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Me, and Sacre Coeur Church behind. Montmartre Hill - Paris
Me, and Sacre Coeur Church behind. Montmartre Hill
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Paris Warnings or Dangers: Pick-Pockets tips posted by real travelers and Paris locals.
Pick-Pockets
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Pick-Pockets: Getting jostled
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  • By rexvaughan on June 8, 2004
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  • Pickpockets are very creative. We boarded the metro and a normal looking man next to me dropped his glasses. He bent down to pick them up and was nudging my leg as if I were standing on them. He retrieved them, got off at the next stop and my wallet was gone. I even had it in my front pocket. Be wary of any disturbance or nudging in a crowd. As a precaution I always carry anything I can't do without such as my passport, airline ticket, extra credit and ATM cards and cash in my money belt. I don't think violent crime or armed robberies are much of a risk in Paris, but pickpockets are so be very cautious.

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    Pick-Pockets: Don't Pick my Pocket!
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  • Updated By worldglobetrotter on August 21, 2006
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  • Metro and RER lines that serve popular sights are infested with thieves. Wear a moneybelt or neck pouch. Keep all important items in your moneybelt/neck pouch: passport, credit/debit/ATM cards, money, airline tickets. Keep a tight grip on your bags.

    Operate with a day's worth of spending money in your billfold or wallet...the rest is kept in your moneybelt/neck pouch. If someone picks your pocket, your trip can still go on. If you need more money, step into the restroom and make a "withdrawal" from your secret stash.

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    Pick-Pockets: Pickpockets DO exist.
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  • Updated By shrimp56 on December 21, 2004
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  • Pick-Pockets - Paris
    by shrimp56
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    I nearly got "hit" on the infamous metro line 1.
    .
    A group of young girls pushed on with me. I didn't pay much attention as I have my major valuables under my clothes and I hold my purse close to me -- but these little hands managed to get the top zipper half open before I sensed something and pulled away. They wouldn't have gotten much at all, but it was a jolt to have been "hit".

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  • Website: http://www.hiptravelguide.com/paris/article.php?sid=2

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    Pick-Pockets: Pick pockets
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  • Updated By Arial_27 on July 2, 2004
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  • pickpocket - Paris
    pickpocket
    by Arial_27
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    Another caution under the Eiffel Tower is that there are so many people, and it is normally very crowded. There are a lot of experienced 'pick-pockets' there so hold on tight to your bag and makle sure it's zipped up. I know a friend who had her camera taken away and she never saw it again.
    If you feel somone pushing against you, be extra careful and make sure no one's taken anything. You'v probably known for it to happen when someone is shoving up against you in a crowd - they've really just taken your wallet.

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  • Phone: 01-47-23-80-80

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    Pick-Pockets: Don't Look Like A Tourist Pt. 2
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  • Updated By CALSF on March 1, 2005
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  • You see this all the time and even we may be guilty of doing it too. I am referring to being so engrossed in finding our way that we pull out our maps anywhere we can stop. Sure this is highly convenient, but it makes you a target for pickpockets and/or scammers. Suddenly you may be approached by someone trying to 'help' you to find your way. Of course, the person may be a genuine 'good Samaritan' but usually it's someone who is targeting you as a potential victim.

    If you must scan your map do it in private: in a cafe, in a store, etc. Just don't do it in full view out on a sidewalk of in the metro station. BTW, the pickpockets love the metro station and many of them hang out in the station and in the trains just looking to see who is vulnerable.

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    Pick-Pockets: Don't look like a tourist
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  • By CALSF on July 4, 2004
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  • Sounds silly not to look like a tourist. But if you call attention to yourself you'll more likely be a pickpocket's target.

    Pickpockets are mostly where crowds of tourists congregate. And mostly they hang out in the subways. They've been known to divert one's attention while going through the metro's turnstiles and then grab your wallet or bag. Another way they work is to work as a couple inside the metro trains: usually a guy and girl work together, the girl diverts the target's attention, the guy is behind the target picking the pocket or bag.

    They are excellent in plying their trade and therefore one needs to take as much precaution as possible: don't announce you're a tourist by displaying guidebooks and maps in the open, wear a moneybelt and use it for your passport, credit cards, and cash, don't use a waist pack (aka fannypack), if you carry a backpack hold it in front of you in the train and secure the zipper with a safety pin and don't put anything of value in it.

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    Pick-Pockets: Pickpockets on Trains
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  • Updated By dixonchan on April 1, 2007
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  • OK. This is nothing new. But I just wanna share my experience with a pickpocket.

    I was sitting comfortably on the metro on a seat that can be folded up. In came a tall muscular guy who walked slowly to the empty seat next to me.

    I guessed he noticed I had my mobile phone inside my left pocket. So when the train moved, he "accidentally" fell onto the empty seat and brushed his hands through my left pocket. It was a discreet yet cunning way to fish out my mobile.

    Fortunately, I was alert enough to prevent the phone from getting fished out. And gave him a disgusted stare.

    He apologized for falling awkwardly beside me (and not for trying to steal my phone!).

    I remained vigilant throughout the rest of the train journey.

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    Pick-Pockets: Pickpockets at Gare du Nord / Gard De L'Est
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  • By Stevie_Y on October 15, 2004
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  • I was in Paris in July and witnessed a family of 7 experience a pickpocket first hand.

    They were walking from the Gard du Nord RER presumably to their hotel with maps in hand when an elderly gentleman at the back of the group was violently bumped by a young man. As he regained composure a second "samaritan" "helped him" by steadying him and in the process rifled his pockets and stole his wallet. All this took a couple of seconds.

    If you are walking away from the station with cases and a map you are obviously starting your holiday and therefore are likely to have more money with you. The area around these two northern stations is not the nicest area of Paris (especially after dark).

    As mentioned here before, be vigilant, don't scream "tourist" to the whole world and only take out of the hotel what you need for the day. Leave everything else in the hotel safe (especially your passport)

    Steve

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    Pick-Pockets: Pickpockets
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  • By TravelerM on November 20, 2004
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  • Watch out for your belongings at the crowded metro stops. Two kids about 8-10 y.o.were pushing me on a crowded train, and by the time (just seconds away!!) I realized my bag was opened. They soon got off at the next stop. Fortunately, a water botter blocked my wallet in it, so they couldn't reach down. So watch out for not only suspecious adults but also the kids!! They are swift!

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    Pick-Pockets: Beware of the band of gypsies
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  • By iam1wthee on January 14, 2004
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  • Near Champs Elysee I was almost mugged by these gypsies. If you see them do not speak just step lively and with a lot of confidence. Do not let them put their arms around you like friends do. If they attempt push them off. Do not go their with a big bag, this will excite them and any other pickpocket. Put all money underneath your coat.

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