Pickpockets in Paris

well..

i guess it was just 

a matter of time.

yesterday,

my wallet was stolen

right out of my bag

at the grocery store.

we know many

people  who have

had their homes

broken into..

computers stolen

wallets stolen

etc.

but,

until it happens to you..

you just don't understand 

the feeling of being violated.

hannah and griffin and i

went to our local grocery store

yesterday.

and like usual..

i made a stop at the ATM

first.

after we do our big shopping..

i stop at the produce market

the meat market

the boulangerie

and i need cash

for those shops.

while strolling up and down

the first few isles..

i knew

two women were following me.

i had a sense about them.

one kept getting very close to me.

i didn't know they were together.

a few minutes later

one of the women asked me

a question which made me 

turn my back from my cart.

i replied that i didn't understand 

her question..

apologized..

and kept shopping.

after putting all my groceries 

up on the belt..

i looked in my bag..

saw my wallet missing..

and knew immediately it was them.

the rest of the day was spent

walking to the

police station..

where the rude

non-english speaking man

told me that i had to walk to 

the other police station

half way across my 

arrondissement to file

my complaint.

once i got there..

of course no one spoke

english and treated me

as if i were to blame.

finally..

after filling out paper work

receiving my temporary 

carte de sejour..

i walked back to the grocery

store where i waited for the security

guard to come talk with me.

he was yelling at me in french

and i just starting crying!

he took me into 

the security room

with the cameras 

and showed me 

the women following me

and the one woman stealing

my wallet.

what a sick feeling.

no one was hurt.

and for that i'm thankful.

but..

i know now

to be much more 

protective of my

belongings..

and to trust my instinct.