Pick-Pockets, Paris

In metro close to center of Paris this week. Train is crowded and I get on by door. Party of 5 with me is ahead of me and take seats. 2-3 young girls, mid-to-late-teens pin me against door as soon as it closes. There seem to be others around them but these are the two in my face. Guy is to the right next to door, sitting down with legs out, so i can't get around him. Train had emptied in aisles but they still had me pinned, with a don't-move-and-bother me scowl. Also the cognitive dissonace of thinking young girls would never try to physically confine you. Until this week, always thought picks were bump and run. First, I ask "pardon" to get my arm up to the bar for balance as the train left. This is hard because the girls are so tight against me. Yes, I noticed later, they unzipped the outer pocket on my red Mountain Hardware ski jacket (like wearing a bull's eye, i suppose, but it was my only rain jacket). Then I feel a hand coming up from bottom of jacket, which was tight on me - the wallet was zipped in on the inside at the top but the picks would have felt the wallet from the side pocket they already opened. (Hope feeling the wallet frustrated them.) So, instinctively, 2 more "pardons?" to try to escape, and then by reflex, a quick and whatever-it-takes lunge to go over the guy to the right to get away from them. He immediately shifts his legs at 90 degree to let me by. He was running the show, I think, and that was the signal to let me go. I still had my wallet. The girls maintained an awful this-tourist-ran-over-me-outrage-look, according to the party with me, who noticed the situation only after I lunged to the middle of he train. I made no eye contact with the picks after i got away. Upon reflection, 1. I am really surprised they will try to pin you physically and hold you for a long time; and 2. the danger is next time when there is no "cognitive dissonance." If I kick the teeth in on the guy on the right running the show, he might have a knife? Same if I try to stop the train by pulling an alarm rope, which there was plenty of time to do in this case - if there indeed was an alarm rope? Just shouting "pickpockets" seems lame if not dangerous as well. So what to do? I think at least, if anyone physically confines you, don't wait, don't say "pardon" (the Parisien French live in close quarters, but they respect, they do not invade your space, by pinning you against a door on an empty aisle train) - politeness is not required when you have been physically confined by aggressive thieves. Just summon up that old athletic reservoir you might still have, dip into the adrenaline, and go right through or over them to get away from them as forcefully as you can. It can't be good to let them define the space where you have to deal with them. Only question, whether to pull alarm rope on train if it is still moving so maybe they can't get away if train stops. What happens before police get there? Any suggestions?

PARIS
Like all big cities Paris is not without its dangers . When travelling here this is the city of love and romance with just so much to see and do and enjoy.Recently while in Paris my brother while visiting the city had the misfortune of being robbed and having his wallet stolen.This of course when it happens throws any travel plans that you have organised into chaos. Fortuneately he had his accomodation booked for a few days being long enough to have funds transfered to him from home..I know what this is like as it happened to me in another city.This form of crime of pickpocket robbery, or bag snatching, against tourists is big buisiness in the world and must be treated at all times with extreme caution...Being "Ripped Off" is such an ultimate inconvenience. Favourite places for theives are: Any crowded area with lots of tourists and travellers : Railway and bus stations, market places and music venues, bars and crowded restaurants, very crowded shopping areas..
Be aware of your surroundings at ALL times.
ALWAYS:Carry your bag around your neck NOT just over your shoulder.
Never put your bag down without some form of personal restraint.
Keep your bag in front of you and not behind.
I always now keep my wallet in my front pocket that has and added zipper and velcro.
Also be aware of that "friendly "stranger hug !!!
Don't carry ALL your money in one place try and have a stash somehere on your body!!
Have some form of money belt especially for passport.
These people are very good at what they do....They do it for a living.

