On Friday, November 23, 2007 I was pick pocketed on the Metro at St. Michele Station. Of course the train was packed and although I was surrounded by 3 friends at the time, 2 young girls, ages approximately 9 & 10 "innocently" approached me and asked me if I had any chocolate. As I answered one of them, she looked me in the eyes and her eyes never left mine. Little did I realize that as I was answering her, she was robbing me!
She unsnapped by bag and and took my wallet out of my purse. Then suddenly they both made a mad dash for the door, which I was standing close to and ran off the train as the doors were closing. My friends and I commented on how strange that was and then one of my friends noticed my pack of cigarettes on the ground and picked them up and gave them to me. As I reached down to open up my purse, I realized what had happened.
Thankfully, my passport was still in my bag. However, it was very humiliating that it happened to me and then I was angry. It took me an hour to call my credit card companies back in the U.S. But of course, the money, my expensive wallet and my driver's license was gone. It was a hard lesson to learn. I knew that type of crime was common in Paris but fortunately during past trips, it was never a reality for neither myself nor anybody in my party. But this time I was the victim.
I STRONGLY suggest to carry as little money as possible, not to mention using only a purse or messenger bag with a zipper. Always keep it close to you and I would even suggest keeping it in the front of you, although, this is where mine was. The bottom line is, don't trust anybody, no matter their age or how innocent they may appear.
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on Nov 27, 2007
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