Some 2 million Americans visited France in 1999, and of those, about 700 became victims of pickpockets or purse-snatchers. By and large, France is a very safe country to visit, but travelers must remain alert here as they would anywhere else. Favorite places for criminals to operate are on the rail link from Charles de Gaulle Airport into Paris; the subway line that links La Defense, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Bastille; and major department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. On the Riviera, especially in the Nice, Antibes and Cannes area, thefts from cars stopped at red lights are common. Simple precautions in all of these places should keep you free of trouble.
