Hoosier_Reader

I just returned from two weeks in the UK and France. I carried this and felt really safe. Also it was comfortable. http://www.magellans.com/vaultpro-rf...tible-backpack

Laurabennett

OMG Leanne, you are lucky; i did something similar to you, but my purse was taken; they also got my door keys and mobile phone. I attach my keys to my purse and like you i covered it inside my handbag. Ive always done this for years, but I was on a business trip and had to dress accordingly, and my bag was a shoulder bag with a zip fastening under the flap. In a hurry to get tickets, after fumbling around with money and cards i just shoved my purse back in my bag leaving the main zipper open and did the flap popper up and walked briskly to the station; where it was crowded.. When on the metro train, i heard a zipper being undone (where my phone was); and keys jiggling, My bag bumped against my side a couple of times; and then i heard the zipper noise again. . . i pulled my handbag in front of me, and noticed the flap was open slightly, so i checked it, and the main zipper was done up; so thought nothing of it, until i had to go through the ticket barrier..

Looking back on the situation, i think it was the woman standing next to me, she had a fairly long coat she was wearing and another traveller said she had her coat draped over my handbag; but they didnt think anything of it, and didnt see her take my purse keys and phone....the bumping of my handbag against me i think was because of the cloth covering my purse; it must of got stuck on my bag; but i dont know why she did the main zipper up

Micheline

Last time in Paris I wore my purse cross body.. Getting on the metro a man fell on me and opened it. He pretended to see a friend and jumped off. I give up - I don't know what works other than keeping your hand on the flap at all times which is not not possible.

Micheline

Ok then - impossible.

ztalady

The PAC safe type purses and bags have zippers that can be locked. The zipper pulls then fit into a fabric hidden compartment. A theive would have to struggle to release the zipper pull.....maybe not foolproof but at least a deterrent.....

Christina

It's not impossible to be more careful in certain situations such as getting on the metro when men "fall on you" and then open your purse right in front of you. I do actually keep my hand on the flap of my purse when in the metro, for example, it is not impossible. But I am especially alert in crowded situations on the metro.

ztalady

*thief

VonVan

Suze, even though you criticize topping this thread as it began in '08, many readers will find its information useful. And this type of info doesn't become dated.

mlgb

I agree. All good info.

I use a small, dirty thick leather purse, and a carabiner to clip the zip to the handle. But I am under no illusions that a talented thief would break the zipper and rummage if I were in a crowd.

So, although suze can't imagine this, the passport, some cash and a credit card are in the side of my bra (yes the band that goes under the arm). I also use a lanyard with a plastic card sized holder for the bus card and spare cash, so I don't need to be digging into the purse.

If I am just out sightseeing for the day, and am sure I do not need the passport and credit card, I don't bring them with me. Just a copy of the cc in the purse, cash for the day, split in a few hidden places.

Micheline

Christina - I was standing up when he fell on me. A little difficult to keep my hand on the purse.

Laurabennett

my other business associate and friend also had her purse stolen on the same metro line as when my purse was taken. This time on the busy train, a couple of women bumped into her deliberately to knock her off balance a little bit, so she would have to let go of her handbag and move her hand to grab a hand rail. The casually dressed women carried on bumping and falling onto my friend; they virtually emptied her entire handbag..She could do nothing as she was pressed up against people and her handbag gradually and slowly slipped away from her sight and was also covered by a coat or something. she obviously wasnt thinking about her handbag at the time. she also heard jiggling of keys and the sound of zippers being moved, but couldnt let go of the rail in case she fell over - she was wearing heels. they had stolen her keys, purse, phone, expensive pen, some makeup and chequebook. They also even got papers that had account details on it she kept those papers in the zipped back pocket that was at the back of her handbag against her hip .

they actually stayed next to her still bumping into her, until she got to the stop she needed....

our handbags were similar; but she didnt just shove her purse back into her bag when she got tickets.. she actually put her purse away properly, but someone asked to borrow a pen from her just as she was closing her bag. so she opened her bag and got the pen out from under her purse. then when she got the pen back she had to take her purse back out to put the pen back; then re-close her handbag.

we think the person who wanted to borrow the pen was part of it... and obviously saw how large her purse was and the fact she had a lot of cash and cards

janisj

>>we think the person who wanted to borrow the pen was part of it... <<

Well - duh!!!

Ya think?

nicola00G

Laura,

I also had my purse stolen today; in very similar ways to you and your friend. Could you tell me where you was? I was on Line 1 between Charles de Gualles and the Champs Elysées

I too am a professional woman, whom was on the metro and also ended up losing my phone, purse, and keys.

It was at Charles de Gaulles, when i got a phone call from my client; and while I too was busy trying to get my tickets; and on the phone explaining to the client I will be getting off metro at Champs Elysées.

