France: Paris sees large increase in crime targeting Chinese tourists

According to a Financial Times report, Chinese visitors are descending on Paris in record numbers and their lavish spending on luxury brands has made them an irresistible target for thieves. Petty crime between January and the end of June in one of the world’s most-visited cities jumped 7.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2012 – but it was up by more than 24 per cent when it came to Chinese tourists. Paris officials say that typical crimes consist of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, particularly around the city’s biggest tourist and shopping attractions – the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elyseés with its luxury stores and the bustling Printemps and Galeries Lafayette department stores. Read article