Chinese national robbed of 25,000 euros in France

Two female tourists enjoy the coolness and take a selfie in the lake around the Eiffel Tower after a heat wave hit the country in Paris, France on June 28, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Chinese citizens may think twice about visiting France after a tour guide was reported to have been robbed of 25,000 euros in cash and a new Rolex watch near Paris.

The guide lost his possessions after preventing two of his group from being robbed outside a hotel in Carrieres-sur-Seine, 20km west of Paris, on Saturday, according to local police quoted by AFP.

The group was leaving a coach when three men attempted to snatch designer handbags from two women. When the 32-year-old Chinese guide intervened, the men turned on him and grabbed his bag containing 20,000 euros, nearly 5,000 Swiss francs (€4,500) and the watch, which he had just bought for around 5,000 euros.

The thieves fled by car.

Police are investigating whether there is a link between the robbery and similar incidents in the area, including several near the Palace of Versailles, a popular destination for Chinese visitors to France.

Chinese tourists' reputation for carrying large sums of cash has made them targets for thieves in France in recent years.

On March 20, 2013, a group of 23 Chinese visitors were robbed in a restaurant shortly after landing at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. Their passports, plane tickets and cash were stolen and the group leader sustained a facial injury.

French authorities tightened security around Chinese tour groups after the incident as the Chinese government expressed concern about the increasing number of such cases.

Last year, China and France discussed sending Chinese police to Paris to help tourists. But the proposal was later shelved.

Many netizens said they had similar experiences of being robbed in France. A Weibo user named @benshiyiwenqing said his brother lost his wallet during a trip to France but got it back after the thief was caught by local police.

Another user @zhaoxiyi said people should avoid traveling to France before security improves.

"Chinese tourists always take too much cash with them," said @Mantuntun, adding that it would be safer to use credit cards.

More than one million Chinese visit France annually and the number is growing rapidly. Last year, Chinese tourists increased by more than 60 percent.