HOW WE GOT ROBBED IN PARIS (Unfortunately not a clickbait)
Just two years ago in Paris, we lost our bags, our cell phones, Angelina’s wallet and some of our photographic equipment. Inside Angelina’s wallet was her ID, some cash and cards. We had to make a police report and apply for new travel documents from the Embassy of Cyprus in Paris for Angelina. This process was an unpleasant experience for us and through this blog post we will describe the event of How We got Robbed in Paris, but we will also give you some tips so that you do not suffer the same or if it happens to you, what to do.
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ROBBED IN PARIS
So this is how we got robbed in Paris.
HOW WE GOT APPROACHED
We arrived early in the morning (about 8 o clock) at the Louvre Museum square, for the photoshoot we had planned. We setup our tripod and the camera and start taking some shots. Parenthesis, under the tripod, we left my (Antonis) bag in which was also Angelina’s bag. We had full eye contact since we were standing directly opposite the bag.
After about 15 minutes, a gentleman with his beautiful coat and scarf approached us from our left side, and asked us if we can take a photo of him with his phone….
So I took his phone (Antonis), to take a picture of him. At that point I had to turn my back on our things and Angelina. So there was no more eye contact. As soon as I started taking pictures of him, the gentleman started showing the Louvre pyramid. As a result, he managed to detune Angelina as well. After 3 clicks, he came up to me, to take phone back. He took it with a slight delay in his movement and he left. Then we took 3 steps to go back where we were to take a few more photos and we realized that under our tripod and camera, the bag was gone. We turn right and left, and the man disappeared.
And at this point, we lost the earth under our feet. Angelina was running to find Security and I was trying to find the gentleman who eventually turned out to be an accomplice thief.
WHAT WE DID NEXT
Security could not help us, nor did cameras, nothing at all. Fortunately for me, I had forgotten the wallet in my pocket. (something I do now on purpose).
So we took a taxi and did the following to prevent things to become worst:
1. We went directly to the police station, to testify about the incident so that we have proof from an official authority that we were indeed victims of theft..
2. Back to our hotel, so that we can call the banks to cancel our cards, and inform them of the time of theft based on the official police document. (The money used by the thieves with the technology of contactless transactions were refunded, since the police document proved that we did not have our cards at that time).
3. We used the hotel’s computer to lock our mobile devices and report them as stolen.
4. We changed all our passwords on all our accounts that were connected to our mobile devices
5. Finally we called the Cyprus Embassy in Paris and made an appointment to have Angelina’s documents prepared for us, since we were flying back to Cyprus the next day.
How to avoid the well-known “pick pocketing” and tips.
1. Always travel with a passport and ID. ID must be in your wallet, and passport as soon as you arrive at your destination hotel, you should store it in a safe place. This way if your wallet is stolen, then you have your passport available, and you avoid the hassle of getting travel documents from the Embassies.
2. Always have wallets and cell phones in your pockets. If this is not possible and you have to leave the bag down (as we did), then use wire with a lock, and lock the bag in a solid place (eg bench). We bought a lock after the theft and we always use it.
3. Avoid contact with strangers. But if you can not, then make sure that before you come in contact with a stranger, that you have gathered your things and have full eye contact with them. Also if you are with friends, then the other people, be alert with you and your things.
4. Always leave some cash at your hotel.
5. Activate mobile tracking on your phone
