davedeni

I have been hearing about assaults and cars being broken into in the city center and areas where tourists frequent.
Has anyone been to Strasbourg lately?
Any issues?

kerouac

I go to Strasbourg often.

First tell us where you have been hearing these stories.

mes2525

I was in Strasbourg last October and all was well. Maybe its the rumor mill.

davedeni

Posts were on trip advisor

kerouac

Oh, well that explains everything.

StuDudley

I have spent over 3 years total wandering around France in a car, and we have never had anything stolen out of the car. As a precaution, when parking I always put any bags in the trunk & out of sight (everyone does this - it's no special "trick"). Then I back the car up against a wall, lamppost, tree trunk, or other solid object so that the trunk can't physically be opened. I just want to make my car more difficult to break into than the car parked next to me.

HOWEVER, a very close friend had his car broken into in Strasbourg & everything was removed - including credit card receipts with the number imprinted on the receipt (this was about 15 years ago). I developed an itinerary for this friend and loaned him (and his wife) all my tour books. He purchased a Rick Steves book and Rick recommended parking in a specific lot in Strasbourg. I guess the thieves must have read the book too.

Stu Dudley

annhig

davedeni - i can't imagine that Strasbourg is any more crime ridden than any other large french city - most people will have a crime free trip but once in a while bad things happen.

just like at home.

nytraveler

Every city in the world has some crime. But I have not seen anything indicating there in a wave of criminal activities in Strasbourg - nor have I experienced such im my 3 visits there.

Did you see a lot of reports on tripadvisor - or a couple of hysterical people playing up minor events? (Nothing much turns up on google - except one report of non-crime in 2011 and a couple of complaints from 2005.)

StCirq

A few years ago there was some rioting in Strasbourg related to anti-Semitic activity, but that's ancient history at this point. What exactly did you read on TA, and how recent was it? If you don't have numerous similar complaints grouped over a certain period of time, you can almost be certain it's a couple of hysterical people exaggerating, or clueless tourists who didn't take the usual precautions about traveling in any city, anywhere. That kind of hearsay is useless. I wouldn't have a single hesitation about going to Strasbourg.

I'd stay away from my hometown of Washington, DC, though (and plenty of other American cities and towns). We had a couple of robberies at gunpoint down the block from us a few weeks ago, and this is a very touristy area. Good thing about Strasbourg is...it's most unlikely anyone has a gun. You might get robbed of a brioche or something, but no one's going to shoot you.

FemmeFrancophile

I arrived in Strasbourg a couple of days ago for the Christmas markets and have not had any problems with personal safety although I have taken reasonable precautions as I would do at home with my handbag and phone. We wandered around the city extensively by foot and at no stage felt threatened or fearful.

As others have said, it is important to note that like any large city anywhere there is no doubt some criminal activity. I did notice some women who I think were trying the scam with getting people to sign a petition for deaf people and whilst the person is signing a hand slips into your handbag or pocket. This is the same scam seen around the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Of course it may not have been the case - but better to be safe than sorry. Just being aware of the potential issue was enough to avoid any problems. I would happily travel to Strasbourg again.

davedeni

To be more accurate, the posts were on virtualtourist website and were talking about parking hustles, arsons and break-ins. Have those of you who drive & park in the main areas noticed any problems that would make Strasbourg stand out from Dijon or Lyon?

StCirq

NO. Nor does it stand out from anyplace else in France. They are all very safe cities, with the usual caveats for any foreign tourist who isn't used to being in strange territory. You are MUCH safer there than in most cities in the USA. Stop worrying.

The arsons, unless there's something I haven't noticed, were YEARS ago!

StuDudley

dave - I think you are overly cautious.

Everything I've read in past newspapers, magazines, internet, and from my personal experience indicates that you are far safer in Strasbourg, Dijon, Lyon, or anybigcityinfrance than you are in NYC, LA, Chicago, Dallas, or anybigcityinus.

Murder rate/100,000 in 1999
France 1.63
Germany 1.28
Italy 1.56
Switzerland 1.18
Canada 1.85
England 1.45
US 6.26

Stu Dudley

davedeni

To all who have taken the time to reply, I appreciate your opinions. I am not surprised to hear that there are no real issues but I think its always prudent to ask. Thanks again.

Pvoyageuse

"The arsons, unless there's something I haven't noticed, were YEARS ago!"

They happen every year in December especially during Sylvester night.
It has become an unfortunate local tradition :
http://www.liberation.fr/societe/010...rg-et-ailleurs

easytraveler

St Cirq: <i>You might get robbed of a brioche or something, but no one's going to shoot you.</i>

Got to watch out for those brioche robbers, they tend to strike in the mornings.

To protect yourself, try not slathering your brioche with too much butter.

If you're targeted by a brioche robber, that's it. You're likely to lose your head like Marie Antoinette, who had said scornfully of brioche robbers:

"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche." [Let them eat cake]