Spaarne, I definitely have been "in the trenches" and as a solo female or with my children.

Not everything has to be a confrontation.

MOST pickpockets operate on the stealth method of operation. They are usually NOT pulling knives. In fact to me a person who pulls a weapon is not a pickpocket but a MUGGER , and Paris has no reputation as having mugger problem. Not saying it never happens, just saying that's less of an issue then some would imagine.


As for the laws, YOUR laws, and MY laws do not apply in France, the laws of France apply and from what some expats have posted on other forums, the laws in France do not allow you to assault pickpockets. You can push them away, you can try and grab your stuff back, but if you hit, kick, punch or try martial arts on them be prepared to be arrested if caught or seen..

And do not kids yourself, there are still lots of women and children pickpockets, especially beware kids under 12 as they can't even be arrested under the age of twelve... they are simply released back to their parents( who likely scold them for getting caught and send them right back out to the street)

<i>justineparis on Jun 7, 13 at 9:14pm
Spaarne, I definitely have been "in the trenches" and as a solo female or with my children. Not everything has to be a confrontation. </i>

I have the impression that I am being accused of something I didn't do. I stated above <b>My defense against pickpockets is to take their photo, preferably a video.</b> I would never consider getting violent with a woman, much less with a woman while ten more of her tribe are standing right there. I'm not nuts.

If anybody wants any good news, the newspaper reported yesterday that pickpocketing reports at the Louvre have dropped 75% in one month since security was increased, although I would attribute the drop myself to the fact that public awareness has increased at that particular location.

Joel -- so sorry you lost your tablet. I'm thinking I may avoid Montmartre when I go in Sept. kerouac, thanks for posting the latest news.

Sorry Spaarne I have addressed the first part of your post "looks like we have two sides.... those who have been in the trenches and those who have watched it on the ten o'clock news" .. then was addressing other posters who seem to feel that they are needing to defend themselves against knife welding men at every corner..

<i>justineparis on Jun 8, 13 at 11:57am
.. then was addressing other posters who seem to feel that they are needing to defend themselves against knife welding men at every corner..</i>

OK, I haven't seen any of those knife wielding men.

Speaking of the Louvre, a good friend of mine tried to check the time in Paris and looked at his wrist. No watch! Then he remembered being bumped in the Louvre a while earlier.

The same friend was separated permanently from his passport and some other valuables on a French train. He had "hidden" them in his suitcase. One trip to the potty is all it takes to turn a dream trip into a nightmare.

"One trip to the potty is all it takes to turn a dream trip into a nightmare."
Yikes! Guess it's a good thing we're traveling as a family of 4. Only one allowed to go to the restroom at a time!

Incidentally, we leave today! Thanks again for the multitude of responses on this thread. I packed my PacSafe bag specifically for Paris and have schooled our teenagers in the tricks of the pickpocket trade. I'm sure we'll be fine, and if we meet with some misfortune, we'll survive.

Did anyone actually read the article posted? This goes beyond pickpockets....

=============

A Singaporean tourist, who did not want to be named, recalled the terror as she and her sister were robbed inside a taxi taking them from the airport to a hotel in the heart of the city on May 13.

"Two men suddenly came up, smashed the car windows and snatched our bags. We were bleeding," she said. There was further frustration when they had to spend more than three hours filing a report at a police station.

"The French police did not speak English and offered no help," she said. "They just asked us to go to the police station in the damaged taxi, even though we were hurt and bleeding."

Spaarne -- I'm definitely going to wear a money belt with passport, cc, cash inside. I would hate to loose my camera. I guess that goes with me to the everywhere.

thursdaysd:

As jamikins says, I still consider London a very safe city to live in.

I live in Blackheath, in an area where there is almost no crime. I was an anomaly, but it happens in all large cities.

I moved from a very small town in Canada to London, and very glad I did.

Its OK to come home :)

Best Ger

OK come on , are people really dumb enough to leave their passport and valuables "hidden" in a suitcase then leave the suitcase unattended. Sorry, in my world those people deserve what happens.

Your passport should be with you at all times when not in a hotel safe.. or in your MONEYBELT. Do not leave it in your suitcase, cause gee,,crimminals would never think to look in there.. duh...

Oh come on is every one really from a farm in the wilderness..

We are currently in Paris and have yet to see a roving pack of gypsy pickpockets anywhere. Haven't even seen a ring scam yet. Will keep an eye out today and report back...

<i><font color=#555555>"We are currently in Paris and have yet to see a roving pack of gypsy pickpockets anywhere."</font></i>

Some say finding a "roving pack" is like finding love, it's never visible when you're looking for it.

<i><font color=#555555>"Will keep an eye out today and report back..."</font></i>

Be sure to take notes on the number of locals who wear tennis shoes and shorts, and don't miss marking the count of all those women who are guilty of <i>banding</i>. What would this board be without its up-to-the-minute investigators?

The things that people do while on vacation.

Well, sorry to say we DID see this on a trip, as I described in a previous post. Once you see it you DO see it again.

I do lots of things on vacation...including enjoying a bottle of vin with my lovely hubby and reading for a few hours in a cafe with wifi while it rains in Paris...bliss. Hope your Sunday in NYC was as lovely as mine.

PS still haven't seen any roving pickpocket gangs...not to say they don't exist, just that they aren't everywhere...

And what is 'banding'?

Oh Jamiekins, now for asking, you're in for a treat ! :)
Wheres mkingdom2 when you need him/her ?

And more to the original topic, here's David Leibovitz with his perfectly timed report on Paris safety tips. I suspect he was inspired by this thread !
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2013/06/paris-safety-tips/

Now I am intrigued!!!

Mathieu, I just finished reading that report. Actually if you click on the link he provides there is a very interesting short film on what steps the French police have been trying to take to combat theft by organized crime from Romania.

Everyone and especially the unexperienced travelers should read this article.