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Bag Theft Attempt on RER B train Coming From CDG Airport

Posted by (Chicago, IL, USA) on

Hello,

Just wanted to give everyone a head's up to watch their bags on the RER B coming from the airport. On 7/31 my wife and I were on the train which was getting quite full. Two males were switching cars at each stop. A female came on the train and started talking very loudly ( I couldn't understand) and was very close to my wife. We did not make eye contact. One of the males put his hand in between me and my wife when I saw the other crouch down and try to steal my backpack which was clamped between my legs. It was a sloppy attempt and he didn't get it. I spoke some obscenities at him and they left. I'm guessing the three of them were working together? Anyway, stay alert. That would have been a horrible way to start our trip! To be clear, this was the only instance. We rode the Metro extensively for five days and did not have any problems.

Posted by
3985 posts

Thanks for the reminder about this route. Glad you were observant.

Posted by
927 posts

Such a good reminder to be aware of your circumstances! Thanks for posting.

Noting you are from Chicago, the only time I was pickpocketed was on a sanding room only 151 bus on Michigan Ave. I knew something was off, but failed to act. I should have said "let me by" and tried to move or done something to shift the guy away. I didn't lose anything in the end, but my bag was opened. Luckily valuables were in the bottom. Awareness is key!!

Posted by
8198 posts

LOL. I ride the 151 almost daily and have never encountered that. Usually in the US it is muggings not pickpockets (although I have been in Chicago 13 years now and yet to encounter a mugging either) -- we don't have generally have skilled thieves. While luggage is rarely a target of thieves in Paris, that small bag or backpack that holds the phone, computer, wallet etc is a target and it is important to hold onto those and not set them down on the floor or on a seat etc. Glad you foiled this set of creeps. Most pickpocketing in Paris is undetectable -- there are lots of very skilled artists of the dip and you don't even know you were a target until you discover the wallet missing. For this reason if I am riding the train in from the airport, I use a moneybelt under my clothes for the passports, money, IDs and hold my messenger bag with the computer etc in my lap.

Posted by
9816 posts

Thanks for this reminder, Mike. Glad you were able to ward them off, but it stinks that there is any reason for concern in the first place.

A great reminder, as is Janet's, to keep your eyes and hands on your belongings and your valuables in a money belt.

Posted by
3223 posts

I was told before I went to Paris the first time, years ago, to always try and sit as far from the doors as possible on the RER trains from the airport.
I do try to do that, as I have also seen people jumping on and off looking for a “mark” and a quick getaway.
I’m glad you caught the creep in time and had a good holiday.

Posted by
359 posts

The crowding, especially in the morning, sets up the perfect environment for pickpockets to target jet lagged people arriving from North America. I love mass transit, but that's one circumstance where I always take a taxi. Rome is bad that way too. My father elbowed a would be thief in the gut when we were pulling into Termini. Not advisable, but it was effective.

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