American influencer's encounter with notorious Parisian pickpockets exposes lesser-known peril for tourists
Having relocated to Paris, this American woman has accumulated a vast following on social media, boasting over 924,000 followers on TikTok.
Pickpockets in France's capital
Rollins paints a vivid picture of her brushes with Parisian pickpockets in her recent video on TikTok.
"I just had an altercation with some Parisian pickpockets and recorded a video of it, which I will show you," the influencer stated.
"I was leaving the metro at the Palais Royale Musée du Louvre, and as I descended the stairs, I noticed a group of recognizable pickpockets," shared Rollins. According to her, this pickpocket group is infamous in the French capital. Whenever metro or train conductors spot them, they warn passengers to safeguard their possessions.
Upon spotting the pickpockets, Rollins started to film them to expose their identities to her followers. The American revealed that their attire usually gives them away - "They often wear large jackets with shoulder bags. Their method of operation? They use the jackets to hide their maneuvers, reaching into unsuspecting passengers' belongings and slipping them into their bags," Rollins explained.
Unhappy about being filmed, the group started filming Rollins in return. "They'll likely show my footage to their leader, and I suspect they might target me next week," she speculates.
"I furiously told them that while Paris is a beautiful city, people like them are tainting its charm. One of them shoved me, and I retaliated with a push of my own," Rollins continued.
"It saddens me to hear stories of visitors getting robbed here (...). My action was likely risky and imprudent, but if you ever find yourself in Paris and spot such individuals, ensure your belongings are secure," she advised her followers. "I hope this video might prevent at least one person from falling victim," she concluded.
