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Tips For Travelers To Paris, Dealing With Pickpockets.
Paris is home to many wonderful experiences and some that are not so good.The city
is blessed with the incredible art,food and public monuments that make it is the number one tourist destination in the world and the home of our short-term vacation rental business, eve villas Paris.But like any urban ecosystem with a substantial food source (the tourists) there will be predators. In this case, that means criminals and in particular pickpockets. Make no mistake about it, Paris,its streets; tourist destinations and the metro are worked by professional pickpockets on a daily basis.When you visit Paris,you are their target. No matter what you do or how you dress as a tourist you have a bulls-eye on your back.
I learned this the hard way on the number 8 metro line from the Champ Elysees back to La Motte Piquet Grenelle,the stop closest to one of our Eve Villas Paris apartment rentals,the Yellow Flat apartment.
This is what I did wrong.
1.I stood in the middle of the car.It was a crowded train but not that crowded, plenty of room for pickpockets to work.I should have stood against the door where I could watch what was going on.
2.I did not pay attention to my surroundings.I was tired, it was the end of the day and I stopped looking around at what was going on in the train.
3.I relaxed.I was completely relaxed it was just another metro ride that week.
4.I wore baggy shorts that left plenty of space in my front pocket where my wallet sat, with cash, credit cards and id, just waiting.My hands were by my sides or maybe on my camera strap.
That is when it happened and this is the most important advice that I can give to you.If something odd happens, a moment out of the ordinary, that distracts you,that doesnt seem quite right,then your 6th sense should start tingling because something bad is about to happen.
It seemed so innocent.The man in front of me dropped his keys on the floor.I looked down and said to him in French, Monsieur, your keys.He picked them up without reply. I never felt his partners hand as it reached into my pocket but I did not feel right almost immediately.
Then I heard a voice from my left in French, it was one of the passengers and he said to me He is over there.The pickpocket is over there.I reached my hand into my pocket and sure enough,my wallet was gone.And I saw him,well dressed in a black sweater and jeans moving down the aisle away from me.I yelled at him, My wallet.
He moved more quickly now towards the door,I yelled again, Hey, my wallet.At that point the doors opened and he began to exit the train.I started after him and as he saw me coming he did something completely unexpected.In one fluid graceful motion, he reached his hand into my wallet, pulled out the cash and flipped it up into the air.That is right; he threw the wallet back to me.I watched it turning end over end in the air in what seemed to be slow motion and it landed at my feet. By the time I retrieved it he and his partner were long gone.The metro doors shut and there I stood.Only one passenger spoke to me,she asked if I was OK and I told her I was.The rest never looked up from their books,newspapers and phones. Just another day in the big city.
I hope this story helps you to remember that when you travel in Paris you are target.You are being watched.Here are some recommendations:
1.Keep your guard up all the time, especially when tired.
2.Watch out for crowds of moving kids in tourist traps and avoid them. Walk away fast.
3.Only carry what you need and never ever your passport.
4.Keep an eye on each other, hands in your pockets on your wallets.
5.Do not fall for the distraction, whatever it is.
6.If you sense something is wrong most likely it is.
7.Pickpockets work in teams.
8.If something happens, dont be afraid to yell loud for help.These are petty criminals and will often back off.It may or may not work, but it certainly will make you feel better.
I got lucky. I got my wallet back with all of my credit cards and drivers license,worth a lot more than the cash and my vacation wasnt ruined.I hope that by sharing this with all of you that you can avoid making the same mistakes when you rent an apartment in Paris.
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