Travel tips

Thieves beware

Like anywhere else, France suffers from opportunistic thieves who take advantage of tourists in a relaxed frame of mind. Their particular target is handbags, cut open or snatched in broad daylight, with the thief making his or her escape with the proceeds on the back of a scooter.

However, the latest creation of the travel supplies specialist, the Santa Barbara firm Magellan’s, may make life for them a little more difficult. Magellan’s have produced what they call a CitySafe bag, which is well styled but exceptionally secure. It has slash-proof straps, wirereinforced side and bottom panels, and tamper-proof zips.  The shoulder strap can be clipped to any secure fixture, for example, while you are sitting at a café table, to thwart the mobile thieves.

www.magellans.co.uk

From our March 2006 newsletter