Been up the Eiffel 4 adults and 3 children and had a great experience, starting taking pictures around the base of the tower before heading off. The traffic lights took an age to change, jostled behind by 4 kids 2 boys and 2 girls well dressed about 12-14 yrs old, i checked my bag and my wallet along with all its contents gone, i looked behind and the boys face was a picture, i grabbed him and demanded it back, he looked at his side kick a girl of the same age, i grabbed her arm and shouted for the police, she threw the wallet on the floor with all its contents, my husband gave chase, and the police closely followed and apprehended them. We where all taken to the police station and sat in the room with the theives, who had no remorse just stared at us. After being interviewed the police just left us to find our own way home in quite a nasty way with kids aged 4 to 9 at 1 am. Not worth the bother of invoving them as the kids would go home scott free.

Paris is no better or worse than any other large city when it comes to pickpockets and scams, they do exist so don't make yourself a target. Keep an eye on your valuables when riding the metro and if you are standing, keep a hand on your wallet/purse. Don't leave your purse on the floor or on the back of a chair at a restaurant. I'm always shocked to see men walking around with their wallets in their back pockets, even I could lift a wallet from there! Opinions vary on money belts, I personally have never used one, other people swear by them.

My only time actually seeing a pickpocket in action was on the Paris Metro, they distracted the guy right by telling him his shoe was untied right before the train stopped, they jumped out just before it took off again and after they had grabbed his wallet.

Scams evolve and change but some of them involve spilling mustard or ketchup on someone and lifting their wallet while they are distracted, having someone fake passing out and then stealing their wallet while trying to help, the gold ring scam, the petition signing scam, shell games, the list goes on and on. If something looks suspicious, it probably is, just keep walking and don't be afraid to tell them to scram in a clear, loud voice.

Just arrived back from Europe spent 3 days in Paris which could have ended in disaster after trip on subway. Caught train with my wife who sat down I stood up as it was crowded, just as the doors were closing 6 youths jumped aboard 3 girls 3 boys aged approx 17. They started pushing and bumping against me and others I checkd my wallet which was deep in my front pocket only to find it was gone. Thankfully a guy stood facing me pointed to one of the girls, I grabbed her arm and said "you stole my wallet" after a few seconds she dropped it to the floor from under her top. How lucky thank you to the man who say the incident. No other person seemed concerned to get involved. 750 euro cash and 5 credit card nearly were lost. Beleive me it shakes you up I was advised my a couple who had been robbed in Paris that I should have pulled the emergency alarm but 6 against one not sure of the outcome. I got my wallet back but who knows if the carry weapons ?

I have just returned from Paris and would like to warn people of a pickpocket scam. I was on the metro with my daughter at Notre Dame Station, we were on an escalator when suddenly it jolted to a halt - someone had pressed the emergency stop button at the bottom. My daughter and I turned to see if there was a problen behind us but only saw a couple of people at the bottom of the escalator and no apparent reason for the emergency stop. We began to walk briskly up the escalator and a young female rushed past me but then stepped in front of me and then began to walk very slowly causing me to slow my pace. In my annoyance I pushed her out of the way slightly and moved around her quickly and continued quickly up the escalator. At the top of the escalator the young woman waited for a male to join her- they both looked like gypsies and they walked off in the opposite direction. At this point I realised that the zip on my small handbag had been opened as well as the inner zip which contained my bank cards, fortunately, there was nothing missing and I had obviously moved out of their way just in time. She was obviously trying to block my way whilst he was trying to pickpocket me. I felt very uneasy after this experience and would advice any tourists not to use the metro- it is only used by tourists and the lower classes including low life that steal from others.

Always be on your guard in Paris for the pick pockets and bag thieves..they are everywhere...on the metro..on the bus...on the street crossings

Dont leave your wallet in your trousers or outside pocket and have your hand on your handbag as you carry it... at the front of you is best

My pocket was picked today. I had my hand over my wallet in my pocket but the subway car was crowded and a woman behind me jostled me causing me to have to use both hands to get my balance. As the door was closing, I put my hand back in my pocket and discovered my wallet missing. I don't know if it was the woman who jostled me, if she had a confederate, or if another party took advantage of the opportunity but I didn't see any point in filing a police report.

I think the only way to avoid this is to avoid crowded public transportation or to carry valuables in a wallet or money belt under your clothes.