Warning about Paris Metro Gangs
April 13th 2008 04:14
True story.
About three weeks ago my (Canadian) friend and her 20 year old daughter were the victims of a so-called Metro Gang in Paris.
They were riding along when two uniformed conductors - the same ones who had punched their tickets apparently (which may be a scam or an indication of corruption, I can't say) - accused the daughter of putting her feet on the seat. She had not done that.
They bullied the two women, who do speak some French, and managed to snatch the daughter's purse away from her. They wanted 45 Euros as a "fine".
The women resisted and three more uniformed conductors joined the first two, surrounding the victims. This is apparently how these gangs work - they surround their victim and everyone else in the train car moves away and I guess pretends nothing is happening.
The conductors then produced two "police officers" - real or fake, who knows? They had uniforms.
The whole thing only ended when my friend paid the 45 Euros.
Upon telling the story to another Canadian my friend learned she may have got off easy - the other lady said it had cost her 100 Euros!
Those in the know are apparently avoiding the Metro and taking the bus.
Maybe someone from Paris can comment - I have not had these horrible experiences but hearing of them makes me very nervous.
About three weeks ago my (Canadian) friend and her 20 year old daughter were the victims of a so-called Metro Gang in Paris.
They were riding along when two uniformed conductors - the same ones who had punched their tickets apparently (which may be a scam or an indication of corruption, I can't say) - accused the daughter of putting her feet on the seat. She had not done that.
They bullied the two women, who do speak some French, and managed to snatch the daughter's purse away from her. They wanted 45 Euros as a "fine".
The women resisted and three more uniformed conductors joined the first two, surrounding the victims. This is apparently how these gangs work - they surround their victim and everyone else in the train car moves away and I guess pretends nothing is happening.
The conductors then produced two "police officers" - real or fake, who knows? They had uniforms.
The whole thing only ended when my friend paid the 45 Euros.
Upon telling the story to another Canadian my friend learned she may have got off easy - the other lady said it had cost her 100 Euros!
Those in the know are apparently avoiding the Metro and taking the bus.
Maybe someone from Paris can comment - I have not had these horrible experiences but hearing of them makes me very nervous.
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