Pickpocketing in Paris
Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim without them noticing the theft at the time. It may involve considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. As summer approaches, more and more tourists are pouring into the city, meaning that pickpocketing rates will begin to rise during the tourist season.
The number of pickpocket thefts in Paris has drastically increased since the beginning of the year. According to Le Parisien, the police has seen a 33% rise in crimes related to stealing, especially on the capital’s public transportation, such as the metro. They say that 90% of the responsible gangs are East European and North African minors, mainly targeting tourists, in groups of five or ten.
At first, I thought that I dropped my phone, but when I looked around, it was gone, along with my headphones.
Moumi Camara, a junior student at AUP shared her story, “I was on the metro, the morning after New Year’s Eve when it happened to me. I was listening to music, I had my headphones on and my phone was in my pocket. At one of the stops, a large group of people came in the metro and I felt my earbuds dropping. At first, I thought that I dropped my phone, but when I looked around, it was gone, along with my headphones. I realized that the person who took my phone was somewhere in the wagon, but I couldn’t tell who it was. I did ask some people around me if they had seen anything, but unfortunately, they were not able to help me in any way.”
Either a lone wolf bumps into a table and profiting from the distraction of the movement takes the bag quickly, or he has a colleague that takes the bag while everyone's eyes are on him."
Fernando Quintana, a Mexican student studying in France also shared his story, "I was at a café in the 6th arrondissement, the place was packed and we could only get a small table closest to the street. I sat with my back to the street and left my bag hanging on my seat's backrest. An hour passed and an unknown young man bumped into the table; a normal thing in a packed street filled with bars and an abundance of people, therefore I did not give the situation great attention. Twenty minutes later, I tried to grab something from my bag, only to discover that it was gone. After filing a police report and talking to many people, they have told me the MO of these pickpockets is one of two. Either a lone wolf bumps into a table and profiting from the distraction of the movement takes the bag quickly, or he has a colleague that takes the bag while everyone's eyes are on him."
Thieves may be recognized by carrying large shoulder bags, which they use to carry stolen items. Their strategies may differ; some choose their target at the station platform, wait for them to get on the metro, then use that moment to pickpocket and go out before the doors close.
Here are a few tips from the French police to avoid getting pickpocketed:
Be sure to always zip up your bag. If you don’t have a zipper, try to place your valuables in inner pockets of your bag and always keep an eye on your luggage.
Metro drivers regularly make announcements to passengers when they detect gangs of pickpockets entering a train, so be sure to pay attention to all announcements.
If you are in crowded places, such as tourist attractions or the metro, try to keep a hand on your phone at all times (unless it’s in your bag). It can only take one second for your phone to disappear out of your pocket.
Try not to carry large amounts of cash with you, and try to avoid exposing your valuables to strangers.
Pickpockets usually act in groups, so beware of their methods. One might try to ask you something, to distract you while another takes your belongings. They might also try to push or bump into you, to distract you from the weight of their hand in your pocket. Stay safe everyone!
