adminKUALA LUMPUR: Visiting France, especially the city of Paris, is indeed a dream for most people. However, behind the beauty, there is a story that often becomes a nightmare or worry for many, namely the fear of becoming a victim of pickpockets.
In this regard, Malaysian Ambassador to France Datuk Edleen Husaini Mohd Hasim reminded those visiting Paris that, although they are excited to enjoy the beauty of the city, the safety aspect should not be neglected at all.
He said the embassy receives an average of two reports every month from Malaysians who have fallen victim to pickpockets while travelling to the country in question.
“The French police and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here are now very aggressive in combating and dealing with pickpocket gangs who are becoming increasingly bold,” he told Bernama.
Edleen also advised tourists to always monitor valuables such as wallets, cameras and mobile phones, as well as be aware of their surroundings, especially when approached by unknown individuals.
“Tourists need to be careful if someone tries to approach you to sell you something or ask you something because it may be a tactic to distract you.”
“The embassy is always ready to help Malaysians who are facing difficulties, but it would be better if we ourselves reminded each other for the sake of common well-being,” he said, wishing all Malaysians a Happy Hari Raya and welcoming their presence at the embassy if they have the opportunity.
Meanwhile, a survey on social media platforms found that many people shared their bitter experiences of being victims of this crime, resulting in huge losses and trauma.
A Threads app user, @mia.rosli, recounted a moment of anxiety when the bag placed between her legs disappeared in the blink of an eye while she was busy using her phone to book a taxi.
Although he successfully claimed travel insurance of RM1,200 to cover some of the losses, the experience of losing newly purchased items while traveling in London made him anxious to return to Paris.
Another victim, @mia.hanes23, recounted a ‘funny’ experience when she lost her power bank and coin purse while on the train, and it is believed that the items were mistaken for a mobile phone by pickpockets.
He said that after filing a police report, he and a friend who also lost their passport went to the Malaysian Embassy in Paris to obtain temporary travel documents.
A TikTok sharing by @miez_eyza revealed that his friend lost Euro cash at a popular shopping mall in London after being approached closely by several individuals, before the victim’s wallet was found again with his identification documents and bank card still present, but all the cash was gone.
“Pickpockets in the city are very skilled and experienced. People are advised to use bags with multiple layers of zips and keep cards in separate compartments as a precaution,” he said in a video shared on the app.
As for TikTok user @izaabolivar, he admitted to being traumatized after witnessing his friend’s luxury watch stolen within just two minutes of being approached by an unknown man who pretended to ask for cigarettes.
“After about two minutes of the unknown individual leaving, the man realized his watch was missing,” he said, advising the public to always be vigilant and avoid interacting with unknown individuals.
— BERNAMA
