Pickpockets.

Same as you would do in Arizona. Probably start swinging and yelling.

Grab the fingers and squeeze--hard.

First, that probability is so low. Second, lots of noise is your friend. Third, walk away.

Stealth is an important skill for pickpockets, if it occurs (really rare) you probably won't know until after it's happened. But if you do figure it out in progress, make noise, try to get your hand on the item. Pickpockets don't normally want any attention and are usually not muggers.

In Paris, a man tripped at the foot of the escalator in a Metro station. My wife was falling over him while a pickpocket moved in for the hit from behind us.

After everyone got up, the guy said in perfect English "Is that yours?" He was talking about the billfold on the ground.

Thankfully I didn't carry much cash. They didn't want the credit cards or anything with my name on it. They were just after cash.

Now, any valuables are carried under my clothes, and I never carry a wallet when traveling overseas. Many Americans are very polite when they get into crowded places, or when someone falls down. Now, anytime anybody gets into a panic situation or gets into my space, I'm anything but polite--6'3" completely disagreeable person.

Pickpockets are accepted as a part of European big city society. You know heavily guarded metro stations know who the pickpockets are, as they see them all day.

You know heavily guarded metro stations know who the pickpockets are, as they see them all day.

They probably see the same commuters every day too, and maybe several times during the day.

If people in a large crowd don't do something to draw attention to themselves they don't get noticed.

I have caught them twice..
First time in 1985,, right on Boulevard ST Michel.. noticed a man was walking freakishly close to me.. looked down to see my purse zipper was open( it had been closed) I reacted automatically and immediately.. I screamed at him , swung at him ( to push him away.. as I said was was walking right beside my right elbow and the side walk was not crowded enough for him to have needed to )
He ran away.

Last time was about 10 years ago, I was alone in metro station .. sort of lost .. ( I kept stopping to check maps,, kind of a no no ) noticed a man walking way to close right up behind me.. same MO .. tunnel was empty.. so I immediately swore at him and shoved him away.. I was reacting from adrenaline.. I just let loose in English swearing like a fish wife ( I think I said something like "get an fking job you loser" I was just so mad) , he looked surprised, then motioned he just wanted a cigarette..( seriously dude.. who is going to believe you ) and then he ran away !

Scream and push them if you want.. do not go aggressive though.. I mean you are not allowed to punch them out or anything.. when I say I "swung" at them I mean swinging my arm out wide to push them away.. not to punch.. you cant assault people for pickpocketing.

@Pat, I don't know why, but I was smiling while reading your post. You are gutsy! I think I need to practice my "swearing" and arm swinging to scare off those pickpockets. Raised as a Southern Baptist, swearing was never allowed, so it won't come easy, but I will try! :)

"Many Americans are very polite when they get into crowded places..." How true that too many are just that, even when confronted with a scammer in Paris. @ David...good attitude. When your space is intruded upon to the extent "they" are intentionally barging in, time to drop the pretension of civility.

Dee.. honestly it was a gut reaction,, mixture of surprise.. fear and anger.. and I laughed later because can you imagine me swearing and screaming at this fellow in ENGLISH he had no idea what I was saying I am pretty sure of that, but I am also sure he knew it was not good at all. !
I am not particularily brave normally .. but I do get angry and he made me very very angry! lol I wont let creeps like that ruin my holiday.. I proceeded that day to see the basilica St Denis and had a lovely day!!

I think it's best to react and yell in your own language and let the words fly. It doesn't matter if they're understood. Trying to remember what to say in the local tongue will lead to hesitation. You want that strong reaction to come out.

I've only had someone try to steal from me once...in the plaza in front of Notre Dame in Paris. It wasn't crowded at all, late in the afternoon. A teenage girl came up to me and complimented me on my wallet, which I was looking in to see if I needed to stop at an ATM before moving on with the rest of my evening. She said she wanted to buy one just like it and would I mind showing her what the inside looked like. Yeah right! I laughed, loudly, right in her face while putting the wallet away and then I brushed past her, while firmly "shoulder butting" her on the way by. Turned to look back and she was very quickly walking away with several others who were with her watching from the sidelines.
Don't be afraid to be very assertive and a little rude. A stranger being overly friendly or helpful is often a sign that something is not right...go with your gut.

What if you make a mistake, and the guy honestly tripped into you, or bumped you by accident. Hmmmm.

Warren there is a bit of a difference between being bumped.. and actually finding a hand in your purse.. lol

Yes.. one can make a mistake.. but that worry is exactly what the pickpockets count on,, us being too polite.. helping the person that "falls" against you ..

Basically if your goods are well stored away.. you won't be quite as nervous if someone bumps up against you right.. so my advise is only keep a little cash in your wallet or purse and the rest in hotel safe or money belt.. then worst scenario you are only out 50 euros or so.

Hi Bill, I was almost pickpocketed a few years ago on the elevator at the Eiffel Tower by a couple (man/woman) team. The woman grabbed my shoulders and shook them, at the same time the guy bumped me very hard with his stomach. I turned around and yelled "no!" and the woman removed her hands. I found my pockets unbuttoned after I finished with my visit so I assume the guy was looking for a wallet. I had on a money belt and cross-body purse so they didn't get anything. Bottom line - don't worry about it but be prepared. Wear a money belt and be aware of your surroundings. This was the only "close call" I had in 7 trips.

In 1992 in Prague, I was in a crowd of people stopped to listen to an amazing singer. On the other side of crowd, I noticed several Romanies scrutinizing people. Two of them then sidled up to an older American woman entranced by the music. Her giant handbag was over her shoulder and wide open. As quickly as I could, I walked over to her, with 1 each of the gypsies on both sides of her, and said: "You'd better zip up your purse and hold it in front of you, or you're going to be pickpocketed in the next few seconds." She looked startled, but did it. The 2 gypsies glared at me, and as I left, all 4 of them started following me, menacingly. I quickly made my way to a place called The American Cafe and camped out. The gypsies hung around waiting for me for more than an hour, then finally gave up. I'd have to say that, in all my years traveling since, nothing really has scared me or made me nervous. You just need to be aware of your surroundings and don't do anything careless.

@ Shelly....Good thing that you didn't have to go somewhere else after ducking in to the cafe and waiting them out, as they were trying to do likewise to you. That's what I call a good use of the strategy of attrition. I assume you were solo at the time of this incident.

I was! But I struck up a conversation with a (big) guy and we were watching Wimbledon -- when I believed it safe, he walked me to the subway and made sure I was safe :)

Yes, any gentleman would have done as much and nothing less.