Just came back from a great trip from Paris. Had my purse stolen in a Paris Metro. In a very well orchesterated scam! The local police advised me to share this incident with fellow travelers so that they are careful. It seems they have had a sudden increase in pickpocketing cases recently.<BR>Here's how it happened. We took a metro from Alma Marceau to Franklin Roosevelt Station. We were the only passengers who got off there. Noticed 3-4 guys (26-27 yrs old) hanging around. As soon as we got on to the escalator, all of them ran and got on too. One climbed up and positioned himself in front of my husband, the second stood b/w me and my husband and third was behind me. As soon as the first guy reached the top, he dropped his bracelet and pretended to retrieve it. He blocked the path so all of us fell on him. After we regained our balance, my instincts told me that something was wrong and I immediately asked my husband to check his wallet! It was gone.(My husband was actually helping the guy to retrieve his bracelet. We would never we have guessed it if it were not for a sudden doubt I had) So we ran after those guys and demanded the wallet back. They started getting aggressive and since there was not a soul in the area, we thought we were in for big trouble. Then, one of them took all the money out of the wallet, threw the wallet at us and vanished. We were relieved to get the wallet back since it had my husband's credit card with huge limits. And then I decided to check my bag and realised that my wallet (which was inside my handbag) was gone too! It was too late to catch those guys. I had a lot of money in my wallet, all my credit cards, ATM cards, my ID, license.... all gone. We ruched to the nearest police station where they helped us cancel my credit cards. The police officer advised that tourists are better off taking buses than metros. Also there is a gang of 12-15 year olds operating in metros around Champ Elysees. We met a couple of other tourists at the station who were robbed by these kids. For the rest of the trip, I was too scared to get into a metro stn. So we walked and bused it. And believe me buses are a much better way to get around. It doesn't take too much time and gives U a great look at the city. Also, always carry a photocopy of your passport with you. The police will not help U unless they see the passport.

Sorry to hear about your loss. However, please tell us where your husband was carrying the wallet. In his pants pocket? Back one? If so, not good idea. In fact, not good idea to have it in any pants pocket. Money pouch or belt, worn under clothes, would have prevented this. You should not be carrying your wallet in your purse either as that is too easy for them to get into. Why did you have a purse anyway? One person should carry the money and cards in a safe pouch or belt and then you have no worries.

Gee Will.... kind of rubbing salt in the wounds to lecture her AFTER the fact! It is such a drag to lose your wallet. As you noticed with your husband - keep the cash! Just give me back the credit cards and other stuff. You lose things that are going to be absolutely NO use to the thief but are irreplacable or a major pain in the neck to you!<BR><BR>This is a great lesson for all of us. We should only carry what we absolutely need. And keep copies of everything somewhere else. It makes it much easier to replace and cancel.

Hi<BR>I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience. I'm a little less inclined to "blame the victim" here, there is no such thing as 100% guarantee against being a victim of crime, although it is true that some practices (like carrying a wallet in a trouser pocket, IF that was the case here) are less wise than others.<BR><BR>I'm lucky enough to never have been a victim of any crime while traveling. I don't use "security wallets", just a deep totebag with plenty of inside zippered pockets, held close to me. I take metros, including in Paris, every time, so I'm sorry you had the bad experience.<BR><BR>Yes,having a photocopy of the passport, plus only a few credit,debit cards distributed between the two of you, is very good advice.

The"dropping things at your feet" with two guys working together was tried on us last year in the Paris Metro. I had read about something similar on this Bulletin Board, so we managed to fend off the perpetrators with little problem--my husband gave a hard jab to the gut of one as I beat on the shoulders of the other guy who was "picking up his credit cards--ha" while trying to feelmy husband's leg for a leg wallet--because we'd been aware of the scam. NEVER ever carry $$ of any amount in your pocket or purse. I know that you can be pick-pocketed anywhere in the world--even your own home town, but where you are 5000 miles away from home and you lose everything, it is a MAJOR incident. I just heard from a friend who was in Paris last week--four boys bumped in to them when going into the Madeline--somehow they got her camera. She feels foolish, but at least she was not injured.

Madhu, I am so sorry to hear what happened to you and your husband during your vacation to Paris. My family and I travel to France and Italy every year, and we have been pick pocketed several times by young thugs and gypsies. Even while wearing neck and waist pouches inside our clothing. They are professional criminals taught at an early age. And the police really do not do anything about it. To them it is a way of life that is just accepted.

