Parisian Pickpockets
Jul 27th, 2013, 05:11 AM
#162
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thurs: "Still, I wear a money belt in Paris, and I wear a money belt in New York."
Funny, I live in NYC and have all my life. I use my pocketbook. I can't imagine a NYer wearing a money belt every time he/she went out! Crazy.
I also don't use them anymore when I go to foreign countries. I hold my pocketbook (shoulder bag type) against my body and guess I'm just aware of my surroundings, as I am in NY. That said, there is NO absolute way to not get pickpocketed, just ways to reduce the possibility.
Additionally - We usually go to Europe when it's a little bit chilly so we wear jackets. That helps with keeping things hidden (at least in my husband's case). We carry one phone only. Why in the world do children need a phone when they go to Europe? Children are notorious for having attention deficit and for forgetting things. Remember - They don't think anything will happen to their "stuff".
Funny, I live in NYC and have all my life. I use my pocketbook. I can't imagine a NYer wearing a money belt every time he/she went out! Crazy.
I also don't use them anymore when I go to foreign countries. I hold my pocketbook (shoulder bag type) against my body and guess I'm just aware of my surroundings, as I am in NY. That said, there is NO absolute way to not get pickpocketed, just ways to reduce the possibility.
Additionally - We usually go to Europe when it's a little bit chilly so we wear jackets. That helps with keeping things hidden (at least in my husband's case). We carry one phone only. Why in the world do children need a phone when they go to Europe? Children are notorious for having attention deficit and for forgetting things. Remember - They don't think anything will happen to their "stuff".
Jul 27th, 2013, 05:28 AM
#163
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BTW - When I say I've lived in NYC all my life (born and raised) I am talking about Brooklyn and Queens. And, unlike NYfood snob, I have seen people use Food Stamps at supermarkets; and consider Whole Foods shopping for people with money.
Just shows you - different New Yorkers living in different neighborhoods from each other having different experiences. Yet, I again say, I never wear a money belt in NY. Would be silly whether I'm in Queens or Manhattan.
Just shows you - different New Yorkers living in different neighborhoods from each other having different experiences. Yet, I again say, I never wear a money belt in NY. Would be silly whether I'm in Queens or Manhattan.
Jul 27th, 2013, 05:31 AM
#164
kenav - if I LIVED in NYC I wouldn't wear a money belt either. When I lived in London I didn't wear one. BUT there is a big difference between living somewhere and visiting somewhere. When I travel I'm carrying my passport, extra credit and ATM cards and probably more money than usual. I don't carry my passport at home, and if I lose any cards it won't be a big deal to replace them. Losing that stuff when traveling would be a major PIA.
I don't get why wearing a money belt is such a big deal. I travel for months at a time, and I wear a money belt for months at a time, and it is just part of getting dressed in the morning. When I get home I feel undressed without it.
I don't get why wearing a money belt is such a big deal. I travel for months at a time, and I wear a money belt for months at a time, and it is just part of getting dressed in the morning. When I get home I feel undressed without it.
Jul 27th, 2013, 07:53 AM
#165
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After reading this thread I was really worried about pickpockets during my recent Paris trip. I shared what I read here with the family members that I traveled with; all carried cross-body purses with zippered compartments and we kept our bags close to our bodies while traveling on the metro or while walking in touristy areas.
We had no problems at all. We were approached by women with petitions only once, on the Ile de la Cité; however, they were not aggressive, and we simply shook our heads "no", stared straight ahead, and kept on walking and they left us alone. We did see a group of police officers at a one metro station which I suspect was a response to a pickpocketing, but that was it.
I felt safe at all times in Paris; I looked around when using the ATM and also promptly put my wallet or phone back into the zippered compartment of my purse after using them and those were the extent of my anti-theft measures. I also never carried my passport with me unless it was necessary for me to have it, I took either my ATM card or credit card with me (never both) and only carried what money I needed for the day.
Interestingly, I did see a couple of Parisian women on the metro carrying purses with the zipper wide open; whether they had been pickpocketed or whether they just did not care, I don't know. I will say that just about every Parisian woman I saw carried a cross-body bag, but that may be because this type of bag is fashionable rather than because they are more secure.
We had no problems at all. We were approached by women with petitions only once, on the Ile de la Cité; however, they were not aggressive, and we simply shook our heads "no", stared straight ahead, and kept on walking and they left us alone. We did see a group of police officers at a one metro station which I suspect was a response to a pickpocketing, but that was it.
I felt safe at all times in Paris; I looked around when using the ATM and also promptly put my wallet or phone back into the zippered compartment of my purse after using them and those were the extent of my anti-theft measures. I also never carried my passport with me unless it was necessary for me to have it, I took either my ATM card or credit card with me (never both) and only carried what money I needed for the day.
Interestingly, I did see a couple of Parisian women on the metro carrying purses with the zipper wide open; whether they had been pickpocketed or whether they just did not care, I don't know. I will say that just about every Parisian woman I saw carried a cross-body bag, but that may be because this type of bag is fashionable rather than because they are more secure.
