Cafe Dining in Paris

Down between your feet - in front of you - under the table with straps tucked so that they can't be easily grabbed or so that you can't get your own foot caught in the strap and trip. No guarantees in life, but that's what I do when dining anywhere (even in the U.S.) indoors or out.

We always hook a strap through a chair rail or sometimes use our light weight cable lock to secure to the back of a chair. And, of course, never of the chair that faces the street. Always on the inside chair. It took many years but my wife has abandon the purse. We now carry everything in a small day bag. The straps are all clipped so it is easy to attach to a chair back.

I use a cross body bag, and I leave it on at all times, even when I'm eating. The purse sits on my lap under my napkin.

Another idea, hang the strap over the back of your chair but then put your jacket/coat over the back of the chair, essentially covering the purse. You can't grab the purse without pulling off the jacket/coat first.

Keep it on my lap with the strap around one leg.

Paris is indeed full of petty thieves; it is organized crime there and they are often quite skilled. Purses are easily lifted if not secured. I usually don't use a purse but rely on inner hidden pockets in clothes for valuables and outer pockets for things that don't matter like tissues, lip gloss and meds. If I have a purse I either have it in my lap or with the strap over my knee.

And never assume you are in a 'safe' place. I watched the anguish that resulted when a woman left her purse at her place in a small hotel breakfast room in London. Nobody in the room but other well dressed travelers- presumably residents of the hotel. But her purse disappeared on her trip to the breakfast bar and it contained her passport and plane tickets for a flight later that day. Presumably some of the people in the room were not there for breakfast but doing their day job -- thievery.

I sat across from a traveler on a train in Paris when the woman's purse was stolen as she put her bag in the overhead above her seat. She sat the purse on her seat as she put the luggage up and it disappeared. It is not unusual for thieves to board trains as if fellow travelers and then just lift a purse or computer bag as they walk down the train and then exit before it departs. The people across from us on a train from Vienna to Prague this past year, had their wallets picked as they stood in line to board the train; the conductor found the empty wallets in the trash.

I have traveled to Europe for over 15 years now, and lived in France all of 2012. I have never had anything stolen. I always use a cross body bag, and keep it between my feet or with strap across my knee when I'm sitting at a cafe. But obviously, some traveler's have had things stolen, and Janet's information is a good reminder. The only time I had something taken from me was in my hometown of San Francisco, where I foolishly got distracted while walking around with an open purse. Now, when I go anywhere, I try to be as alert of my surroundings and my belongings as possible, and not get distracted. And, I believe it helped that in Europe I dressed to blend in, and did not look like an obvious tourist.

With my cross-body bag, I can easily slip the strap off my shoulder, so that it's around my waist, instead, which I don't find uncomfortable (and works great on a bench seat). Or else I put my leg through the strap.

Keep the story of Wild Bill Hickok's demise in mind and never have your back to the street if you are sitting outdoors. (Wild Bill Hickock's fatal mistake was playing poker while seated with his back to the door instead of his back against the wall. He was shot in the back.)

I would also have my bag or pack (I don't carry a purse) on my lap or if not possible, between my feet. And carry passport and credit/ATM cards in a more secure on-body/under clothing place.

Hill Street Blues: "Let's be careful out there."

It is easy to make yourself secure. Better people know how to do this than learn it the hard way like our acquaintance who returned to his hotel from the Orsay with 20 K already charged to his credit card that was in the wallet lifted as he stood in line for lunch at the cafe there. In travel, usually several weeks a year, sometimes months, one time a year, I have never lost a thing to thieves because other travelers showed me how to avoid thievery. The closest I came was with the children and the newspaper who got into my tote in Florence in the 80s when I was not aware of that scam; luckily I wasn't carrying anything important in the bag. Petty theft is a fact of life in international travel and shouldn't discourage travelers since it is really easy to avoid. And violent crime is almost unheard of against tourists in France. Pretending it is not an issue is not helpful.

And I love the advise about back to the door; I always do this instinctively and now realize it is my inheritance from the violent west LOL. At least this is a risk one runs routinely in the US but rarely in Paris. They will take my purse but they are unlikely to hurt me.

I keep it on lap with strap through leg or still around waist, like several ladies here have already said.

My cross-body purse is always on my person when in public, and that includes dining--I wedge it against me and the side of the chair, never on the floor or back of chair.

I use a 'Healthy Back Bag' when traveling and just place it on the ground between my legs, sometimes looped around my leg. I use a moneybelt too, of course, but for things like eye drops, lip balm, wet wipes, sweater, etc., I put all that in the bag and it's not a crisis if it were to be stolen. If there's an empty seat at the table I may just put the bag there. I have never had an issue with theft in my travels.

Since you're from New York, I think you will probably be fine since you're used to being street-wise. :)

It's a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and your own exposure at all times, not just traveling but back at home as well. When exercising your personal safety and vigilance becomes such a burden as to limit or even eliminate your enjoyment, then you've probably crossed the line into paranoia and it's time to step back and rethink how careful you need to be. Back to the original post, I would say, just make sure your bag is always making contact with your person at all times and to the point where it cannot be removed from you without your having to make a move yourself (i.e., cross body, around waist, looped around an arm, between your feet on the floor, etc.). FWIW, I believe the "But it's PARIS!" comment was with regards to the OP usually choosing indoor seating but since it's Paris, a place so well known for outdoor cafe culture, she wouldn't want to miss out by sitting inside. "I usually sit indoors, 'but it's Paris!' how could I pass up the chance to sit oudoors?"

"But it's PARIS!" comment was with regards to the OP usually choosing indoor seating but since it's Paris, a place so well known for outdoor cafe culture, she wouldn't want to miss out by sitting inside. "I usually sit indoors, 'but it's Paris!' how could I pass up the chance to sit outdoor...

A bit (OK a lot) off topic, but my recollection of Paris is avoiding out door seating because of the fumes. Just found that apparently some officials are starting to crack down on outside smoking in "enclosed terraces": http://www.thelocal.fr/20150401/paris-gets-tough-on-cafe-terrace-smokers

Edgar,

Yes, It's Paris! How could I miss out on cafe culture and not sit outdoors. Thank you for adding the clarification for those that may have thought I had negative thoughts and feelings about Paris! I just have negative thoughts about someone walking away with my purse. LOL