Since there have been several posts on this subject, I thought I'd send this. On tonight's French news (France 2) there was a section on the pickpocket problem and police response. Police said the two areas hit hardest are the metro and the Champs Elysee, and they showed a group of people busy watching a street artist on the Champs Elysee as well as people crowding to get into the metro. Evidently these situations are prime plucking for the organized gangs of young girls the police say are sent from eastern Europe in groups. However, the police also say this particular pickpocket problem perpetuated by this particular grou accounts for only 2% of crime. Also the beggars, also sent to work in Paris are organized into shifts according to the police, so don't let your good hearts get the best of you.
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