Paris pickpockets/crime
 

Getting somewhat paranoid about carrying a purse in Paris---would love to hear others' thoughts/experiences/advice.
I also plan to wear a "pouch" under my clothing for passport/credit cards, etc.

Never, ever had a problem with pickpockets in Paris and have always just carried my credit cards in my wallet, in my purse. Make a photo copy of your passport if you'd like and have it somewhere separate from your passport itself. (I don't usually carry around my passport once there - I'm more afraid that I'll misplace something than someone stealing something.) As I'm sure others will tell you, just use your usual caution when in a big city - don't open up your wallet and count your cash on the metro, pay attention to your surroundings, etc. Otherwise, no cause for paranoia.

Lots of pickpockets IME - especially at places like metro gate entrances - I have seen folks go into bag backs and folks pockets - just carry nothing of value in your purse and keep all valuables in an under clothing device and you should have no problem.

Unfortunately be aware of anyone coming up to you - like asking directions, etc - they may be distracting you whilst accomplices are pickpocketing you - and beware small kids -

I use whatever purse I'd use at home and, in 20+ trips, have never had a problem. I do think I'm more aware/wary of my belongings in crowds.

No need to be paranoid, Paris is a safe place, you need to just follow normal big city 'awareness'. Probably safer than most NA cities.

Yes, people hear stories. But they never hear people say "I went to Paris, and nothing happened". So tendency, when you only hear bad stuff, is to assume it must be rampant, and it is not.

I'm a man, so this probably does not apply to you. I carry my money in a wallet, no longer use moneybelt. I have some clothes with zippers and jackets with inside pockets. I don't carry a backpack or waist pack. Too obvious a target.

Passport, keep with me, usually.

I try to keep myself unencumbered as possible. That way I can 'watch' my stuff a lot easier.

I used to lead group trips to Paris and on one trip out of 35 people over half got pickpocketed - but if you know there is - yes IS a problem then the problem is not much of a problem - be aware and do not tempt a thief.

I've made 108 trips to Paris, always carry the same purse I use in the US, and have never been pickpocketed or been the victim of any crime. No one I've ever traveled to Paris with has had a problem, either, and that's a lot of people. I don't do anything differently with my belongings when I travel - to me, that would mean not being comfortable with my usual habits and presenting an opportunity to do something abnormal and stupid for me. There is no need for paranoia; it's a lot safer than most big U.S. cities.

I have made more trips to Paris than StCirq and have never been pickpocketed or victim of crime - veteran travelers rarely are - but to say there is no problem IMO is misinformation - there are many streets scams that have been talked about ad nauseum on Fodor's - folks selling fake watches, jewelry - diversions, etc.

To say there is no problem IMO is just misinformation.

I don't do anything differently, either, but I do think Paris has more pickpocketing incidents than many NA cities, although it's not the worst of some European cities. Pickpocketing is just more common in large European cities than in American cities for some reason. I'm used to living in big cities, riding metros, etc., so don't do the kinds of things that are extraordinary, and am not as unwary as a lot of tourists are. That's just the way it is, but if you are not used to that kind of city or riding public transportation, etc., then you might wear a moneybelt or at least, don't carry everything with you that is important. Then you have to figure out a safe place to keep it (I liek hotels with personal room safes). I always leave at least one credit card in my hotel room, for example.

It really is not just stories, it does exist and especially where a lot of tourists hang out and on certain metro lines where they are (no 1 going through the Louvre, for example). I have read Parisian crime reports, this isn't a fabrication, and there is more crime at certain metro stations than others, of course. I think it is mostly pickpocketing, though, not forcible removal of purses, but some of that exists (muggings, which involves force, although I've only heard of men actually getting hurt).

I think someone out there is writing a PhD on how to start arguments in chat rooms.

I think it is more of how to conduct oneself in Paris.

Another poster talked about taking taxis everywhere, worried about Metro, pick hotel near sites. Another person saud tey never went out at night.

So if we all agree that there is crime in Paris, and that, yes, as a tourist you are a more likelier target than a local (perhaps), then it is a matter of what common sense things to do. And, common sense that would apply to Paris, London, NYC,etc..

Like the jewelry scam...common sense is that no one gives you jewelry.

I'll fess up to being bamboozled years back by a kind local who 'helped' me buy RER tickets to Versailles, at station where booth was closed, and only machine available. But out of that experience, met some friendly french people, rail ticket taker who insisted on reporting what happened, station master in Versailles who took us into his office, gave us tea, and free ticekts back to city.

I'll skip over the jet-lagged fog induced story of the Hindu guy who did some kind of read my mind trick with slips of paper,etc.. in London. Shake my head.

People say you cannot look like a local...but you can arrange to limit what you are carrying to not send the signal "look over here, lots of stuff being carried by tourist".

