Safety

They were at a park right outside of Paris. It was also during the day, thankfully no one was hurt and they had a money belt so not much was taken. It's gotta be not very common for something like that to happen but it makes me wonder if even though your safe and in a good area something like that can still happen

Just outside of Paris...remember the riots with all the car burnings just a few years ago? The French govt is trying hard but they've still got a big mess on their hands in some of these neighborhoods. I had a minor incident in eastern Europe a few years back but besides that, I've never had a problem in 35 years plus of traveling in Europe. I've always felt safe and comfortable traveling throughout the continent. Just use common sense and Rick's books are pretty good about pointing out the questionable areas. If you see an area that reminds you of East St. Louis or Detroit, walk the other way. (Oh God, I'll probably get bashed for using those two cities as an example)

I'll definantly watch out for myself. Thanks for all the advice! : )

Sure, you should avoid the places where that can happen. Odd that a gun was used. That is rare in Europe. You would avoid the same places that you would avoid in the US and it helps to have company. Follow your gut. A single person in an alley at 2AM is not the best decision. Just use a lot of common sense.

Tia, which city were they robbed in, and also which part of the city? Any other details on the circumstances (ie: was the location in a back alley, were they using a Money Belt, etc.).

My parents were robbed during the afternoon in the financial area just around the corner from the courthouse, a few years ago.

Oh, I forgot to say, that was in Dallas.

And they most likely had two guns. What areas should we avoid in Portland?

Tia, thanks for the info. That's VERY unusual for Paris, especially during the day and involving a firearm. Which area "outside Paris" did this take place? Possibly it was one of the suburbs with high immigrant population (where the riots take place from time-to-time)? ¶ I've been in different parts of Paris (and other cities, including Naples) at different times of the day and night, and so far haven't had any problems of this kind. ¶ It's difficult to offer any suggestions on "what sort of places" to avoid. You might find it helpful to read some of the entries at * www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti11.html * (cut and paste the weblink inside the asterisks). Cheers!

This took place "in a park outside of Paris" and they "had a money belt so not much was taken". Well, excuse me for being a doubting Thomas, but how could it be that a robbery "at gun point" overlooked a money belt? And how did two teenagers find themselves in a park outside of Paris? And why would the thieves use a gun on two teenage girls? This story has a few holes in it. Maybe Tia can tell us exactly when this took place and if her friends are entirely believable.

I dont know exactly where this took place. this was over 2 years ago. and it was not two teenage girls, it was my friend and her boyfriend. I do not doubt my friend at all. I dont see why this is so unbelievable. things like that happen all the time, some people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. the guy who robbed them obviously was in a hurry to get out of there and thats probably why he took what he could and got away. I'm sorry I dont have more details for all of you.

Tia, you did say that they were friends who travelled to Europe "after we graduated from high school" so I presumed they were teenagers. If not teenagers, then they were indeed very young and I still want to know the details. If you do not have the details then you should not be posting this story. These things do "not happen all the time" as you claim and certainly not in Paris. I live in Montreal and they don't happen all the time here either. As to your question about what sort of places you should avoid, on the face of it I would suggest parks outside of Paris.

Thankyou to everyone that had positive and helpful feedback

And,, thank you Norma for making some very good points.

Tia,, just so you know,, things like this do NOT happen all the time, it is very rare indeed to hear of a daylight gun robbery in, or even just outside Paris. You should avoid carrying all your stuff in your purse or knapsack,, use a moneybelt, stay out of dark alleys late at night ,( especially if drunk) and in most places in Europe you will be as safe,, if not safer then in Portland. Your main concern should be pickpockets. They don't use force so much as stealth.

thank you. I apologize, I thought that what happened to my friends was common. Its very reassuring to hear that I was wrong. I guess the people I know were just very unlucky.

Pickpockets are what you have to be aware of from my experience in Europe or doing something like leaving your camera on a table while dining outside.

You should be safe from everything except pickpockets and crooked taxi drivers if you stick to tourist areas. Outside of Paris is not considered a tourist area and therefore the armed robbery. Their money belts were safe because they were probably not pegged as tourists. Even in NYC, I won't walk more than a block away from a major tourist spot. If there are other people around, you have nothing to worry about.

I don't quite get how someone saying 2 young adult travelers got mugged in a park outside of Paris is a reason to doubt Tia's posting. The simple fact is many young travelers simply can't afford to stay in the central part of the city where there is heavy police presence and streets are well lit and busy at all hours. So they stay where they can afford, which is often in some hostel or 1 star budget hotel in an outlying neighborhood or suburb that may not be the safest place to stay. Sure, gun-related robbery is more rare in Europe than the U.S., it most definitely doesn't happen "all the time", but it doesn't mean it never happens. Tia, sometimes it's money well spent to stay in a more central area. If it's beyond your budget, read a lot of reviews about the hostels or hotels you want to stay at. See what other travelers have to say about the neighborhood and the security of the building. Also, as soon as you check in, ask the hostel or hotel staff to show you on a map what parts of the city to avoid. I've lived in a number of major American cities where there are affluent or touristy areas that butt right up against some very rough parts, so it's easy for a tourist to wander into sketchy areas because they simply don't know to avoid it like the locals do.

Thanks Ceidleh, for making some very valid points in response to "Doubting Norma".

I think the OP's question was a reasonable one, particularly as she has first hand knowledge of someone who was a victim of armed robbery. Yes, all kinds of crime can happen anywhere. I see it on the news here. The fact that this particular type of crime may be much less common in Europe than in parts of North America is really immaterial. If you are the victim of a crime it's not much consolation to be told that it is rare for it to happen. To me, it is wise for travelers to be aware that this can happen and to take reasonable precautions against it, without being paralyzed by fear of it. Many recommendations about reasonable precautions can be found on this site.

"The fact that this particular type of crime may be much less common in Europe than in parts of North America is really immaterial." * I would think it is VERY material to the topic at hand. Danger levels, and the precautions one should take, are dictated by the prevalence of crime in a particular area. The OP was concerned that her friends' experience might be common in Europe....knowing that's not the case has, I'm sure, removed much of the anxiety she had been expessing. Surely that can only be a good thing.

Scott of Dallas calls me "Doubting Norma" and I confess I am when a tale of a dire happening is about a friend or cousin's friend, and that it took place in some vague location in Rome or was it Dubrovnik, and no first hand details, or even second hand details for that matter, are provided. We see so may posts on the Helpline from people who are fearful about travelling in Europe and this sort of story just confirms their prejudices. Tia could help us all by contacting her friend and getting all the details, including if the crime was reported to the police, which it should have been.