About

"The evolving Francophile..."

My husband Jack has always wanted to live in Paris and learn French. I thought it would be good for him to achieve his life time dream. Hence, we moved to Paris in 2008. My first year was difficult. I started "missives" to relieve some stress and chronicle my life so friends back in the US could read what I am experiencing. I currently write about my food in Paris, which is my passion., travel experiences, and "experiences living in Paris."

It is definitely a challenge to live here, but each year it gets easier, and quite enjoyable, in large part because I value friendships over locale. I have a love/hate relationship with Paris as do most Parisians, mais La vie est belle (but life is good)!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Is theft on the rise in Paris?



There’s been a lot of news lately about muggings on the metro. Young gangs of 2 or 3 are roaming around the Paris metro or the  RER  looking for vulnerable passengers. And, there’s also theft happening around town, especially around the canals (e.g., Canal St. Martin) and parks. It appears that they are looking for purses in the hopes of finding cash, and if they’re lucky also jewelry.  Cameras are also sought after, but the biggest “cash cow” of all are smart-phones, The French calling it the "Iphone-effect".   

Since 2009, with the increase uses of smart-phones, especially the Iphones, there’s been a 40% rise in crime to date and 53% of violent crimes  on the metro are tied to smart-phones. There is a huge market for smart-phones in the African countries. Apparently, stolen smart-phones can be sold at a premium, since there is such a shortage and demand is high.

In comparison to other major cities, especially when comparing Paris to major US cities, Paris pick-pockets are not violent, in other words, they won’t pull a gun on you as they would for example in the U.S.  They may knock you down and punch you for an Iphone, but they won’t kill you for one. They may also threaten you with a knife or brandish “poings américains,” the French name for brass knuckles. In those cases, give up your valuable(s), why take a chance that they may use their knife or brass knuckles on you. Is your smart-phone or valuables more important than your life?

Paris is a relatively safe city, primarily because private guns are still difficult to obtain. Near impossible.  However, Paris is ranked as one of the 10-major cities for pickpockets.

I’m not trying to scare you, but I want to give you some tips on being safe and aware; hence, enjoy your stay. All too often the tourist will become so enthralled with the beauty of the sights and scenes that they forget about personal safety and their belongings.

Although this attached newscast is in French, you’ll get the idea:


(Press here to "The link" if you are unable to play the video)

In general, always be aware of your surroundings. Here are a few tips:

Credit cards, using ATMs and storing documents:

  • Make photocopies of your credit cards, and pertinent documents such as phone numbers etc., especially a photocopy of your passport. I also recommend you store them virtually.
  • When touring Paris, unless absolutely necessary, leave your passport at the Hotel safe, or in a safe place in your apartment. Carry a photocopy if you need to. I find a driver’s license works well for identification, and driver’s licenses are much easier to replace than a passport.
  • Only carry the credit cards you need. Leave a credit card in your hotel safe or apartment as a back-up.
  • When using ATMs always, always conceal the keypad with your free hand. Please note that if the ATM sucks your card in and does not return it, this is not normal, it's pretty certain that it's been tampered with, immediately go into the bank and notify a banker. I prefer using the ATM's located inside the bank, less risk.  However, if you must use the ATM on the street and you are with a companion, make sure your companion is on the look-out. If you are alone and  someone is asking you a question, they are more than likely going to try and rob you. Cancel your transaction and get out of there quick.
  • Although not fool-proof, for men wear your wallet in your front pocket, better if you have a money belt, or one of those conceal money bags you can wrap around your neck and under your shirt/blouse. It’s awkward when you need money, so place some money where it’s easily accessible. And, if you need more cash, go somewhere discreet e.g., to the restroom to replenish what you’ve spent.
  • Do not carry a lot of cash, carry what you need for that day. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
  • When carrying purses, make sure that your purse has a zipper that can be shut tight. I’ve even known women to use a little suitcase combination lock to connect the zippers. A great company that sells "theft-proof" bags is pacsafe.    
Notice the small combination lock on the zipper, it is also a deterrent

  • Back-packs are such an easy target for thieves. If you are going to wear it on your back, do not place anything valuable in it. It is very common for thieves to bump into you and you think it’s an innocent bump in a crowded area, when in fact they’ve already gone through your back-pack and picked all your valuables. In a crowded area, wear your back-pack in front of you as if to cradle a baby.

