Paris, as other cities has pickpockets.

In the area of Centre Pompidou, there are several of them. Several customers say this is quite common in the area.

First, a person sits down. Then the pickpocket sits behind the person facing the other way. The pickpocket slides his or her hand into the person's coat pockets and steals its contents. They are very professional, leave fast and get lost in the crowd outside. Belongings should remain out of sight and difficult for others to access.  Do not use brandname camera and laptops bags; they only attract attention.

Be particularly aware in the colder months with heavy coats on the metro. When it is crowded it is very easy for the pickpockets to slip their hands in big pockets. Do not keep valuables in exterior coat pockets or back pockets on backpacks/knapsacs, and keep your purse in front of you where you can see it.

While walking up the steps to Sacre Coeur, a person was approached by a man offering to demonstrate some sort of trick. This is one of the techniques used by pickpockets.  No one wants to be the guest at your hotel who left her purse beside her while kneeling at a pew to pray while her purse was stolen. Imagine the disaster: she had been carrying a considerable amount of cash, her PASSPORT (a faux pas) and all of her credit cards.

Because there is a risk of theft (as there is anywhere) travelers should consider making use of the hotel safes or at least "hiding" your passport and credit card in your luggage. 

Pickpockets will stand very close to you on the train even if it is not crowded.  They can be very well dressed and extremely young girls, that look 8 or 10.  They will put their bag close to yours and reach underneath with their other hand try and reach in yours.  If you have been pickpocketed on the train, you can pull a device that will stop the train and lock the doors and the police will come. 

One scam to beware of is recounted here: "Early one morning on our street we came upon a ring that looked like gold, and this was sitting on the middle of the sidewalk. A woman came to us from the other side. She spoke English and she insisted that my wife get the ring. My wife told her that she had enough jewelry and that she should take the ring. This woman then said that her religion forbade the wearing of jewelry. I kept quiet but I was tempted to ask her what religion that was, because all of the major religions of the world allow jewelry. So my wife told her to give the ring to a friend. Then came the scam. The woman said that it was her birthday and could we buy her lunch? We insisted that she keep the ring and off we went without a backward glance." 

If approached by what seems to be a thief enacting a scam, do the following:

1. Answer any questions with a firm "non."  If the person asks "Do you speak English?", reply "non."  (Do not pronounce the final n.)
2. Cease all eye contact.
3. Walk away at a hastened pace.