Press (and friends on FB) are reporting that workers at the Eiffel Tower have gone on strike because of "threats and menaces" from pickpockets.
Press is reporting that the Tower is likely to be closed at least through this evening.
What a disappointing turn of events for anyone here today and hoping to go up!!
here's link to their current FB page post:
Louvre staff did this earlier. The organized crime syndicates that run pickpocketing in Paris have become increasingly aggressive since there has been no effective policing. The drop of borders in the EU has made is difficult to police this; the French are apparently unwilling to throw 'petty criminals' in jail or deal in any way with exploited young criminals and deportation is not effective in a place without border controls. It is of course not petty crime, but well organized. The exploitation of minors is also pretty grim. I hope the actions by the Eiffel Tower staff and the Louvre staff wake up the local authorities to the need to do something more definitive about those who prey on tourists in particular but make it difficult for everyone. The chief of police had his cell phone nicked last year and even that didn't result in commitment by the police to deal with this.
Apparently these gangs were threatening Eiffel staff who tried to throw them out when they were observed preying on visitors.
ah yes I remember when the Louvre staff did so . . . it was at least two days that they closed if I remember correctly?
Here's the story from the AP:
The Eiffel Tower closed to the public for most of the day Friday as workers protested a rise in aggressive pickpockets around the Paris landmark that attracts thousands of visitors daily.
The walkout came a day after Paris authorities announced that crime against tourists in the French capital had dropped this year thanks to reinforced police presence and video surveillance.
The tower didn't open Friday morning because the staff was concerned about petty crime around the site. Clusters of tourists streamed beneath the tower, unable to reach its viewing platforms.
It remained while staff and management held meetings about security measures, then reopened in the late afternoon, according to the company that manages the site. The tower is normally open every day of the year, but sometimes closes briefly for bomb threats or strikes.
Tower employee Denis Vavassori of the CGT union said the workers want a permanent police presence.
"It is a growing problem. There were always pickpockets at the Eiffel Tower but now we are really facing an organized group," he told The Associated Press.
Police officers patrolled the area Friday on bikes, on foot and in cars.
"Unfortunately there are here people who assault and try to steal. So we do feel less free, and lose the opportunity to visit this beautiful monument," said Brazilian tourist Francisco Madeira from Sao Paulo, who visited the site before the tower reopened. "There should be more organization and police."
Workers at the Louvre Museum staged a similar walkout in 2012.
Paris authorities said Thursday violent theft was down 25 percent and pickpocketing was down 23 percent in the first four months of 2015, compared with the same period last year. City authorities have also broken up several major theft networks, according to Prosecutor Francois Molins, who visited the Champs-Elysees tourist district Thursday to show how seriously police are taking crime against visitors.
Paris has also heightened security since the January terror attacks in Paris left 20 dead, including the three attackers.
As the article from phred states, the Tower has reopened. This is something I like, employees standing up and saying "enough!" Hopefully their action does not fall on deaf ears.
Sounds like time for Rick's money-belt.
It seems odd that there wouldn't be a strong Police presence there, as I vaguely recall there was a Police station at the base of one of the tower legs, and always lots of officers milling about. Also, every time I've been there, groups of two or three soldiers with assault rifles have been patrolling under the tower. While the soldiers are not strictly "law enforcement", one would think they might intimidate the scammers and pickpockets to some extent.
From what I read of the similar situation at the Louvre, part of the problem is that the scammers use children and it's difficult (impossible?) to prosecute them. Even when they were detained and ejected from the Louvre, they were back within hours. Perhaps a change of the law would help, and would give the authorities the tools they need to deal effectively with the situation?
If the scarecrow never does anything to the crows, eventually the crows ignore it. There may be a "police presence" but do the police do anything to chase away the pickpockets? Or do they just look on?
The French government needs to come up with a practical solution that doesn't involve spending resources on incarceration or deportation. There needs to be more education of the tourists so as to make it harder on the thieves and less profitable. We have seen in America the result of trying to solve similair nonviolent issues by overcrowding prisons compared to places like the Netherlands where they have more pragmactic ways. I applaud the workers who have raised awareness through their actions.
As Richard says, the best thing we tourists can do is be smarter ourselves. Secure your money and ID whether it be a money belt or a locking purse. I use a lightweight nylon vest that has zippered pockets on the outside and one on the inside. The one time I have been asked for ID by the police, my drivers license was acceptable so now I leave my passport at the hotel (front desk safe!) or apartment rather than carry it with me (I know the law may say differently but the DL worked for me). I carry photo equipment with me in a daypack (micro Four/Thirds is the way to go!) that I have a couple of small locks on the zippers. I also carry a raincoat and water in the pack and it makes it easier to carry things you may pick up along the way. For safety and as a courtesy, take the pack off when going on the bus or Metro and hold it in front of you. I will say the last time I was in Paris in October, I did see the police (one in plainclothes) stop a group of "petition girls" off the Place du Tertre. You are your own best protection against pickpockets.
We were just there a week ago, and on the second level (as you're waiting for the summit elevator), they kept running this recording saying "attention pick pockets are active in the tower" with this 16-bit graphic to illustrate it. There were no police or security around, which doesn't help (the employees couldn't even keep people from cutting in the line).
Our tour guide said they'll go up and stay in the tower all day -- immediately I thought that would be part of the problem, as there should be a time limit (though not sure it would do any good?).