Last trip, I was able to travel with nothing in my hands, and no bags/packsacks/etc. I had a city map, camera, passport, wallet, and photocopied plans for day, if needed.

Watch it at the train station. I was taking the early train to Bayeux. I could not print out the boarding pass so I had to wait for the office to open. There was a guy standing behind me that proceeded to get into some sort of disagreement with this younger guy. I did not pay attention. When I got into the office, I realized that my purse had been opened without my knowledge. However, I carry only my credit cards, ID, and cash with me. All of those items were in my front pocket. Only my camera and umbrella was in my purse. Nothing they wanted... Just need to be very mindful of your surroundings.

Always keep your purse around the arm that is NOT facing the street to avoid anyone on a scooter from coming up and snatching it. This happened to several people in Rome.

I've been to Paris 25-30 times in the last 10 years. In fact, I just returned last night from our latest trip. We've never had anything stolen, but last week we were approached 3 times in the first hour we were in Paris by someone trying the "I found a gold ring you dropped" trick. I actually laughed at them and told them to try to find a new scam. That didn't make them very happy. Both men and women approached us.

A diner at a table next to us one evening said he carried his wallet in his zipped pocket of his slacks, and while on a metro escalator a woman approached him from behind. Her scarf draped near him. She reached her hand under it and unzipped his pocket and was lifting his wallet when he realized what was happening, caught her and began yelling at her.

We always wear a money belt, and will continue that practice.

Don't be fearful, but do be alert.

Somewhere out in the ethers of the Internet there is a website discussing the multitude of scams that take place in Barcelona. The site is about 15 years old (and may have moved more than once) and lists just about every trick you could think of. You can use it for two purposes: (1) to scare yourself stupid; (2) to know what to watch for. Similar scams are run in Paris, Rome, Florence, etc.

Get a purse that you can sling diagonally over your shoulder.

Don't set it down at the cafe tables.

Know where your passes, cards, etc are so you don't have to dig for them.

Don't flash tons of cash.

Ignore the people who are hawking cheap goods (you'll see this near the Eiffel Tower or Louvre) because they may be the ones trying to distract you while their partner picks you.

Don't coddle the cute little dirty-faced brats who stick a newspaper in your face or call to you "lady lady!!!"

I carry a wallet and put it in my pocket but women's pockets are not so deep and you look less intimidating than I do so be aware and you won't have problems.

Great thoughts! Thanks!

And don't hang your purse on the back of a chair in a restaurant/cafe.

I use my same purse as I do at home and carry it everywhere. Just be smart. Keep it under your arm and close to your body at all times.

The things NOT to do... carry your wallet or passport in the outside pockets of a backpack then go ride a crowded Metro. Don't set it down on the top of your suitcase in a train station (yes I have read a post like this and yes it got stolen) and wander off. Never hang it over the back of your seat in a cafe or restaurant as Judy just mentioned.

A money belt under your clothing is an OK idea, just do not plan on accessing it in public. That goes on in the morning and stays on all day under your clothing. You take out what you need for that day and keep that somewhere seperate that you can more easily get at.

What about fanny packs?

>>>on one trip out of 35 people over half got pickpocketed<<<

You must have been leading quite the group of Rubes. They must have taken colduphere's advice and were all wearing fanny packs! LOL

I can hear PalQ saying ..."How many times do I have to tell you rubes. First you put your fanny pack on. THEN we tie our wrists together."

PA and cold - You're sayin' what I'm thinkin'. ;)

I have been to Paris at least 15 times - incuding a lot of rides on the Metro - and carried a purse the whole time. Have never had a problem - or even seen one. And I certainly wouldn;t wear some strange garment under my clothes.

Caveat: I'm a native New Yorker and I have noticed that safety measures that seem obvious to me are often not followed by others. (It's like a gunfighter who naturally sits at the back of the room with his chair against the wall - that's just the way you do it. I can't tell you how many women I have seen just hang their purses on the back of a chair - or put the purse on a chair next to them. No wonder they're stolen.)

I didn't usually carry a purse when I was travelling in a big city in Europe. On my last trip to Paris, I decided to use one. When I was entering the metro one day, someone bumped into me and pinned me up against a pole. It happened very fast, and at first, I thought it was an accident. When they let go, I found that my purse, which I had been wearing across my body, was now open. My wallet wasn't in there so they didn't get anything. First time that's happened in eleven trips to Europe, so don't be too complacent if it hasn't happened to you so far.

I'll probably carry a small purse on my next trip, but I'll continue keeping my valuables elsewhere.

New Yorkers (and Chicagoans or Bostonians or anyone who rides mass transit daily) are different from the average tourist. I grew up in NYC in the 80s and know how to discourage others from seeing me as a target.

