We are experienced travelers who did fine in South Africa, Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, Spain, Israel & Latvia. We loved Paris this week, but not the part about being robbed. Here what we learned the hard way:
1) Memorize Rick Steve’s theft prevention tips, carry a copy of his page “how to report lost/stolen credit cards in France”. (Instructions on the back of your Visa are incomplete - when you've been robbed, you need clear, detailed instructions.)
2) Remember, when you have your suitcase, aren’t speaking French - you’re wearing a flashing neon sign: “Tourist: I’m carrying all my cash, credit cards & passport on me”.
3) ALWAYS carry money, credit / debit cards, passports in money belt - even on hot sweaty days when you’re tired of the hassle.
4) Only carry in your front or back pockets what you’re prepared to lose.
5) Do not ask questions of young men standing idly by Metro maps, don’t follow their instructions - not even when a second man comes over and confirms what the first one says, not even when a man in a suit comes up and confirms what the other two are telling you; at Gare d’Est, it was a set-up to be robbed.
6) Out of fear of racism, don’t override your gut character assessments.
7) It’s true: Theft happens near doorways of Metro cars.
8) Even when hyper-alert, hanging tightly to possessions while entering/departing Metro subway-cars, if you’re holding something in both hands, even front pockets are easily picked. Happened to us twice within 15 minutes.
9) When reporting theft to police out in a public place (ie. Metro stations), thieves may listen for what wasn’t taken. Minutes after making our verbal report, my husband was again swarmed/bumped while exiting a Metro subway-car. Bullet-train tickets and comb were pick pocketed this time - were they looking for our passports & cellphone that we told police were not taken in the first theft? Soon after that incident, a man steps in front of us, blocking our path, flashes a badge at us, demands to see our passports. We didn't wait to "meet" his buddies that were likely in the wings - by this point, we would only have complied with such a request if it came directly from the President of France himself! We screamed at the man to leave us alone, and dashed away thoroughly shaken.
10) During our 5 days in Paris, we noticed that Police don’t hang out in the boarding area - where Metro robberies are happening.
False Assumptions:
(A) Pickpocketers work independently. No, two or more hem you in, crush, bump you around, quickly, quietly. (Based on being accosted 3 times within 15 minutes, & thousands of dollars of luxury items immediately charged to our VISA, was this a professional gang?)
(B) Men can more safely carry cash / valuables than women. Not our experience.
(C)Since you were just robbed of €400, credit/debit cards, drivers license, & Metro tickets, surely you wouldn’t be robbed again - what’s left? Minutes later - we were! While traumatized, feeling stupid, shocked, angry - trying to evaluate “what do we do now”, you are shaken and extra vulnerable.
Thank God for the kind French, American, & German people who expressed outrage and helped us after we were robbed - their kindness was a huge blessing! Their kindness helped carry us through this nightmare.
Finally, we get to choose whether the pickpockets have the final say of how we remember Paris. They don’t. We encountered far too much splendor, beauty and gracious Parisians for that to happen.