How to Not Get Your Phone Stolen in Paris
Last Updated on 13th July 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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If you’ve clicked on this article then you’re probably planning a trip to Paris but are a little worried about the number of mobile phone thefts in the city. In this guide, we’ll discuss the ways you can prevent getting your phone stolen in Paris so that it (hopefully) won’t happen to you.
Paris is full of petty criminals and unfortunately I can’t even count the number of times that someone has tried to pickpocket me. Whether it be by distracting me, literally reaching into my pockets or following me and ‘bumping’ into me, these are all the things I’ve learned from living in Paris so that hopefully you can avoid phone thieves during your French stay.
The truth is that whenever you visit a touristy place (London, Barcelona, Rome, and NYC all spring to mind), there are people who are looking to take advantage of those who don’t know the city well and want to profit from the crowds in nefarious ways.
Contrary to popular belief, pickpockets operate pretty much everywhere in the city, not just in Montmartre, around the Eiffel Tower, and on the metro. If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, be sure to also check out our guide to avoiding scams in Paris.
Getting your phone stolen is obviously a horrible experience, and while there are things you can do to prevent it, sometimes you’re just unlucky and you should remember that you’re up against professional thieves who spend their days perfecting their robbing techniques.
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Buy phone insurance & travel insurance
First things first, before you even go on your trip, there is one thing that I would recommend doing, and that is taking out phone insurance.
Some travel insurance will cover mobile phone theft so make sure that you take out an insurance that covers theft and follow the procedures if it does unfortunately happen so that you can get a replacement phone.
Buy a phone leash/ cord
The day I saw someone get their phone snatched out of their hands by someone riding past them on a bicycle outside of my kitchen window is the day I decided that it was time to this one.
In this day and age, where everyone wants to snap photos with their phones, it’s simply not realistic to just say ‘put your phone away in busy areas,’ especially when those busier areas are normally where all of the beautiful attractions are!
As such, wearing your phone like a cross body bag is a great way to stop someone from yanking your phone out of your hands while you’re taking photos in a busy area.
Tips to avoid phone thefts in Paris
Pickpockets don’t like too much noise/ attention
You should note that most pickpockets are wary of creating too much commotion. One time a man grabbed my hand just outside of Anvers (I guess to try and steal my ring) and I screamed so loudly that he ran away. Another time, someone tried to grab my bag in a crowded metro station and I screamed pickpocket and he quickly ran away into the crowd.
Don’t keep your phone on the table
It might seem safe to place your phone on the table right in front of you, when you’re enjoying your Parisian coffee or dine in lunch, but this is actually one of the most common ways that your phone can get snatched.
Oftentimes, someone will approach your table and ask you something random that will catch you off guard, such as the time or directions to somewhere.
The usually get super close to you too, which will throw you off even more. While you’re distracted, they’ll cover up the table with a book/ their clothing and snatch your phone. As such, be sure to keep your phone in your bag when you’re sat at a café.
Don’t take your phone out near the metro doors
As well as being vigilant any time that you’re on the metro, especially in the more crowded areas, one of the most important things to do is to either put your phone away or hold it tightly when you’re sat near the metro doors.
It’s pretty common that someone will wait until the buzzer of the metro doors goes off before snatching your mobile phone from your hands and jumping off the train just before it departs.
You’ll be left on the train headed to the next station with no way to chase after them while your pickpocket heads off into the sunset (metro tunnel). This is most common on the most crowded/ touristy metro lines like the Line 1, the Line 8, and the Line 13.
Watch out for people ‘bumping’ into you
One of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to pickpocketing is that someone (the pickpocket) will ‘accidentally’ bump into you. They’ll use this moment where you’re distracted to reach into any open pockets/ your bag and steal your belongings.
They typically do this in crowded areas so that it doesn’t look as suspicious and so that they can make a quick getaway.
By the time you realise that your phone has been stolen, they’ll be long gone in the crowd. For almost all of my friends who have been pickpocketed, it has been by someone bumping into them on the metro.
Don’t keep your phone (or any valuables) in open pockets
This is one of those things that is more common sense but it’s so easy to slip your phone into a jacket pocket while you’re trying to take our your metro tickets or Navigo card.
At this moment, if someone with bad intentions is around, then they’ll come up behind you as you’re going through the metro barrier and steal your phone from your open pocket.
If you have to use a pocket, make sure that it’s an inner jacket pocket that has a zipper. Whatever you do, never put your phone in the back pocket of your jeans as this makes you an incredibly easy target.
Invest in a good cross body bag
I always carry a crossbody bag in Paris with a zip like these ones and keep my phone zipped up, even if I only want to put it down for a moment. I also make sure to hold my hand over the zipper in the busiest areas so that no one can get into my bag and steal my phone (or other belongings).
Whatever you do, make sure to never set your bag down (and especially never hang it on the back of a chair in a café) unless it’s attached to you in some way.
If I want to set my bag down in a restaurant, I’ll make sure that it is hooked over my knees or just bring a small crossbody bag that I don’t have to take off.
Avoid eye contact and talking to people
If you seem like you might be a tourist, many would be pickpocketers will try and approach you to talk to you (like I mentioned earlier such as when you’re sat at a café). As an aside, you should also be really careful when using an ATM (I try and use the ones inside the bank where possible).
Stopping to talk to you and ask for directions/ the time/ etc is often just a distraction so that they can try and get into your bag and pockets. Other times, such as if you’re trying to buy a metro ticket, someone will offer to ‘help you’ buy a ticket, but it’s more a distraction to get close to you so they can steal your things.
One time, a man outside of Anvers metro station (multiple people have tried to pickpocket me at Anvers) stopped me and told me he was an undercover police officer and that I should open my bag because someone had stolen their phone in the area. I screamed at him to get away from me and he did.
What if your phone gets stolen in Paris?
Lock your phone
If your phone does get stolen, then there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. The first thing you should do is lock your phone. On iPhone, you can do this remotely via iCloud. You can turn on lost mode.
If your phone has been lost and not stolen, this gives you the greatest chance of getting it back as whoever has found it will get a message with a contact number so that you can get your phone back. You should also contact your phone provider so that no one can rack up international charges on your phone.
Change your passwords
Even if your phone is locked, the thief might have been able to guess/ watch you type in your passcode and so you should assume that any account you have logged into with your phone has been compromised. Change all of your passwords- this is especially important for your email and bank accounts.
Check on find my iPhone
For the most part, once your phone has been stolen you should assume that you’ll never get it back. However, in some cases the thief might not turn off your phone and you *might* be able to get it back.
File a police report
If you have phone insurance, then this is the most important step you should follow to ensure that you get a replacement phone. You need to go to the nearest police station and file a report.
If you need help getting to a police station, then go into a nearby business such as a café or hotel (where people are more likely to speak English), explain what has happened and say that you need directions to the nearest station.
Once at the station, ask to file a report. Typically, you’ll have to fill out a form with details of the incident; where it happened, what time, if you caught a glimpse of the pickpocket, etc. You’ll get a copy of the official police report (make sure that an officer signs and stamps it) which you should then keep handy for your insurance claim.
If you know the serial number of your phone, the police can blacklist the phone, meaning that it can’t be used with any network provider in France. Unfortunately, this is often of little help as the stolen phone is typically taken abroad.
To be honest, there is very little chance that you’ll ever recover your phone (which is why taking out suitable phone insurance that will cover you for thefts abroad is a must before you travel).
