Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Distraction is the one tactic that all pickpockets use. They want to distract your attention just
long enough to take your stuff. The following methods are well-known ways that pickpockets
and thieves steal from tourists.
“Charity” worker with clipboards.
This scam is very popular in Paris. It nearly always in-
volves a group of young girls with clipboards. They'll approach you and point to a clipboard
while motioning that they're deaf and mute. They want you to sign a petition for charity. If
you sign, they'll ask for a donation to the charity. Of course the “charity” is fake—in fact, fre-
quently the money often goes to these girls' “boss” (i.e., human traffickers). While the tourist
is signing/reading the petition, there is often an accomplice trying to pickpocket the victim.
Crowd the subway.
Subway trains can get very crowded. A common tactic is for a group
of four to six children to push onto a packed train shortly before the doors shut and crowd
their target. They'll swipe what they're trying to steal and then they all hop off right before the
doors begin to close. By the time the victim realizes what happened, it is too late and the train
has already left the station.
Always be wary when a group of people crowd onto an already busy metro car. Also be sus-
picious of anyone who is standing very close to you on a train that isn't crowded because they
might be up to no good.
Smartphone grab.
Thieves love smartphones because they're valuable and easy to steal.
That's why it's generally advisable to avoid using your smartphone while you're on public
transportation. However, if you do, ensure that you sit away from the doors. It is common for
thieves to reach in and snatch the victim's phone right before the doors close.
Help with your bag.
Some subway stations have numerous stairs so “good Samaritans” will
forcibly grab your suitcase to help you carry it up the stairs. This usually takes the victim off-
guard and that is when their accomplice reaches into your purse or pocket.
However, there are actually a lot of nice people who will offer to help carry your heavy suit-
case if they see you struggling. The main difference between them and the bad guys is that
they'll ask you before grabbing your bag.
Bump and lift.
When you're surrounded by crowds, it isn't uncommon to accidentally
bump into other people. However, this is a classic move performed by pickpockets, so if
someone bumps into you, it might be smart to take a quick inventory of your belongings.
Escalator backup.
Escalators are another area that pickpockets target because it is easy to
create chaos. With this scam, there will be one or two people in front of the target and a few
behind the target. Someone near the top of the escalator will stop right when they get of and
this will create a huge backup for people trying to get off. As the backup occurs, the people
behind the target will reach into the target's bag/pocket and hand of the goods to one of his
buddies behind him. I've also seen where they've handed off the goods to someone on the op-
posite escalator so it's almost impossible to chase them.