I also have a leather handbag on a medium sized strap, that just rides on my hip; and after I got my tickets, I put them into my purse and following business advise; also covered my purse and put keys on top.

Shortly after and while i was still on the phone a young woman approached me saying she needed to borrow a pen because she needed to write down an urgent number; so; like you, i opened my handbag and got out a pen; and I just caught her having a peek into my bag. she wrote someting down on a scrap of paper, and gave me back the pen, which I just threw into my bag, and zipped it up. She may have heard where I was going to.

I got on the metro and stood in the middle also holding onto the pole; and it was very busy. Four women also got on at my stop and stood near me and were pressed up against me from the front, sides and back. I also felt my bag ''bump'' against me a few times, but thought nothing of it. I also heard fumbling with keys,and zips being undone and didnt think anything of it, and then i felt my bag bump against me a couple more times and then pulled it to where I could partly see it, but it still looked zipped and closed.

It was when I got off, that another passenger said that I should properly fasten my handbag because the cloth I pushed over my purse was now dangling out from one side of my bag and also so was my key fob that was connected to my keys; my hotel key was also on it.

My phone, purse, passport, tickets, keys, money, and travellers checks were all taken. I also lost lipstick, an eyeliner, my pen, and some other papers.

thursdaysd

I'm very sorry to hear that, but why were your passport, tickets, money and TCs (who uses those in Europe these days???) in your purse rather than a money belt?

And another lesson in IGNORING strangers.

colduphere

I hope everyone can get some sleep in Paris. It's very late.

janisj

Sorry but nicola00G's tale seems fishy. First of all >>It was at Charles de Gaulles, when i got a phone call from my client; . . . << and this supposedly happened on the metro. The metro doesn't serve CDG.

Then there is the bit about nicola00G registering on Fodors to post this at 3AM.

colduphere

Ya think?

Laurabennett

Hiya Nicola00G; It was on line 1 that my purse was bumped from my bag. And dont worry too much about Janisj and her posts here, she obviously has arrogantly missed a few facts.

Before I point her out on those, was the station you were at actually called Charles de Gaulle – Étoile?. . .

Now then Janisj

firstly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_M%C3%A9tro_Line_1

Charles de Gaulle – Étoile - is a station

and as for Nicola posting at 3AMas you said, maybe you should look at te time that she actually posted; and you will see that it in fact just after 2AM. . . some one hour before your time. Not that it matters what time people are on here. I think Nicola has raised an important issue here, and your ignorant and arrogant comments are not relevant to this thread. So eihter be constructive or hop off

Laurabennett

Have also been talking to someone today, who also had her purse stolen in this way, I met her while I was in Paris and we stay in contact.

After it happened, she was saying exactly how they are doing this; because she saw it happen to a couple of other people. All of which fit the description of smartly dressed businesswomen wearing a shoulderbag that dangles to the side.

Either a young woman on her own or a couple, will go up to the businesswoman just after she has got her tickets and is putting them away, and distract her to borrow a pen; they will wait until she has put her purse in her bag so they can see how it is fastened and where in the bag it is. Then the unfortunate woman has to take her purse back out to get to a pen, and tats wen the the other girl or couple will catch a quick peek into her bag to see what else they can get to.

Often when the businesswoman puts her pen back, she will be in a hurry and distracted. and may forget to close her bag properly. One of the group will follow her and be playing on a phone. On the train thats when you see more of the group gather around the woman, and they will close in and start bumping into her and stumbling; this is to distract her more and make her move her hand from her bag to steady herself. The ones behind her, will pull on her handbag strap a litle bit so her bag slowly and gently slips away from her side, then they cover the handbag with a coat or something, and then start undoing it and taking everything.

If the purse has been covered by a cloth or something, they will leave this dangling from the bag, as a symbol that she has been ''done''. They fasten the handbag again so the woman wont become suspicious of all that bumping and moving. Until its time to go through the barrier; then you hear it........ omg my purse .. someones taken my purse ....

ive now also changed my handbag, and wont be using the shoulderbag ever again... Im still going to keep covering my purse though, and make sure that nothing is dangling from my bag before i get on or off of trains or away from crowded areas.

nicola00G

Yes laura, you are right, and i have been busy with today, making calls, and arranging for a friend to change the locks on my house. Got money sorted, and it may take a while for documents. . . .And of course my client wont be impressed by the fact that I have to spend time sorting this out. I will also take your advise and get a new handbag, and after reading other posts here, i will attach extra clips to my bag and purse and get a bag like what Leanne has for business, and wear a money belt like other people do for the other things.

Also I shouldnt of carried my passport and checks in my bag; I also wont carry a pen in my handbag, I will put that either in a pocket or not carry one at all. and never use my phone in areas I dont know.

Reading your post on how they get your purse is interesting. How come when you saw this, you didnt do anything about it?. . .