Pickpockets and football fans spoil the tourist image of Paris

The tourist business of Paris and its image in the eyes of foreign tourists is threatened by rampant street crime, writes the French edition of The Local.

Street crime in the French capital has become so out of control that the Chinese Embassy officially warns citizens about it, and representatives of luxury French brands Chanel and Dior appealed to the city authorities with a request to restore order, otherwise wealthy tourists from around the world will stop going to Paris.

The recent riots at the Eiffel Tower also played a role. They were staged by football fans who smashed windows in nearby bars and shops, lit smoke bombs and even beat up several foreign tourists.

The Louvre was recently closed to visitors due to a staff strike. Employees are outraged by the growing number of pickpockets in the museum. About 200 employees of the museum participated in the strike, providing security and reception for visitors. The participants of the action explain that recently pickpockets have become a real trouble of the Louvre: they are becoming more and more, and they behave more aggressively. It is noted that about 100 workers of the Louvre, among those who supported the action, also gathered for a rally near the French Ministry of Culture. They demanded that the authorities strengthen security measures.

According to a representative of one of the unions, people want to know how long they will be forced to go to work with fear of facing organized gangs of aggressive pickpockets, among which there are minors. The latter are usually free to go to the museum, and police release them hours after they are caught at the crime scene.