French welcome drop in crime against tourists

French officials have welcomed a report Thursday indicating a significant 22 percent drop in theft targeting tourists in Paris, which is the most visited city in the world. About 83 million foreign visitors come to France every year and about half of that number visits Paris, according to Tourist Office figures. However, there were several complaints from visitors, who were often victims of fraud, trickery, pick-pockets and even violent crime. This trend prompted the government to boost security measures around the city, placing more police on duty, on foot, on bicycles and even on roller blades to pursue thieves. The police presence in the Paris Metro, in uniform and undercover, was also bolstered to deter the many pickpockets and other "con men" operating there, many of them underage minors who cannot be charged but work for an adult "boss". Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, worked hand-in-hand with Tourism and Commerce Minister, Sylvia Pinel, to draw up the initiative to help protect tourists. A number of key sites were selected where the police presence and activity was increased, with a reported high level of success. Valls and Pinel said in a statement that they "welcomed the effectiveness of the security action plan put in place in favour of tourists in Paris." "This action plan...targeting the main tourist sites brought a drop of 22.4 percent in the number of snatch thefts (bags, cameras, phones etc) in July and August in Paris compared with the same period in 2012," the ministers said. In addition to tourist sites in the French capital, the bolstered security is taking place around major hotels and other places frequented by foreigners. Better coordination with embassies and tour operators is also ongoing to deal with administrative questions related to crime and the Interior Ministry has issued an information note in six languages for foreign visitors. The action plan results come after a number of high-profile attacks on tourists, including a "wild west" holdup several months of a bus full of Chinese tourists who were robbed of everything, including passports. Thieves have also recently targeted wealthy visitors from the Gulf, including one Qatari whose car was held last month up after leaving Paris airport and he was relieved of his valuables at the side of the road