How to Outsmart Pickpockets in Paris. Don’t Be a Victim!

As in all major cities, pickpockets are very common in Paris. Cases are fairly rare, and I don’t think you’ll have to deal with a pickpocket when you visit Paris, but since you’ll probably be wandering around the tourist spots, the probability, though still low, increases.

From sleight of hand to jostling through crowds, pickpockets have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

And let me reassure you, when there is theft, it’s rarely violent. Pickpockets try to avoid confrontation. As soon as they’re detected, they tend to flee.

 

What are the methods of pickpockets?

Pickpockets often work in groups. One person creates the distraction, the other commits the theft.

And their techniques are numerous:

• bumping into you so their partner can take advantage of the confusion to snatch your belongings.
• calling at a terrace table with a large card to cover the table and steal your belongings.
• the ketchup/mustard trick. Someone sprays your clothing with a substance (like ketchup), and their accomplice offers to help clean it up while rifling through your pockets.

All of this thanks to the distraction they create, which is fascinating but very concerning.

They tend to operate in highly touristy areas, so if you’re visiting a monument or attraction, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings.

 

Where do pickpockets operate in Paris?

Pickpockets are mainly looking for easy prey who are not too familiar with the city and its habits. They can be found in two main places:

 

At tourist spots

Around the Eiffel Tower, there’s often a crowd. You’re offered trinkets to buy, approached for various reasons—it’s all ways to divert your attention and pick your pockets.

Some of the “riskiest” places:

• Around the Eiffel Tower
• The Champs Elysées
• The Louvre Museum and surrounding area
• Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur
• Leaving the Grands Magasins

 

In the metro

This is a favorite spot for pickpockets, because the crowds are dense and, as a tourist, you’re unfamiliar with the subway stations, and it’s easy to be jostled around on the pretext that it’s crowded or that someone is strangely “blocking” people’s exit from the car at the beep.

Subway corridors are just as risky as subway cars.

During rush hour, even more so.

The lines most affected are :

• line 1: which passes through many tourist attractions such as the Champs Elysées and the Louvre
• line 6: Bir Hakeim station in particular, which is the one to take to get to the Eiffel Tower.

 

How to avoid pickpockets in Paris

Some tips may seem like common sense, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

 

Avoid looking like a tourist

It’s a silly thing to say, but you’ll be more likely to be spotted if you’re carrying a large travel backpack rather than the bare essentials.

When I visit a city abroad, I hate that moment in the transport between the airport and my hotel. I feel vulnerable. If someone tries something, I can’t run after them with my 20kg suitcase.

 

Don’t put anything in your back trouser pockets

Whether it’s your phone or your wallet.  It’s a common mistake many people make.

Don’t provoke pickpockets, who don’t ask for more.

 

Avoid clothes that are too large

Wear clothes with tightly closed pockets to make it harder to access their contents.

And most importantly, you’ll feel it.

So, no baggy pants!

 

Avoid carrying a lot of cash on you

In Paris, card payments are accepted almost everywhere and for any amount. Cash isn’t necessary anymore.

This will prevent you from losing too much money if your wallet is stolen…

 

Wear your backpack in front of you in the metro

Nothing new here. Don’t tempt a pickpocket to unzip and see what’s inside.

 

Keep your phone tucked away or in front of you

On the street or in metro corridors, don’t walk around with your phone in your hand on the side. If you’re not paying much attention to your surroundings, it’s easy for someone to snatch your phone.

If you keep it in front of you, it’s less tempting for the thief, and you have time to react.

 

In restaurants and bars, don’t put your bag on the back of your chair (or even on the floor)

This makes the backpack vulnerable and easy to steal.

I put it on the floor, but between my legs. Sometimes I put a strap of the bag under a chair leg.

 

Don’t put your phone on the table in restaurants or bars

Here too, an unexpected distraction, and your phone could disappear. It’s very common.

 

Don’t hesitate to make eye contact

If someone looks suspicious, don’t hesitate to look them in the eye and show them you know they’re there.

It’s not a dangerous thing to do. Pickpockets aren’t generally violent and are keen to avoid confrontation at all costs.

And if you make googly eyes at an ordinary passenger by mistake, he or she will probably be tempted to look away, thinking “another nutcase…”

 

What to do if it still happens to you

If your personal belongings are stolen anyway, here are the steps you can take to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

• If you lose your phone, call your operator as soon as you can to block your line.
• If it’s your wallet you’ve lost, then block your credit card so you don’t get any surprise charges.
• Contact the local authorities to lodge a complaint and perhaps recover your phone if the thief tries to resell it. Go to a police station or gendarmerie to complete the procedure.

 

Conclusion

Does all this mean you shouldn’t take the metro or visit the Eiffel Tower? Not at all.

If you take the necessary precautions, you should be fine. Problems are rare, especially if you’re careful.

Don’t forget to notify the local authorities if you are the victim of a robbery – it may help you, and it also alerts the authorities to places at risk if they are new.