A New Parisian

Paris is a safe, relatively-crime free city. Perhaps it is due to the lack of gun ownership, the socialized welfare that eliminates many of the poverty-related pains, the relatively wealthy inner-city, or the underlying non-violent nature of the French people.

You can walk through the city 24 hours a day with little concern for violent crime. That doesn’t mean Paris is free of crime; pickpockets are waiting for your valuables. They’ll grab what’s easy to get and leave the prepared alone. Which do you want to be?

I have been pickpocketed four times during my travels. Each instance has taught me a lesson and hopefully they will save you from being caught unaware.

1. Don’t carry unnecessary items.

I was first pickpocketed in Tijuana, Mexico in an extremely crowded church during the Celebration of the Virgin de Guadalupe. My pockets were full of keys, wallet, film, camera stuff, sunglasses, etc. I couldn’t control all of them. Sure enough, a tiny 90+ year old man stole my prescription sunglasses from my back pocket.

Extremely crowded situations are perfect for pickpockets. You can’t keep a hand on all of your possessions. Make sure you zip up any pockets and consolidate your goodies to pockets that you can monitor.

Potential problem areas in Paris include the #1 metro during rush hours and Notre Dame.

If you are near Mexico during early December, I highly recommend attending the Celebration for the Virgin de Guadalupe. Regardless of being pickpocketed, it is one of the greatest events I have ever attended. It’s a joyous, beautiful event with humble roots.

2. Stay alert and watch out for your fellow person

The second pickpocket attempt was pretty sloppy and unsuccessful. I was listening to my iPod and clueless to my surroundings. I was on a fairly busy metro train and carrying an old military messenger-type bag. A drunk guy kept sticking his hand into my empty bag and the fellow passengers began yelling at him. I thought they were yelling at me and I didn’t know what to say. Eventually someone told me in English that he was trying to grab stuff from my bag.

Pickpockets, even drunk and incompetent ones, will go for the easy target. Always be alert for yourself and your fellow passengers. Don’t hesitate to warn someone that their backpack is unzipped, someone is acting strangely, you think something is unsafe, etc. Your fellow passengers will appreciate it.

Avoid using a backpack in these busy environments. If you are using one, turn it around and carry it on your chest instead of your back. This will help you keep control of its contents and actually makes room for your fellow passengers.

Better yet, buy a messenger bag instead. I highly recommend this laptop bag from Kenneth Cole. It has plenty of secure pockets, easy access to laptops during airport screenings, and a neoprene shoulder strap to make it seem lighter. I have been using this bag for several months and have truly appreciated its quality. Place the flap against your body for more security.

3. Never let down your guard in risky areas

My third pickpocket attempt left me without a digital camera and memories of lost images. I was in Barcelona, Spain and thought I was being careful. Barcelona is notorious for having rampant pickpockets. You have to keep a hand on your belongings at all time.

However, I visited a cyber cafe to check my email and put my coat over the back of the chair. A sketchy looking guy sat in a chair behind me and proceeded to rifle my jacket pockets while I was busy on the computer. Afterwards, I noticed warning signs for pickpockets around the cafe. If you know you are at risk, be careful with your belongings.

4. Don’t look lost and don’t hesitate to leave unusual encounters

The last pickpocket unsuccessfully tried to steal my wallet. It was a drawn-out event that left me chuckling and checking my pockets every few minutes.

I was walking around the Montparnasse neighborhood in Paris; mindlessly wandering the back-streets and hopelessly lost. The unfolded map and unsteady gate made it obvious I was a confused tourist.

A short, well dressed man approached me and made his acquaintance. He made some simple chit chat and then thanked me for not being so rude, like the last person he had chatted with. He then proceeded to illustrate how the last person had tried some karate moves on him… in a very jovial way.

The entire time he was twisting me around, he was trying to remove my wallet. Unfortunately for him, I had put my folded up map in the same pocket and when he finally extracted his prize, it was the map and not my wallet. I looked at the map, at him, at the map, checked my wallet, and gave him a nod for a job well done. I was actually more impressed by the whole event than upset. I’m sure it would have been different if he left me with the map instead of my money. But all’s well that ends well.

If you are in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, especially when someone is touching you, leave. Don’t worry about appearing rude or angry, just get out of there.

You don’t need the hidden money belts, over the shoulder cash holders, and other assorted security devices sold in travel stores. These will just make shopping less fun. You may want to remove extra credit cards, passports, etc before leaving the hotel. Enjoy Paris, be careful, and don’t avoid walking around the city at night. It’s a magical time.