Raccourcis
Criminalité en Nice
Located on the southeastern coast of France, Nice is a go-to Mediterranean destination, drawing in roughly 4 million visitors every year. The tourist boom has fueled the city’s infrastructure, making its airport the third busiest in the nation and catapulting its hotel industry to the second largest in France.
While the city has a fairly good reputation for safety, it’s important to keep your guard up. Crime isn’t just a nighttime issue; it happens around the clock. Approximately 33,000 criminal incidents are reported each year, ranging from petty theft to more serious offenses. So, whether you’re out and about in broad daylight or exploring the city’s night scene, it pays to stay alert.
As you explore the streets of Nice, you might spot small blue terminals. These will connect you to the city’s municipal police. Each one is equipped with an intercom and camera, allowing anyone—residents or visitors—to quickly report a crime or emergency.
En termes d'armes à feu, Nice est relativement calme, surtout compte tenu des lois françaises indulgentes sur les armes à feu. Même si le pays se classe parmi les plus nombreux à posséder des armes à feu par des civils par rapport aux autres pays européens, les crimes liés aux armes à feu en Nice se situent dans le bas de l'échelle.
Enfin, concernant la vie nocturne de la ville, la prostitution devient notamment visible sur la principale « Promenade des Anglais » et dans la partie ouest de Nice au coucher du soleil. Bien qu'elles ne constituent pas une menace directe pour les touristes, ces zones sont des points chauds pour d'autres types de criminalité. Alors si vous vous retrouvez dans ces quartiers à la tombée de la nuit, il est fortement déconseillé de vous promener seul.
Knowing the local emergency numbers can be life-saving. In France, the general emergency number is 112. For police, it’s 17; medical help, 15; and fire, 18.
Vol de rue
As with most cities across Europe, petty crime is not uncommon in Nice. Pickpockets are operating across the city and they tend to target popular tourist locations. Thieves are known to ride around on scooters which will allow them to ride up close enough and snatch your bag, iPhone or watch.
Pickpockets rarely work alone, and often adopt the ‘crush’ technique which involves a member ‘crushing’ against you in a crowded environment whilst another member of the gang reaches for your belongings. When carrying bags/purses, be sure to wear them across the body.
Les voleurs organisés sont connus pour traquer leurs victimes à distance de sécurité avant de leur arracher leur sac et de s'enfuir sur un scooter non immatriculé. Le but de ce type de crime est de prendre la victime au dépourvu. Elle s'empare généralement de votre sac ou de vos bijoux et disparaît en quelques secondes.
Poignée de porte de voiture
Nice est également tristement célèbre pour un autre type de vol de rue connu sous le nom de Vol à la Portere, ou la poignée de portière de voiture. Cela se produit généralement aux feux de circulation ou dans un parking et implique que la portière de la voiture de la victime soit ouverte de force et que ses objets de valeur soient saisis. Les touristes en voiture de location sont souvent la cible de ce type de délits. À une occasion, même le maire local a fait une tentative de « vol à la portere » alors qu'il était garé sur la promenade !
Il n'est pas conseillé de circuler en voiture autour de Nice en raison du fort trafic et de l'impossibilité de se garer ; cependant, si vous sont en conduisant autour de Nice, soyez très prudent lorsque vous arrêtez votre véhicule, en particulier aux feux rouges. Il est connu que des voleurs s'arrêtent à côté de votre véhicule alors qu'ils sont en scooter et volent tous les biens exposés (cela est même arrivé au maire de Nice ! ); le conseil serait donc de garder tous vos effets personnels hors de vue et de garder vos portes verrouillées à tout moment.
Vol dans les transports publics
Vers la fin d’une soirée, les gares peuvent devenir un haut lieu de la criminalité ; en particulier le côté ouest de la ville (Nice – Cannes – Marseille) connu pour sa mauvaise réputation, de nombreuses gares sont sans personnel et souvent vides après 22 heures environ, donc toute personne voyageant seule serait très vulnérable.
Pickpockets are very active on the trams/trains and in tourist areas. They operate in groups, usually offering to help you buy a ticket, to distract you and then take what they can.
Here’s a tip from a reader: « Si quelqu'un vient vous aider, en particulier des jeunes filles, ce n'est pas du tout amical : je suis actuellement à Nice en vacances et l'un d'eux m'a proposé de "m'aider" à acheter mon billet de train. au distributeur automatique de trains de la gare. Elle a sorti ma carte de crédit de ma poche lorsque je suis monté dans le train, en 5 minutes ils avaient essayé de retirer 300 € à un guichet automatique bancaire.
