Partner and I both wear money belts with passport, cards and bulk of cash under our clothes. I pin mine shut as well. Partner who is 6 foot and weighs 102 kg carries money needed that day. If we need more, we go into a bank, hotel or cafe WC (and yes we order an espresso) where we can be private and transfer what is needed. We have never been robbed though have had various people try scams. At least one doesn't see those women with a comatose baby in the Metro as was so common a few years ago. The ring scam seems positively civilised in comparison. Interesting posts as forewarned is forearmed.

I used to leave things to luck and never had a problem.

Several years ago I decided to do something. I realized that I am a tourist and they are pros. They have an advantage as this is what they do for a living.

I keep no more than 20E in my pocket. Other than a map my pockets are empty.

Hanging from my belt and slipped inside my pants I have a small, soft, zippered case. In there I keep about 100E and my credit card.

The only way somebody could get to it would be to hold me down and slide their hand down the front of my pants. Then they would have to pull up the packet, unzip and remove the money.

I don't think so.

On my first trip after implementing the new plan we were at the flea market in Madrid.

Of course I suddenly heard some change fall in front of me. As I pushed myself back somebody leaned on me.

A minute later an older man came over and said that somebody stole "this" from you.

He gave me back my street map and empty sunglasses case.

I guess the few Euros in my pocket were too far down for them to get.

Hi Patrick, excellent!

We just had an experice at our rental property. We had all the outside copper piping stolen. The cops had caught the guy the day before stealing copper from a house down the block. but the owner did want to be bothered with filing a complaint!

It was good that you took the time to file this complaint and be part of the solution.

<i>
My last day in Paris -- a trip to the Bastille by Police Car!
Posted by: NeoPatrick on Sep 6, 11 at 12:15pm</i>

Good work Patrick. Thanks for the detailed report.

I hate this, makes me so mad. I travel a lot and have always felt safe. I have seen pick pockets in Dublin and a friend had their room broke into and many items stolen in Dublin but have been very lucky in other European cities. We have a trip planned for Paris in May so am going to think about my usual methods of securing my money. If I were a Parisian I would be very upset that these thieves are doing this in their city. We bum the bum in Key West, ask them for a cig before they ask you. Just totally throws them off. I must say that they are at least nice and not there to rob you. The merchants police their own streets in a way and run them off so that they don't bug the tourist but as I said we at least don't have the scammers. I think you did the right thing Patrick, it is wrong not to do something.

Patrick,

Add me to the list. You did the right thing. I had my purse stolen in Paris years ago; passport, cash, driver's license - everything. I spent much of the rest of that day between the police station and the American consulate. I'm much wiser now and I like to think it won't ever happen again but these people (kids) are pros; we've encountered them many places in Europe. I can understand why the police are so frustrated when people don't file charges - good for you!

Same here-good going Patrick. Guess I feel a tad of sympathy for kids getting off to a bad start in life but most of the rest of us have managed to make money without stealing it.

If more tourists complain or just boycott such places, maybe the local constabulary will step up as they did for Patrick.

Aloha!

Really interesting post - thank you for the information and for the confirmation that the Paris police are in fact, trying to do something about it!

I noticed it also last Sept. - there were a group of teenage girls being detained (quite loudly) at the Chatalet Metro in one area by a policewoman while another was questioning a (obviously tourist) couple - looked like they had been pickpocketed and the girls had tucked the wallet somewhere around the benches, so a search ensued - we actually missed a couple trains to watch this - and they finally hauled the girls off with the police. Since I was pickpocketed on the Metro (despite a cross body messenger bag pulled to my front) on my first visit to Paris a year prior - this was great to see!

What an exciting ride you must have had! Not the kind of fun you go to Paris for - but a new experience nevertheless!

At the same time my purse was being pick-pocketed, another girl had her hand in my husband's front pants pocket (he was quite surprised to put it mildly) - but his wallet was inside his jacket zipped up.

So now he has a pair of running shorts that he wears when we go to Paris..(underneath his regular pants) - because they have a pocket that he can keep his wallet in. It isn't as awkward as a money belt and is easy for him to get to - but he'd certainly know if someone had their hands inside his pants! (at least I'd hope!)

I love Paris and think it is the safest big city that I've ever visited -we are going back this year for the 3rd year in a row - so obviously these issues don't bother us - but you do have to be aware of these things and do what you can to discourage them from happening.

I've never felt unsafe physically there - and I've walked
pre-dawn by myself many times - and traveled on train and Metro by myself. But petty thieving is something to be aware of for sure!