I have been fortunate in that I haven't been the victim of having my cards or money stolen. BUT, I always wear a money belt.<BR>While traveling with a friend last year in Nice, she had her credit cards stolen on the Nice train.<BR>I was upset for her and I was also upset as I had give her a money belt for the trip. She carried money in it, but her credit cards were in her wallet in her purse. <BR>But Madhu, why oh why would you chase thieves for your wallet. I know this would be a knee jerk reaction. But with several of them and only two of you please think the next time.<BR>

Sure, it’s too bad some folks aren't “travel savvy” and it’s unfortunate that a certain faction of society will always feed upon that, but I think there is also a larger issue here. I’m curious to know how the Paris police (and make no mistake, Paris and Rome are probably the worst for this pick-pocketing thing,) I would like to know how/why the police can rationalize the frequency of these incidents? Bottom line is that I think that they simply don’t care. (I will settle for that rather than a more nefarious explanation.) Seems to me it would be relatively simple to install a few (more) security cameras or post a few extra officers in the more notorious areas. If nothing else surely they could build a database of the “usual suspects.”) This should be a particular consideration in that tourism in most of these places is the top source of revenue (or at least in the top 5). I don’t recall ever seeing police in the Metro, though I’m sure others of you have. I’ve also noticed that in London they’ve installed call boxes with an emergency button that (hopefully) connects you with the Underground’s version of 9-1-1. Though I’m sure London has the some of same problems, at least it is not uncommon to see police in the Tube stations and I’ve seen them approach certain characters and advise them to move along. Last month I also noticed a greatly enhanced police presence in other public places like Leicester Square. Upon inquiry, locals said it was because there had been more complaints about pickpockets and other “petty” crimes.<BR><BR>I’ve been approached several times by ne’er-do-wells in the Metro but not in the Underground. Then again, perhaps I wouldn’t know if I’d been “frisked” and the perp found nothing, as I don’t carry my money anywhere accessible.<BR><BR>I can’t speak for Rome, but in Paris the bottom line appeared to me that nobody really gave a damn.<BR>

Sorry for the incident (I have read about this scam on several boards but it is hard to break American habits of being "helpful") and I know the feeling. Long story short--do not carry a purse that contains valuables, carry only one credit card, and carry everything in a money belt UNDER your clothing. Do all the preparations before you leave your hotel or in my case before leaving home. My wallet was taken between CDG and Avignon--4 credit cards to be cancelled. Another learning--you CAN have a credit card replaced overnight in Europe if you demand it.

I was almost pickpocketed on our last trip to Paris. I was boarding the metro at the Pigalle station when the guy in front of me pretended to stumble and went down to a knee, attempting to knock me off balance. However, I'm 6'1" 230 lbs. It takes more than that to knock me off balance, especially when I'm rushing to get onto the train before the doors closed. So, the would-be pickpocket basically got my knee in his ribs and ended up flat on his back, scrambling out the doors just as they closed. I knew immediately what almost happened, and was proud of myself for the solid, albeit unintentional, knee to the ribs. What really surprised me though was that I was a target. I'm a big, strong guy; I was wearing a money belt, tucked down the inside of my pants leg; no wallet, no camera, no maps; and, of course, I was wearing all black. Everything a good little tourist should do, yet I was still a target. <BR><BR>One good thing came out of this, Madhu: I doubt you'll be a victim next trip. Keep your eyes open and your valuables tucked away and any pickpocket attempt will just be a colorful antecdote.

Yeah, U are right. Next time we will be much careful. I was carrying too many credit cards while one was sufficient. My husband had been carrying his wallet in his front pocket on previous days. Just before we boarded the metro, he put the wallet in his back pocket (out of habit. Bad luck. I quizzed the police officer at the station about how many reports he gets every day. He says only 20% of people actually report the incident to the police. And their station gets average 10-12 such complaints every hour! I was quite shocked to hear the nos. Infact he told us that we got away easy since we got one of the wallets back and were unharmed! I learnt my lesson. Hope this has alerted others.

We got back from Paris May 19th & my mother was very nearly a victim of a pickpocketing, also on the Paris Metro. We were at a very crowded station (at either Opera or Odeon, I honestly don't remember), and I didn't notice anything amiss--there was a large group of what I took to be high school students. As we were getting on, they forced their way in, and suddenly an Italian woman started screaming at them, pushing them off the train. She then pointed at my mother's small black purse hung across her body, which now was unzipped. Luckily, nothing had been taken, but my mom said she just looked down & saw it was unzipped, and had no idea when or how that happened, though she was doing her best to hold tightly to it. The would-be thief was a nondescript looking 14-16 year old girl (who spat through the closing doors in anger at having been denied by the Italians!). She was someone to whom I would not normally have paid attention--and that for me was the lesson. My mom learned to be a little more careful with things she would mind having stolen--and we were both very thankful. We think this was probably karmic repayment for my dad stopping a pickpocket on a bus in Rome last year! Hope everyone else has better luck--Paris otherwise was wonderful.