  • If possible, conceal cameras in unidentifiable camera cases until needed. And, if you have a large camera and must carry it, make sure it’s securely wrapped around your neck or shoulder with a slash proof strap and always be aware where it is. Small cameras should be stored in your pocket, purse or pocket, until needed. 
  • If you must use your smart-phone on the street, do it discreetly. And, if you are with a companion(s), make sure s/he is on the look-out since you will more than likely be pre-occupied.
  • Keep your hotel/apartment keys in your pocket and not in your backpack or purse; hence, if it gets stolen, and you have reference to an address with your keys, guess what… 


Around the metro or RER or public transportation:

  • The RER train from the airport to downtown is infamous for pickpockets. If you are flying in from the US, and are not familiar with the RER or just plain tired from the long flight, but you don’t want to pay a cab, there are several airport shuttles such as “Parishuttle” and you can book through "Viator", these shuttles are very affordable and will drop you off in front of your apartment or hotel.
  • Theft not only occurs easily in the metros, but also while you’re attempting to buy “carnet” (metro-tickets) at one of the machines in the metro. I've heard many tales of people being so preoccupied trying to figure out the machines that they didn’t even know someone was behind them rustling through their back-pack etc.  My recommendation is if you are alone, put everything (purse, camera, etc) in front of you, and do not flash money. Also, if you are with a companion, always have your companion stand behind you sort of facing outward, acting as a discreet look-out!
  • When waiting for a train, always be aware of your surroundings. I prefer to have my back up against the wall, or if there are seats, sit, even if the train is coming in 3-minutes. It's much more difficult to be robbed if you're against a wall or sitting. Throw your stereotypes out the door. A lot of pickpockets look very respectful. Men in suits, little old ladies, and even 8-9 year old kids. I actually saw a well-groomed man pickpocketing a large open purse. He was immediately caught leaving the train by a plain clothes policeman . Although too few, there are plain clothes cops around the metros.
  • Avoid using your smart-phones on the metro or any public transportation.  As of late, there are now signages on the metros and buses in the shape of an Iphone in French, English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish basically saying to be careful, some people may be jealous you have one and will attempt to steal it.
Taken on a bus, warning passengers not to use their smart-phones on the bus. NOTE: the warnings look like Iphones

  • Thefts occur mostly by the doors of the metro trains, primarily to facilitate an escape. Although not always practical, try to go towards the middle of the train, and of course if there’s a seat, sit.  I once had a woman on an empty train sit right next to me, some men would find this flattering, sorry doesn’t work for me, man or woman. I was extremely suspicious and just stared at her. She soon left, and went to the next train to try her luck there.
  • Line 1 is infamous as the “pickpockets line” since it is the one route on the metro that hits all the major tourist spots (e.g., Louvre, Concord etc.). I once had a male friend that put his wallet in his front pocket and he had a chain that attached his wallet to his belt as added security. As he was leaving the train, he noticed his empty wallet dangling from his belt. So, if you’re on a crowed train, always put you hand in your pocket over your wallet, and for a woman always have your purse in front of you!


Cafés and Restaurants

  • Outdoor cafes are a prime, prime targets for pickpockets, especially if you are at the front most tables. Tourist get so careless about leaving their phones or cameras on the table, or their purses at their side or behind them. It’s so easy to just snatch them and take off. Always secure your purse to your shoulder, and although not fool-proof, hold onto your phone or camera or place it in a safe place. If you are with a companion, ask them to hold/watch your belongings if you need to go to e.g., the restroom etc.
  • Indoor cafes/bistros/brasseries etc., just because you’re indoors does not mean you’re immune to theft. In a lot of areas, e.g., Latin Quarter, where tourist are abundant, many people walk in pretending to check out the restaurants when their real intention is to look for valuables carelessly laying around. This is also true at cocktail bars and wine bars, where they can get extremely busy.
  • At outdoor cafes, never, ever put your purse, camera case etc. under your seat, even if you have the strap wrapped around the back of your chair. The person behind you can easily pick your valuables clean.
A purse not zipped shut
  