La ligne de tramway reliant l'aéroport Nice est devenue un foyer de pickpockets, ciblant particulièrement les voyageurs. Les médias locaux indiquent qu'il n'est pas rare que des touristes se retrouvent à l'aéroport sans avoir non seulement des effets personnels, mais aussi, ce qui est alarmant, leur passeport. De même, la gare et les trains bondés présentent des environnements propices aux activités de vol à la tire. Alors que vous veniez ou partiez, il est crucial de garder un œil vigilant sur vos affaires.
Most Dangerous Areas
The areas that are the most dangerous for theft are all the touristy areas, so be vigilant no matter where you are. The most dangerous areas for violent crime is the eastern area above the highway and near the river that borders the west side of Nice. Both are areas you wouldn’t normally visit, as a tourist.
Certain residential neighborhoods in Nice, such as L’Ariane , Les Moulins , and La Trinite , are considered less safe. In particular, L’Ariane has such a rough reputation that many taxi drivers refuse to go there. These neighborhoods are mostly situated in the northern part of the city, far from the tourist-friendly waterfront and charming cobbled streets of Vieux Nice.
Safest Areas
For those seeking a more “authentic” Nice experience through an Airbnb or apartment in a residential area, there are many options around the harbor, in Old Nice, in Jean-Médecin or, if you want quiet at night, in the upscale residential area of Cimiez , with its green streets and Belle-Époque villas.
Latest Update
Selon le ministère français de l'Intérieur, le nombre de délits commis dans les Alpes-Maritimes a augmenté de 28 % entre 2021 et 2022.
July 2024 news report: Nice has witnessed a night of violence with gunshots and burnt-out vehicles. Police intervened on Monday evening, shortly before midnight after shots were fired in the east of the city on the Boulevard de l’Ariane. Two people were arrested and two vehicles with weapons inside were discovered after several individuals fled on foot.
Readers Experiences
“Nice-What a beautiful city. Unfortunately, there seem to be plenty of people there who can ruin your trip in a heartbeat. My fiancée and I stopped in Nice last Thursday to take a dip in the beautiful Mediterranean on our way to San Remo, Italy. We parked our car in the underground garage (close to the Opera house) for approximately 1 hour, and voila, someone decided to break into our rental car (Swiss plates) and stole my briefcase (computer, wallet, most of my credit cards, etc.) and my fiancée’s purse (cash, credit cards, etc.). Thank God I had our passports, my corporate Amex and my drivers license in my shorts pocket. Unfortunately, before we could cancel our cards, the #$%*^ crooks were able to charge over $1800 US on games, game cubes, electronics. We actually paid a visit to one of the stores they “shopped” in and the manager said “Why yes, I remember the 2 gentlemen using your cards. They’ve shopped in here before.” I have to say, the Nice police were very nice (even brought in a translator, thanks Allison and Corrine) and the report we generated together has come in very handy (banks, employers, credit agencies really need them). You’d be amazed how many others were at the PD that day describing various scenarios of petty theft. The perps are everywhere and seem to be experts. I’m imagining there’s an official Club paid for by tourists like you and me. Be careful, lock yourself in while driving, stay off your cell phone around others, and don’t take your personal property for granted. It can leave you very quickly.”
“I was in Europe at the end of June and July and looked on Trip Advisor all the time to get ideas, suggestions, etc. I was warned of pickpockets in Rome and other destinations but I was not prepared for what happened in Nice. I was sitting in the passenger side of a car when all of a sudden the door opened. I was stunned and didn’t know what was happening because all I saw was the open door. Seconds later a crouching man with a mask over his face appeared inches away from me. As I was screaming fear and shock, he moved around quickly, eventually grabbing my purse, running away and hopping on to a scooter waiting for him a few feet away. I spent a good part of the rest of the day going from police station to police station being told “that happens a lot here”. I was finally able to fill out a report and leave, without of course recovering anything or, sadly to say, getting much help at all. I’m not sharing this to deter anyone from going to Nice because it’s a beautiful city that I have visited many times. I only want to share what happened to me. You really have to be aware of your surroundings and vigilant about your belongings (I was not the only one reporting a theft when I was at the police station). I wish I had read something about this before my trip. Yes, I was in vacation mode and yes I was a tourist but it was and still is a big shock to have had my personal space invaded in such a way. All I can say now is make sure the doors are locked (many cars don’t lock automatically from the inside), keep your windows up (there’s a good chance my friend slid his hand through the window and opened the door from the inside) and just be aware that there are people who steal for a living and if they see their chance they’ll take it. I don’t mean to scare anyone but I’d rather scare you with my words than for you to have the same experience I did.”
Learn More
Consultez notre expert tips about how to avoid crime on the French Riviera, et découvrez gassings and home invasions.
Here is a detailed crime analysis, broken down by city:
