How to Avoid Pickpockets in Paris
 

Lot of tourists in Paris have unfortunate encounters with pickpockets. I have visited Paris last year and I was also the victim of these pickpockets. Again, I am planning to visit Paris this year, might be in a couple of months and this time I want to take some precautions to handle this. Can anyone provide me some suggestions to tackle this problem?

Welcome to Fodors. This has been discussed a lot on the Europe board. However, my advice is the same regardless of where you travel: wear a money belt!

I use this one: http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/L...p/grlkwmbb.htm

Keep one day's supply of cash somewhere else so you don't have to access it in public. It goes on under your clothes when you get dressed in the morning, and then you forget about it until you get undressed.

It's much easier to avoid pickpockets in the winter and early spring than in the busy summer season, when you're not wearing a coat. I simply put my wallet and phone in an inside pocket in my coat, and it's safe. I carry nothing in my back pocket.

Women can carry a very small cross-body purse under their jacket that holds only the stuff they need for the day.

Women should make sure to have a bag that closes tight, and make it small not gigantic; it's also nice to have one with an cut-resistent strap. In the summer I tend to carry a bit of cash and a credit card in my front pocket in a small card case rather than a wallet. But being aware of your surroundings and avoiding situations where you are likely to be pickpocketed is as important. In the Metro, don't stand by the doors, and sit whenever it's practical.

I have a little Pacsafe backpack; they also make women's purses and smaller bags.

really nice tips..
thank you

I stay alert, keep my wallet in a secured front pocket, and steer clear of gypsies.

Make yourself an unappealing target by hanging around people with easier to steal stuff than you have.

What was the circumstance that you got pickpocketed last time? Were you carrying a purse or backpack, or they actually picked your "pockets"?

Avoid it by carrying a small pouch type purse that you can wear with a strap across your body and the purse sits tight against your torso.

I like those little flat passport size bags on a string. I wear it inside my blouse or shir and carry only credit card, drivers license, and money, so it is still light and not uncomfortable. That is it - my only real precaution.

I hate all those purses and bags that look as if you must be carrying important stuff, so I carry a light weight bag like a le Sac or something attractive, and big enough for guide book, hand cleaner, water bottle, camera, etc., etc.

Posted too soon. My measure to feel secure is I don't carry around in my bag, anything I couldn't afford to lose, or anything that if It were stolen or lost, my trip would be ruined. Since I am bad about dropping and spilling things, my purses are always zippered, no open pockets.

Zippers will not stop a talented thief.

Thursdaysd, you are right. Though I think they are a tiny bit harder to get into than the open pockets on some purses, the zippers are mostly to keep me from spilling things out. If I wanted to, I could secure them with ties or something but never do - too much of a pin. I am more likely to lose something than to have it stolen. I know we have been lucky, but the only time we have been pickpocketed was right here at home, once DH outside his office and once me at BWI, after our return from Europe. In both cases, it was annoying, but not earth shattering.

Many 'horror stories' I read about this aren't actually pickpocketing. They are a purse stolen because the person had it hanging over the back of a chair in a restaurant or café, or set it on the bench in a train station and turned their back. Basically 'crimes of opportunity' where the purse wasn't even on their person at the time.

If you are staying at a place with an in-room safe, you can leave valuables there instead of carrying them around all day.

If you use a moneybelt, do NOT access it in public. Keep some money (no more than you can afford to lose) in a pocket for your small purchases. If you really need to get more money out of your moneybelt you should go into a locked toilet stall.

It's also a good idea to split your money and cards up so you don't lose everything if something happens. This is easier if there are more than one of you travelling together.

#1--Be aware of your surroundings, as they operate in high traffic places like train stations and subways.
#2--Look for pickpockets to hit in tight places, like at the foot of an escalator. One might trip and fall in front of you while the partner swoops in from behind and completes the act. My wife walks closely behind me when in high risk places.
#3--Carry no purses and no billfolds. My charge cards and ID's are kept in a money belt under my clothes. I carry just a little spending $ deep in a pocket.
#4--Many travelers try to be too nice or courteous to other people when in tight places. If I'm pushed around or run into "by accident", I'm simply a very disagreeable person.
#5--You have to be proactive and defensive when traveling in places where pickpockets are active. Or, stay away from those places.