 Touring:
  • Often in crowded areas, e.g., Notre Dame, gypsies will come up to you and ask you if speak English. Always, say ‘NO’! The intent is that you read a message asking for money. Sometimes, when you’re so intent on reading the sob-sob narrative in English, they have an accomplice rummaging through your purse etc.
  • Montmarte, Sacre Coeur, there are groups of men trying to convince you to have a string intricately tied (e.g., braided) around your wrist, “magic”. Although some are legit in wanting to get paid for the little “entertainment”, some use it as a distraction to steal your belongings.
  • Always, always be aware of your surroundings. All too often tourist become so fixated on getting that perfect photo that they forget that someone is even near them trying to lift your wallet etc.
  • Some female tourist wanting to keep in fashion with the French women, will wear heels. Women with heels are a great target, since you can be easily tripped, nor can you run, in other words you’re vulnerable. Always wear comfortable shoes that you can’t trip in and you can run in.
  • Gold ring scam.  Men or women pretending to find a gold ring is one of the oldest Parisian scams. The person will ask you, typically in English, if the ring belongs to you, of course you say no. Then that person will say, since e.g., I don’t want it you can have it perhaps for a couple of Euros. Always say no and be firm about it. I’ve actually seen beautifully coiffed middle-aged woman performing this scam. 
  • Another scam is to have something "accidentally" spilled on you, like water or ice cream. The perpetrator will approach you and offer to help clean you up. In doing so, another person then pickpockets you while you are distracted. 
  • Never-ever, follow a stranger who wants to show you some great find etc.
NOTE: In all of the above cases, never, ever put anything down even for a second. It can be whisked away faster than you can say "faster."


Combating the “Iphone effect”:

The French are trying to find ways to make your smart-phones inoperable once stolen. In doing so, will make stealing an Iphone less attractive.

Many of us with smart-phones carry a lot of information that we do not want thieves to get a hold of. There are apps .e.g, “find my Iphone app” for your smart-phones to not only track your stolen phone, but also to wipe it clean of all information. This article with a video tutorial explains it all. "Security for your cell phone".  


Apartments:

It goes without saying that when leaving your "vacation-rental" apartment, secure it. Regardless of how warm it is outside, close and lock all windows. It doesn't hurt to close the shades. It doesn't matter what floor you're on, the topmost floors are also vulnerable since burglars can easily swing into an open window from the rooftop, and escape through the front door. Apartments on the ground floor and higher floors with balconies that can easily be scaled are particularly vulnerable. In fact, a friend's neighbor in a 4th floor apartment was recently burglarized. Apparently the burlgar saw that the window was slightly ajar, he scaled the balconies undetected since most of the tenants were at work, and voila, jackpot. Secure your valuables in a safe, if available, or keep them well hidden.


In summary:

It’s not difficult to spot a tourist in Paris. Try to blend in. Don’t call attention to yourself. Don't be a "loud" American, most Parisians are soft-spoken. Don’t walk around holding an obvious map. Most Parisians, even Parisians born and raised in the city carry a "Paris Practique" street guide (book containing maps of streets in Paris) that can be purchased at Monoprix or a book store . Wear your purse or “murse” wrapped around your neck and worn to your side where your hand and arms are.  Although men wearing shorts was a clear sign, saying “I’m a tourist,” more and more French men wear shorts in the summer, but typically below the knee, sort of looks like “Capri” pants.



Don’t be surprised if no-one comes to your defense if you are being attacked. As a general rule, the French do not want to get involved to protect their own safety. Always, always call the police or have someone call for you. There are many surveillance cameras in the e.g., metro and the police will have a better opportunity to capture the criminal with information you provide.

And, if you still get pickpocket, here's a  "check-list" of what you need to do.  And, always check if your e.g., purse etc. has been return to the "lost and found" called  "Centre des Objets Trouvés de la Préfecture de Police de Paris" (address in the "check-list"). A friend's purse was stolen at CDG airport, and she recently retrieved her purse from the "Centre de objets", albeit minus the cash.

With that said, don't be paranoid, just be aware! Be on the offensive, not defensive.

This link says it all... "Pick-pocket scams"

13 comments :

  1. Scary stuff Randy, but so true and so useful. That will jog me into being more careful again - I'd got a bit lax, thanks :-S

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good advice in any major cities and even a few smaller, touristy ones. In 20 years in Europe I've had my wallet stolen 3 times and every time it was so slick I don't know how I could have prevented it except by being more alert.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unemployment rate is over 11% in France, with the youth at close to 20%. Unfortunately, theft is created by lack of the obvious, jobs, but also lack of re-training and education opportunities. This is true for anywhere in the world. Hence, they don't have a choice but to resort to theft. Unfortunately, I've definitely seen a rise of violent crimes, especially in Paris. I hear Marseille is worse!

