@twagger it'll be my first time to travel alone. I'm excited and a bit nervous! Hahahaha! You should try it too!

Ahh I see, out of curiousity, are there any European countries at all which do not have high rates of pickpocketing?? LIke e.g. Switzerland, Sweden?>

Yes of course and countries that do not see gaggles of wealthy foreign tourists coming may see less pickpocketing rates against tourists - but rates for a nation as a whole do little to indicate IMO the chances of any tourist actually being pickpocketed - compare rates for places where huge numbers of foreign tourists - often easy prey and with something to take - gather - thus Paris the number one city in Europe for foreign tourists may be right up there in rates against tourists but may be fairly low overall for rates as a whole.

And again there is not a pickpocket on every corner - don't be too paranoid about this all but act as a naive tourist and your chances go up. I used to take groups to Paris and a high-number of them were either pickpcoketed even after warnings or ripped-off in a cafe by overcharging - I was shocked by the rates and though some time ago I doubt if the situation has changed - many lost their day packs in places like Notre-Dame's plaza where many tourists gather - including thieves - who distract someone and voila their day pack sitting next to them was gone - this became so epidemic we had to make special warnings against it - keep your eyes on your bag if anything valuable in it at all times in crowded areas.

Every time I begin preparations for another trip to Europe, I end up reading way too many pick-pocketing posts and articles online (not just Fodor's - they're everywhere). Anxiety starts to rise.

Yes, It's very important to be aware of your surroundings, carry valuables in a safe place that isn't easy to access, and don't let go of any of your belongings (as in setting them down to consult a map, or hanging a bag on a restaurant chair, etc etc etc). Always keep your belongings attached in some way to your person with the opening inaccessible - a strap around your shoulder or arm, for example. Don't wear a pack with valuables in it on your back - I've pointed out too many open flaps on day-packs tourists are wearing on their backs - by then it's too late. (If you want to carry a day-pack for water or a spare jacket or a guide book, don't put anything of irreplaceable value in it, and you can safety pin the end of all the zippers shut. That makes it too hard for a thief to get in and out quickly)

I am a female traveler, likely an obvious tourist in many places I go, and have traveled throughout Europe countless times. I have never lost anything to a pickpocket, but I have seen the possibility more than a few times, and acted to either make immediate and clear eye contact or to aggressively tell them "NO!" They have always quickly moved on to find a more appealing victim. Just remember, the last thing a pickpocket wants is to draw attention to him/her self.

Violent crime in Europe is much less prevalent than here in the USA, where I live. Most thefts in Europe are quick and opportunistic, so if you don't present the opportunity, you will probably not be a target.

Just remember - as has been said before - there really are NOT thieves around every corner just awaiting your arrival. Take reasonable precautions, and you will likely be fine.

That said, relax and enjoy your trip!

I had to come back to this thread to see what people were still saying, since everything you need to know about such a subject is generally said within about 10 posts. All of the rest is anecdotes, debates and often xenophobia.

Frankly, it hasn't gotten too bad although some people have confused pickpocketing with snatching -- a totally different crime and <b>always</b> the fault of naïve people.

There is absolutely no reason to "afraid" when coming to Paris, no matter what your nationality. Inattentive people are the prime target, no matter what ethnicity, whether or not they are rich. Bags hanging open, bulging back pockets and backpacks on the metro are absolute invitations for a self-service pickpocket buffet. Don't do those things, and you will have absolutely no problems.

Don't do those things, and you will have absolutely no problems.>

and that is the salient message to take from all this - take it to heart and put angst to rest.

I had read this thread earlier and never been victim in my life. But want to restart this discussion with new experience. While in Paris, on the third day of our visit, my duaghterinlaw lost her wallet with approx 650 euros and two credit cards. This happened from moulin rouge area probably on our way to metro station. We lodged complaint at police station and had to waste 3 hours in panic. We blocked the cards and luckily there were no transactions till we blocked them. But in her first visit to Paris she will carry bad memories about this city. After spending 3 days in Paris we travelled to Venice and rome and we were super alert. But in Rome too a bad experience. A young guy came straight to my son and snatched his gold chain and tried to pull a sack tightly held on his chest. We were four, managed to hit them, there was another guy who helped the first one, and scream and get the chain back. Now I really feel Europe to be unsafe which was not the case 18 years ago when I used to live and travel in Europe without worrying too much. Wondering why it is so?

angel1 appears to be from India, not America.

