savvy and aware than others. How else could we live here without getting robber?

AC

<BR>Nope<BR>Not refering to the panhandler signs....do not consider panhandlers thieves<BR>All during the summer and Holiday season you will see public service announcments posted on buses and subways to protect yourself from pickpockets. On buses about once every couple of hours several times a year you will hear a PA annoucement come over the buses reminding passengers to safeguard their belongings and beware of pickpockets.<BR>The point of my message was that it can happen anywhere, anytime.

Dayle

OK - here is a point that hasn't been discussed. Those of you who put your single credit card in a money belt under clothing - how do you retrieve it if you need to use it? Do you ask to use the shop's restroom so no one sees where you have it?

sally

Why do people carry their passports around with them once they are already staying at a hotel? I have never had a need for my passport. I always leave it in the safe at the hotel or at the desk and have never had a problem. Definitely make copies before you go and keep a copy with you and leave on at home. <BR>Also, I just returned from a trip to Italy and just got my bank statement. While my bank charged about $5 per ATM transaction, I found it best to go to the ATM each day and only carry around a small amount of money. Almost everything can be charged in major European cities. For a week $35 in bank fees is a small price to pay for not worrying about your money.

clairobscur

xxx:<BR><BR>You're wrong. Parisians aren't really worried about pickpockets. I've been living in Paris for many, many years, and only once someone I know has been targeted by a pickpocket (I know much more people who have been victims of burglars or have been assaulted, for instance).<BR><BR>The other posters are right. The locals aren't good targets. They're unlikely to have a lot of money or expensive stuff like cameras. They're more aware of their environment and less easily distracted by momunments or their maps. They're in a familiar place and notice unusual things occuring around them. And anyway, being pickpocketed in your own country isn't such a big deal. You'd lost few money, at worst a credit card that you would easily cancel at once. You wouldn't have to worry about being in a foreign place, without any money, without passport, without plane ticket and without any clue how to handle the situation.<BR><BR>The kind of crime french people are worried about is thing like car theft, burglary, violent incidents in poor suburbian areas, etc..<BR><BR>And by the way, though it's anecdotal, it's not Jospin who slapped a boy, but another candidate. Jospin stated he would never have slapped the boy. The slapper said he was very said he did the right thing. You've really to wonder about politics when "should have he slapped the boy?" becomes a major issue in a political campaign.<BR><BR>Anyway, according to statistics which were published last year, petty crime against tourist is indeed on the rise in Paris.<BR><BR>

Db

Basically if those kids come near me I just hit the first one. I even threw one in a fountain, however one of the police offers told me not to do that because they could break one of the lights and electricute themselves. Now I just hit the first one and put my hand in my pocket with the wallet. Luckily I haven't been approached by a parent or big brother. I'll keep doing this until there is a problem.

clairobscur

And in response to another poster, I don't know the penalties for pickpocketing, but I assume it's a relatively safe job. Few people are going to chase you down or bring you to the police in case of a failed attempt. I suspect in most case, they'll curse you and let you run away.<BR><BR>And indeed part of these pickpockets are children. There isn't much the police can do. My understanding (from what I read) is that usually these children, if caught, will refuse to say who they are or where they live. Given their age, they can't be put in jail. When send to a foster home, they'll run away.<BR><BR>And even for adults, assuming you'll be caught, the penalties will certainly be much lower than for an assault or a burglary. So, once again, I suspect it's a quite safe "job".

Marilyn

We've had all the above happen to us at one time or another, but it was generally our fault for ignoring good advice which we learned to take after repeated attempts. We don't carry valuables in our pockets any longer, nor wear the fanny bags any longer, and we dress to blend in and leave valuables at home. So we've been left alone. We didn't lose anything but we had the papers fanned in our faces, hands in our pockets, locks broken, etc. Marilyn