    ReplyDelete
  4. In 2-weeks a friend got robbed on the street on "Madeleine" than got broken into 2-days ago and the robbers stole her jewelry. She had hard shades and an alarm, but forgot to lower the shades and turn on the alarm. And, last month a friend's visitor got mugged at "Concorde" and another got mugged at Tour Eiffel, all in one day. Don't let your guard down!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Update: There are more, and more transit cops on the various metro lines. Also, today I heard recorded announcements in the metro in all major major languages, "BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS WHEN USING YOUR MOBILE." Interesting. I think the presence of the metro cops and the announcements will #1 deter theft, #2, make people more cautious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Update: We were in Giverny yesterday. Returned to Paris via St. Lazare station. It was crowded, our 14-year old companion had a messenger bag with a flap over it and wore in front, so he could keep an eye on it. His camera was in one of the front pockets under the flap, he held his flap closed, but got bumped into, and all it took was a second for his NEW expensive camera to be stolen. Lesson learned, in crowded places, keep valuables "zipped" inside where it's difficult to steal.

    ReplyDelete
  7. VERY useful post.
    Thanks for the link on David's. I've been much too relaxed this trip I though do I wear a Japanese raincoat with 18 zipper compartments and even I can't find my stuff, keys, camera, Navigo, cash at times in this dam thing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Vacationers are starting to come. An incident yesterday happened on Line 1, which is basically the "tourist line". Yesterday while my friend and I rode the train, a bunch of kids starting banging into Japanese tourist (women), and making a commotion, since he and I know that banging unnecessarily into people is a technique used by pickpockets we held onto our belongings, sure enough, next stop the kids were looking at the bills they pickpocketed. My friend immediately took a photo of the kids, went to the station manager who called the police. He waited around for the police so he can show the photo of the kids, the station manager asked, is there anything else I can do for you? UNBELIEVABLE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. One other tip for your RER/trains section: be wary if you see a group of youths hanging out near turnstiles into the Metro/RER. One of them will bump into you as you are going through the stiles and pass your belongings back to the friends on the other side of the barrier...who will fade away before you realize your loss. And if you do notice right away, you are on the wrong side of the barriers. Sadly, the voice of experience! And when I moaned to the cop who took my statement, he said sympathetically, "But you know, Madame, it happens to everyone - I had my phone stolen last week!"

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ah yes. My friend had her wallet and PASSPORT stolen in the metro by a gypsy woman. And she was wearing one of those across the shoulder "safe" purses that zip down the inside strap. She was bumped and our French friend shouted at the woman but it was too late. TIP: The American Embassy closes at noon on Friday, but when they ascertained that we could not change our Monday flight, they took her in and she had a new passport within an hour. ( about 150 euros in cash svp)!

    Great post!
    V

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm about to travel to Paris this Wednesday and arrive Thursday, after reading this post I feel kind of deterred. First of all, I don't speak a word of French and I'm alone by myself for the first two days of my trip. But your blog is a really good guide, Thanks! I'm a big foodie and would definitely try to hit a few of your reviewed restaurants i.e. if i don't get mugged and lose my belongings. But am excited about the adventure...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mac, I just want to reiterate, as a city Paris is extremely safe, especially as it concerns violent crime. It's practically non-existent. The only crime is basically theft. I'm assuming you're an American, in the US they will hold a gun or knife to you, in France it's illegal to carry handguns, or knifes etc., they're just more tricky about trying to get into your purse or wallet, that's all. My point is, like in any big city, just be aware of your surrounds. Carry a copy of your passport, only bring as much money as you need for the day. etc., etc.

      You will enjoy, I guarantee it. Plus in the winter it's very hard to get pick-pocketed because we bundle up with long jackets etc.

      As for not speaking French, alot of people speak some English. Always start the conversation with, "Bonjour, Parlez vous Anglais..." I've had many a friends that have come to France not speaking a word of English, but just the phrase I mentioned and did just fine...

      I hope I've allayed your fears... And, most of all enjoy the culture and especially the food!

      Amicalement,
      randy

      Delete
  12. Thefts are everywhere; it’s the people only need to stay alert. This article is an amazing one discussing many of the tricks that are commonly used in theft. You can save the accessories that are with you but the most important is the accessories that you left at the rental apartment. You’re right the windows need to be closed when you’re absent there. Moreover, it is better to choose an apartment at a safe place. Otherwise it is better to specify at the time of renting about your preferences, so that the property manager can find the best match for you.

    ReplyDelete