As an experienced traveler for many places around the world. I would suggest every traveler to carry comfortable luggage, so, that you feel secured and you can focus on tourist sites. Use Credit cards for any kind of transactions and maintain some currency for a day plan everything before you leave the hotel or vacation apartments, in which you are staying. I have shared my personal opinion on your question. I generally prefer more reading because every destination has its own issue. I frequently go through this sites for information about safety, restaurants, tourist places etc.,


http://www.tripadvisor.in/Travel-g18...ckpockets.html

http://www.eveparis.com/blog/tips-fo...h-pickpockets/

http://france.usembassy.gov/pickpockets.html

Some of the thieves function as snatch-and-grab artists, rather than slipping velvet hands into back pockets. They depend on distraction, whether the famous splotch of mustard on a shirt or the currently popular insistent petition to sign. Often they work in pairs, one distracting, the other making off with the goods. Concealing valuables is important but you also need to be, well, rude. Reject unexpected in-your-face conversation, and walk away without eye contact when someone nearby suddenly discovers a gem or old coin on the ground.

I recommend being extremely careful when on the trains. When i was in Paris, I was on the train and it was cramped with tons of people, and someone started pulling at the bag I was holding. Luckily I was aware and started pulling back, I didn't see who it was but nothing was stolen. Just be very careful of your surroundings!

I use a money belt and just have a small amount of money in my purse which is a cross body one that I can keep one hand on the strap in any public situation. It also sits on my lap while I eat rather than on the floor or the back of a chair.

I do as KT does, holding the strap of a cross body bag that is large enough to hold my iPad but can be held snug against my body with my elbow. I use a credit card where possible and ATM's for cash so I don't need to carry a lot with me. I also stash a little bit of emergency money in my belongings left at the accommodation. No doubt a competent thief could find it, but I figure the chances of my person being robbed or losing my purse are greater, and it would be useful to have it on hand while we negotiate replacement of credit cards, passport etc. Plus it's always nice to have little bit extra at the end of a trip when I've already blown my budget!

I use a travel purse from Magellan's or PacSafe (I have one of each brand) that are both slash-proof, the purse fabric and the strap. The Pac-safe also has a lock on the zipper.
I also try not to carry lots of cash on me, and just use credit cards.

When on the metro,(and everywhere else, actually) wear your purse across your shoulder, in front of you, and with your hand on it at all times. Watch people around you and watch their hands, in relation to you and your belongings. Do not open your purse or bag while walking down the street, or on the metro, or while walking through crowded places.

In Paris, last week, we encountered young women coming up to us with clipboards asking us if we spoke English. I'd heard about this being a ruse to try and get into my bag, so when they approached, I cut them off mid-sentence and said, in a firm voice, No. And keep walking. If they keep talking to you, just keep walking and say No, until they get it. Or just keep walking away.
A "Don't mess with me or else" look goes a long way. Sad that one has to appear "mean" but it works.

I tell my teen daughter, even about living here, in the suburbs of Chicago - Always assume someone else wants your stuff. Lock it up, put it away.. Make it hard for them to get to your stuff. Thieves always go for the easiest targets. Don't be an easy target. Don't act overly distracted, and don't be, or seem, naive.

Carry the purse across the front of your body, not shoulder, is what I meant to say.

Nyet may work better than no, lol.

So funny thursdaysd ... I was going to say the same thing.

<i>...I cut them off mid-sentence and said, in a firm voice, No.</i>

If that fails to achieve results, try it again but reinforce the "NO" with a rolled up newspaper to the nose.

I use a cross body purse that is slash proof and all of the pockets close with zippers that can be clipped. Of course, this can be a pain when you are trying to get at something in your purse and can't get the clip undone.

Unfortunately, the things dljonesaz are describing are simply NOT always going to be possible and will NOT provide the security of an under-one's-clothing passport pouch. Why would anyone not take advantage of an easy, safe, and inexpensive way to keep key items secure?