I'm so sorry to hear of your misfortune in my favorite city. It appears from all the postings lately here that it is getting much worse. My husband and I have been fortunate to not have every been victims in our 6 times visiting Paris. However, on our last trip in November 2001, our traveling companions were almost victimized. Upon our arrival in Paris (the room was not ready yet), we went to Diptyque. The four of us got on the subway at the Louvre stop. Next thing we know 3 small kids (about ages 5,6,7 or so) push their way on the train. Mom is standing on the platform yelling to them in French to get off the train they are on the wrong one. I understand French. My husband and I immediately knew what was going on, and sure enough our friend yells out 'Somebody got me". My husband looks around and the smallest kid has guilt written all over his face. He picks him up by the shirtcollar and starts yelling at him to give the money back and get the police. The kid was terrified and gave him the money back. I thought my husband was going to kill him, but literally threw him off the train onto the platform. The day was saved, but we immediately got our friends back to the hotel and gave them a stern lecture on the perils of not being careful with wallets etc in the Metro. Noone ever thinks it will happen to them, you have to be on your guard constantly.

Madhu, thank you for having the courage and courtesy to tell us about this. It's not easy to talk about something for which someone is sure to say "but you should have done this..." <BR><BR>Flagg is right, you were stung once, noone will sting you again - at least, not like this. But, but, I have to agree with the earlier poster. I know, the instinct is to run after the offenders, but remember, you and your husband are worth way, way more than whatever money you had and a few credit cards!!!! But, you probably have had time to think about this, too. <BR><BR>Thank you again.

We just returned from Paris May 25th. This was our third trip and we have not been pick pocketed but we are always on gard. My husband said a man tried to get something from his back pant pocket in the metro but he was out of luck. Just a little "pat" is all it takes. I always wear a money belt under my cloths. My husband is constantly saying "that things makes you look funny"! I would rather look funny than lose valuables! Maybe if I lost a few pounds my "pouch" would lay flater. We did see many police officers in the metro this time. I did not notice it before but this year they were everywhere with automatic weapons and some dogs. In a way it was good to see them there.

Returned from Paris May 19. I rode the Metro a lot. I saw police once when five of them and a dog came onto my subway car. I would have felt better with a policeman on every car all the time, but obviously they don't have the manpower for that.

Very interesting thread: I felt I must respond to the poster that felt that the police in Paris/Rome did not care about this sort of theft.<BR><BR>I can't comment on Paris but I do know a little about the improved situation in Rome.<BR><BR> My husband is a consultant in the area of international policing. He worked with the police in Rome to assist them with the ever-increasing number of petty thefts and pick-pocketing that city was experiencing in the late 90's. Although the problem has not gone away, it is vastly improved verus 5 years ago, through the efforts of Italian officialdom (and maybe, as a proud but modest spouse, the efforts of folks like my husband).<BR><BR>Sound like he should send his CV to Paris!

Well, how about this: my friends and I were on a crowded elevator in the parking lot in Monaco. My friend was being crushed to the rear of the elevator by a teenage boy leaning backwards towards her, his friend, a teenage girl, was smiling and pulling on him as if to release my friend, but at the same time had her hand on the belt of my friend feeling for her moneybelt. I saw this happening and slapped the girl's hand away, they both started yelling at me in some language, and a mini-riot broke out in the elevator! What a situation! My friend grabbed at her belt and it was half removed by the girl! So just be aware at all times!

I was almost the victim of a pickpocket this year myself. There were four of us on the subway and I ended up crammed between 2 men, both of which had their backs to me;however, each was carrying a folded piece of paper in their hands that were nearest me. First the one in back ran his fingers (kind of like playing a piano) over my lower back -- I assume he was looking for my moneybelt. Next the guy in front made a try. Since I knew what was going on and a seat came free, I just sat down out of reach. Marilyn

Well, how about this: my friends and I were on a crowded elevator in the parking lot in Monaco. My friend was being crushed to the rear of the elevator by a teenage boy leaning backwards towards her, his friend, a teenage girl, was smiling and pulling on him as if to release my friend, but at the same time had her hand on the belt of my friend feeling for her moneybelt. I saw this happening and slapped the girl's hand away, they both started yelling at me in some language, and a mini-riot broke out in the elevator! What a situation! My friend grabbed at her belt and it was half removed by the girl! So just be aware at all times! This whole incident makes me sick just rethinking it, to be a victim in a closed elevator.