Nobody deserves to be pick-pocketed, of course, but it is really unwise to be carrying so much cash on your person, or wearing a presumably valuable chain. Stuff happens, and travelers need to be prepared.

I'm sorry your trip wasn't as good as it should have been.

I, too, am sorry to hear about your bad experience, but really, 650 euro and two credit cards? 50 euros and one credit card, maybe. The rest should be in a money belt. And wearing expensive jewelry is unfortunately an invitation to theft. Leave it at home.

Good to know that street crime is a purely Western Europe problem.

We have the same problems in say New York city tourist areas.

<Now I really feel Europe to be unsafe which was not the case 18 years ago when I used to live and travel in Europe without worrying too much. Wondering why it is so?>

I have been traveling much longer in Europe and pickpocketing was always a problem but in certain places like Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and especially now Rome it may be worse- why?

Maybe more poor people, especially younger immigrants who tend to have much higher unemployment rates

But your problems this time were brought on by yourselves- especially anyone wearing a gold chain in certain cities is asking for trouble off the bat. And if an S Asian or Asian I understand in France at least they are special targets now because they figure such travelers must be rich- especially if wearing gold jewelry or expensive watches, etc.

"Now I really feel Europe to be unsafe which was not the case 18 years ago when I used to live and travel in Europe without worrying too much. Wondering why it is so?"

Were you in Rome 18 years ago?? It's been like this for decades. Paris and some other cities have become progressively worse.

But just because you hit the places where risk is higher now doesn't mean that Europe in general is unsafe.

"But your problems this time were brought on by yourselves-"

I despise this argument. Criminals are 100% responsible for crime, whether it's rape or pickpocketing or drunk driving.

"But your problems this time were brought on by yourselves-">

Well if you wear gold or expensive easy to snatch articles you invite being a target - this does not excuse the criminal who may have picked a better target if say they had a huge diamond ring and wearing gold.

I agree criminal are 100% responsible but our actions make us more likely targets- wearing a fat wallet in a back pocket in Paris metro stations and at turnstiles invites it being taken.

I despise your argument that we are not to blame ourselves too for not taking proper precautions- not to excuse the criminal who will rob someone who is an easy mark. I've never been pickpocketed in years of travel because I take precautions - they have tried but came up with an empty pocket- a day back on my back unzipped with nothing but maps,etc in it.

If folks take proper precautions their chances of being a victim go way way down.

I was in the Madrid Tourist Office at Plaza Mayor once and an older American woman was wearing some expensive piece of jewelry and the clerk told her "take that off right now or it will be stolen off you".

I don't think it is fair to equate the thing I said with what you said - of course never excuse the criminal but don't give it to him on a silver plate either.

PQ made the perfect post about pick pocketing. Don't invite theft.

I would add don't believe Europe is getting worse ...

The only times I have been robbed were at home. Last time was last month.

I don't think Europe is getting worse. If anything there's a lot more security presence on the street than there was 18 years ago.

If you don't think long and hard about how to protect yourself from opportunists and make sure you are always alert, you are going to be a target in just about any major city in the world.

At least in Europe you're unlikely to be shot.

At least in Europe you're unlikely to be shot.>

Ah yes -petty street crime a lot in certain tourist areas but your life or limb is in no danger IME. Gangs like in places like Glasgow may knife each other but never tourists (Glasgow's crime rate is amongst the highest in Europe I believe but you never hear of tourists being victimized I think.

"...wearing a fat wallet in a back pocket in Paris metro stations and at turnstiles invites it being taken..."

"Don't invite theft."

You're both assigning blame to the victim. The victim invited no one to take it, in the same way a woman with snug jeans and a fine derriere is not inviting some lech to fondle it. Saying they're "inviting" assault is disgusting.

On the other hand, saying that such people are "more likely to be victims of assault" is accurate and puts blame where it belongs.

The language we use defines our understanding of the truth. If you really think criminals are 100% responsible, your language should not be blaming the victims and turning the truth on its head.

They said she "lost" the wallet in Paris. Do we know this was a pickpocket. Or she really did lose it herself?

Do you think pickpockets have their own forum?

In a certain Central American country where my friends live, you risk getting your finger chopped off if you wear a big diamond ring.

Who would be to blame?? I value my finger more than my right to wear my big fat diamond ring.

Well Fuess since you go into semantic pay attention to the fact that some here don't speak English as their mother tongue.
Inviting theft and likely to be a victim is pretty close with my limited vocabulary.
Of course i can be more precise when I speak French.
But probably not on a forum.