I think fanny packs look stupid. And don't say "fanny pack" around any English speakers who are not Americans or (maybe) Canadians because "fanny" is a rude euphemism, and not for your derriere.

ha ha BigRuss, certainly agree with you on the stupid looking fanny packs. As a Canadian I understand fanny to mean derriere but certainly aware of what it means to most other English speakers apart from North Americans.

DarcieM, I always just carry my normal purse but sometimes wear it across my body and practice all the other safety awareness everyone else has already mentioned. We put valuables we don't need for the day in the safe and I am very organized, keep small amounts of euros in my pocket for coffee breaks, same with museum/train tickets etc, keep them either in a pocket or a handy place in my purse. THe last thing you want to be doing is standing in a crowded place digging around in your handbag.

I think that under the clothing pouch thing would be more annoying than anything.

Paris is a wonderful city, I have never felt unsafe there. However you will see people trying to get a quick euro off you if you aren't aware. So the golden ring thing, yes, first day in town on our last trip we encountered this three times and they didn't like it much when we laughed although one man had the good grace to look embarrassed. Just don't engage, walk around them and keep going. You may also encounter young girls outside the Louvre asking if you speak English, if you engage they will pester you to buy postcards and surround you. I just hold my hand out in the "speak to the hand" gesture and keep walking. They stay away then and move on to the next target..

If you go up to Sacre Couer you may encounter young men from Senegal trying to sell you a friendship bracelet, they come up behind you and tie it on your wrist and then expect you to give them 5 to 10 euros. My husband got caught on this one once.
Just pay attention to your surroundings and you will be fine.

Have a wonderful holiday!

<wear some strange garment under my clothes>

nytraveler, People who use money belts probably aren't traveling in an upper class style like you do. If you are on a long term trip, backpacking, going solo, staying on the cheap, you can't afford to have your basics go missing. Not everyone wears them around in a city everyday, but when traveling on trains, moving from place to place, city to city. Especially when they wouldn't have the resources to easily replace what got stolen.

It's that street sense that BigRuss and nytraveler describe that levels the ground somewhat.

A professional thief is a professional thief and can take anyone under the right circumstance, but people in large cities develop a sense of who is sketchy, who is too close, which shadow is too dark, etc. that small town folks don't generally have.

I used to live near Quincy Market in Boston. Fortunately Boston is a very safe city, but the tourists stood out for certain behaviors:

1. standing on the corner unfolding and using freebie tourist maps from the hotel or Duck Tour (make notes on where you want to go or use a map in a book instead);
2. crowding near the door on the subway for fear of missing their stop (the most likely place to get pickpocketed in, Paris; you won't miss your stop);
3. careless behavior with purses, camera bags, and backpacks (I could own a hundred iPhones from riders on the T);
4. smiling and being deferential. People in big cities, even in North America are not smiley on the street. This is one of the things that people find off-putting about New Yorkers, but it is functional. If you come from a smiley part of the country, lose it out of doors. Be as nice as you want in a restaurant or museum, but don't smile at people on the subway.
5. and yes, their clothes. It is not just that they look American, it is America, after all, but that they wore very casual clothes of a certain type in an area where most people were in business dress. In a city, you can't go wrong with dark, purposeful, confident.

During the academic year, you can actually watch students on the T get transformed from the suburban kid they arrived as into urban students, dressed differently, more knowledgeable about where they are going, more confident.

I will certainly confirm that crowding around the subway door -- either to get off or to get on -- is almost certainly the #1 prime spot for pickpockets to exercise their profession in Paris.

So much great insight---some affirming my own thoughts---other stuff I hadn't thought of. Thanks so much!

You must have been leading quite the group of Rubes. They must have taken colduphere's advice and were all wearing fanny packs! LOL>
no they were college students who were just careless - like putting their day packs on the ground in front of Notre Dame and then not watching them - voila several found them gone - a seedy type of young men would descend on the gals - hitting on them and that also led to some mysterious day pack disappearances - again most of the theft was their own negligence and a veteran traveler would not have let that happen.

Some here would say there are no pickpockets or bag stealers in Paris it seems and I do think that is misinformation - most Fodorites are veteran travelers and thus not careless which does lead to being an easy target.

http://france.usembassy.gov/pickpockets.html

The U S Embassy in Paris has some good info worth reading about avoiding being pickpocketed in Paris and the areas in which to be especially on guard.

I had my wallet stolen from my purse on the Paris metro. They were having a strike so only every 4th train or so was running and we were packed in like sardines. It was impossible to safeguard yourself like that.

They didn't get too much, one ATM card a phone card, and a small amount of cash.

At the first internet cafe we found I transferred all my money out of that account to the one linked to the other ATM card still safe in our room, and emailed the bank to please cancel the card from their intra-site email.

I was irritated the rest of the day, but it was mostly because the damn strike was really ruining our days in Paris.

When I got home two days later, the bank had cancelled the card, then closed that account. They were very helpful. Nobody ever tried to use the debit card, I guess they just wanted cash. They only got about $15.