In our recent trip to Paris & Venice, we came across 2 close pick-pocket cases.

The first one was at the escalator in Saint Michel metro station. One young guy was trying to lift my wallet from my hip pocket while another younger girl tried to block my wife's vision. His 2 fingers were already lifting the wallet and I hardly realized anything. My wife noticed it at last moment and shooed them away :)

After this incident, I started keeping my wallet in a zipped side pocket of my jeans.

The other incident was in a Venice vaporetto stop. 2 girls, hardly 13-14 years old took the purse of a chinese tourist and were about to leave. The chinese tourist noticed and simply snatched it back. No words exchanged, the girls ran away scared.

In Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, a gypsy asked my husband if he spoke English and he said no I don't and walked away. LOL

I use a pac safe purse. I always take a taxi to the hotel and then put everything in the safe. I take only a small amount of money and one card that I keep under my clothes. My purse has nothing of importance in it while sightseeing. If I am taking trains, sometimes I don't even carry a purse.

On the Italian trains, we all had backpacks and we had little locks with keys to prevent someone from unzipping and taking things out.

I have a Travelon purse, not too large, but with a slash-proof cross body strap. The zipper clips to a latch. But last summer I bought a 12-pocket Magellan black windbreaker which carries everything imaginable instead of carrying a purse. My husband wears his Scottevest. Both of these have mainly inside pockets. If too warm to wear these, we have pants w zippered front pockets (North Face, Ex Officio and the like). No problems in Paris, Rome, Barcelona or other sites frequently mentioned herein. We also have elastic moneybelts to wear underneath our shirts if necessary. Yes, we have it all. If you don't want to invest a lot, many of these can be found at TJMaxx, Marshalls. Or, borrow from a well-travelled friend.

I love the locks on backpacks or luggage.
I remember seeing a guy in the metro (Paris I think) with his briefcase sliced open. the leather had been cut on three sides - not difficult then to steal what was in it.

So I wear my chainmail, and beware of can openeers.

I have heard pick pocketing has become quite a problem - some being so good at it there is no "accidental" contact at all. Since there is some limited protection in getting fraudulent credit card purchases reversed would you say it is a better idea to carry credit cards vs. cash? I have limited experience travelling abroad, but have not run into a situation that I couldn't use a card instead of cash.

No, I would carry cash (not huge amounts). There are lots of places in the world you can't use a credit card especially for smaller purchases, public transportation, etc.

I'm not sure where you "heard pick pocketing has become quite a problem"?

Are you going to Paris specifically?

>>would you say it is a better idea to carry credit cards vs. cash?<<

A LOT depends on where you are talking about. If in most of the industrialized/first world there is no need to carry wads of cash.

But in some other places cash is king.

In Paris, I would have one credit card and 100 euros at the most if I were out for the day.
The credit card would be under my clothes somewhere. No more than 20 euros in the front pocket to pay for small things. I would distribute money in different places/pockets. I am a big fan of the slashproof pocket books, bra stash for credit card, bags with locks, etc..
Leave everything that is important to you in the hotel room safe.

Take more than one credit card with you to europe. We usually take two or three different ones between two of us, and that's it. Leave the rest at home. The card you take out for the day, make sure you have the numbers and phone number to call if it gets lost or stolen.
I opened a new bank account at a different bank that has atm capabilities worldwide, so a large bank. I put 2500 in it and that is the atm card we take to europe or travel outside the US. If it gets stolen, it has no link to our accounts that we have money being deposited in or bills being paid from.
I have friends that bought a AAA prepaid money card and used that as their ATM card while on a river cruise through europe.

I always land with money for the country, Paris=Euros. I get them from the local bank or AAA. AAA can sell you a pack of 100 euros in all denominations which is great to land with some local money.
Alert your credit cards and the bank that you are going to such and such countries or they will deny your charges while in Paris. You can do this online.

Take credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees. Many cards today are offering no ft fees. Amex is not wildly used, mastercard and visa are preferred.

Hope this helps.

Common sense & awareness of your surroundings. seems like most of the advice falls into this category.