Pick-pockets and Hustlers

We had some excitement here with street hustlers and pickpockets. While riding on a crowded metro car, Sue noticed a young woman moved her hand while it was hidden behind the purse covering the front of her body. Sue shifted her purse and discovered that the catch on the outer flap had been opened. Happily the inner pocket had a zipper and the valuables were safe.

 
Our other encounter occurred when we walked across the Pont de Royale after leaving the Louvre. A woman and a child walking toward us reached down and picked up a wedding band that apparently had been dropped on the sidewalk. She asked if we had lost it and we said, “no.” We congratulated her on her good fortune and walked away. A few moments later she caught up with us and said that she would give us the ring because it was too big for her. We encouraged her to sell it but she said no she wanted to give us the ring. She started to walk away and then asked us if perhaps we had some small change so her child could have a Coca-Cola. While we were beginning to feel a little uneasy and suspicious with the request, we gave her four euros and headed in our own direction. As we were having lunch we watched this same woman find another ring and reward another couple. Within a few hours as we walked along, we had two more individuals find rings on the street and they also offered them to us. Happily we already had ours.