.....It was impossible to safeguard yourself like that......

No it is not. Just don't carry anything that is easily accessible. Remember, if you can get to it easily, so can someone else. It took my wife four trips to break the purse habit - and it is a habit. Now the few critical necessities she needs is carried in a small day bag that is on the floor between us when we are packed into a subway car or bus.

We have been in Paris now for over a week and come here often. We stay in the 2nd and have traveled all over the city using both metro and bus, day and night. I've been carrying around some very expensive video and photo gear. DW carries her camera and a shoulder bag she made. I keep my wallet in my front jeans pocket (sideways). I carry all kinds of crap in my recon vest (lenses, batteries, etc).

Yes, the big video camera gets some looks, but then I give a "don't try it" look back (same was true in Italy and anywhere else for that matter). Had the "gold ring" scam played out probably 20 times, I always laugh and give a blow off. No problem with pickpockets, but we are both very aware of our surroundings and gear.

So, I'll take the remote possibility of a "snatch and grab" type crime in Europe over the nightly shootings in Orlando any day. Be aware of your surroundings and your possessions. Don't flash money. Carry yourself like you can defend yourself without being aggressive (unless needed and I only needed to once in many many years)

dave

OH, I did forget to add that I spent a lot of my life doing mass transit, late night partying and keeping out of the way of Latin American dictators in large cities, so I guess I am more "aware" of my surroundings than many people.

:-)

dave

Oh please. I've been to Paris as many times as PalQ or St Cirq, studied there, and lived in Brussels, a city with its own share of pickpockets, have also lived in NYC and Philly and YES, I was pickpocketed once in Paris. I was in the Odeon metro station, it was crowded, my friend told me a really hilarious story and while laughing, I "lost the plot" for a moment and got nailed.

Be aware, keep your wits about you, use a purse that closes securely with internal zip pockets, wear it across your body if possible, but don't be paranoid. If you travel in winter, wear a coat with an inside zipped pocket and keep your wallet there.

BUT if it does happen, don't buy into the finger-wagging "blame the victim" snark. You are not obliged to hang your head in shame and wear a scarlet ST (stupid tourist) on your chest. You were the victim of a crime. Do what you can to minimize the risk but don't let the "I'm too smart and 'aware' for anything bad to EVER happen to me" crowd grind you under their scornful feet.

These people with street smarts also like talking about how street smart they are. It must be part of the confidence/don't mess with me aspect of street smartness.

I agree with FoFoBT, especially since it happened to me in Paris wearing a small, cross body purse that I held in front of me. (As I said upthread, they didn't get anything.) I commuted by subway in Boston for four years with no issues. That doesn't make me a "local" but I'm not a total rube either. I am petite, which I'm sure doesn't help, but to claim no one who is relatively "street smart" will ever get hit is silly.

Big Russ has all the basic ideas correct. I was traveling with my sister and a friend. Our first hour in Paris and our first Metro ride. It was not a busy time of day but we stepped onto the platform just as the train arrived so we stepped quickly to get on the train. A group of young men were horseplaying and literally pushed us into the train. A second later my sister's passport was on the floor and another passenger noticed it. They must have saw us buying our passes and knew we were new in town. They reached into her purse that had a clasp on the outside, took her wallet and dropped her passport. My guess is they would never want to get caught with a passport. They got off at the next stop. Her credit cards were never used. My guess is that they took the cash and dumped the wallet.

I always use a purse that can be worn across the body and under my coat, with a zipper to close. I also bring 2 credit cards with me. One stays at the hotel and one in my purse. If traveling with a companion give them one of your cards and take one of theirs. This way you will always have a backup and only lose an hour or so of time needed to close the stolen credit cards. We charged the balance of our trip expenses and thank goodness I had some extra cash in my bank account to access through the ATM.

On thing that I did notice in France that I have not noticed anywhere else is that people always crowd together. You are on vacation so relax and stand away from the crowd.

Oh please. I've been to Paris as many times as PalQ or St Cirq>

but I did not say there is no pickpocketing problem - au contraire I said it was a BIG problem and to be on guard and as the personal reports above testify there is a BIG problem - especially if you are naive to the problem and that is why I deplore anyone who says they have been to Paris a zillion times and have never been pickpocketed with the implication there is no problem - to me this is the worst type of misinformation - there is a big problem but knowing the problem exists often negates one's chances of being victimized.

And it is hard to believe that anyone who has been to Paris over 100 times does not know there is a problem there - the American Embassy thinks there is enough of a problem to issue special warmings - though I have never been pickpocketed I have seen others pickpocketed - one day right in front of me entering the metro gates - a nice-looking middleage man went right into the rear pocket of a man in front of him - he found nothing but he deftly checked out the pocket. And I have relaible reports of many pickpocketings, including dozens on group trips I have conducted there.