France is a relatively safe country.
Most crimes are non-violent, but pick-pocketing is a significant problem.
The majority of crimes directed against foreign visitors, including U.S. citizens, involve pick-pocketing, residential break-ins, bicycle theft, and other forms of theft with minimal violence.
However, as in any big city, robberies involving physical assault do occur in Paris and other major urban areas.
Visitors to congested areas and known tourist sites (e.g., museums, monuments, train stations, airports, and subways) should be particularly attentive to their surroundings.
Crimes against visitors are generally crimes of opportunity, though these crimes are more likely to involve violence on the street late at night or when the victim detects the theft and resists the criminal.
As in any major city, women should exercise extra caution when out alone at night and/or consider traveling out at night with companions.
In general, Paris taxis are safe and professionally operated, but there has been an increase in reported harassment and assaults on women by taxi drivers.
Caution is required throughout France when driving through economically depressed areas where there is a high incidence of “smash and grab” robberies.
Thieves will approach a vehicle that is stopped in traffic, smash a window, reach into the vehicle to grab a purse or other valuable item, and then flee.
Keep doors locked and valuables out of sight.
There is generally an increase in the number of residential break-ins in August when most French residents take a vacation, as well as in December.
The majority are attributed to residents not using security measures already in place, including double-locking doors and locking windows.
Home invasions are often preceded by phone calls to see if the resident is at home.
Often thieves who manage to gain access to the apartment building will knock on apartment doors to see if anyone answers, offering the excuse they are taking a survey or representing a utility company.
PARIS: Crime in Paris is similar to that in most large cities.
Violent crime is relatively uncommon in the city center, but women should exercise extra caution when out alone at night and should consider traveling out at night with trusted companions.
There has been an increase in reported sexual harassment, and sometimes assault, by taxi drivers.
Pickpockets are by far the most significant problem.
In addition to purses and wallets, smartphones and small electronic devices are particular targets.
In Paris, pickpockets are commonly children under the age of 16 because they are difficult to prosecute.
Pickpockets are very active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center.
Travelers may want to consider using a shuttle service or one of the express buses to central Paris rather than the RER.
In addition, passengers on metro Line 1, which traverses the city center from east to west and services many major tourist sites, are often targeted.
A common method is for one thief to distract the tourist with questions or disturbances, while an accomplice picks pockets, a backpack, or a purse.
Schemes in Paris include asking if you would sign a petition or take a survey, or presenting a ring and asking if you dropped it.
Thieves often time their pickpocket attempts to coincide with the closing of the automatic doors on the metro, leaving the victim secured on the departing train.
Many thefts also occur at major department stores (e.g., Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Le Bon Marché), where tourists may leave wallets, passports, and credit cards on cashier counters during transactions.
Popular tourist sites are also popular with thieves, who favor congested areas to mask their activities.
The crowded elevators at the Eiffel Tower, escalators at museums such as the Louvre, and the area surrounding Sacré Coeur Basilica in Montmartre are all favored by pickpockets and snatch-and-grab thieves.
There have been some instances of touris
