On a suivi une traque aux pickpockets à Paris

The video begins with a dramatic scene featuring a person named Christian, also known as The King TV, confronting a pickpocket. He emphasizes that this isn't a game like Batman, but real life, where one can get hurt or even die. He clarifies that he is not Batman. The host introduces Christian, a YouTuber who creates videos hunting pickpockets. The host contacted Christian after seeing his work on social media, and Christian agreed to let Brut follow him for a day of filming. Before starting, the host reminds viewers to subscribe to Brut's YouTube channel. Christian greets the host, confirming he is The King TV, filming with Brut. The host immediately asks if the situation can turn dangerous. Christian confirms it can, explaining that pickpockets are dangerous, which is why he wears a knife-proof vest. He tries to avoid confrontations as much as possible because pickpockets are often numerous and may carry weapons. He prioritizes maintaining distance and making them retreat. Christian explains his strategy to the host: stay far away and act like a tourist, not part of his team. He carries a red spray, not tear gas, to mark and annoy them, ruining their day. He anticipates that pickpockets might recognize him over time, so he always wears a mask to remain incognito, though his height makes it challenging. He also mentions that his silver durag is a new, less recognizable element. He demonstrates how he hides his 360-degree camera, which captures all angles, allowing him to film discreetly. He explains that he doesn't immediately enter the subway but observes each station for two or three passing trains before moving on. Their first destination is Opéra, known for high foot traffic. An announcement about pickpockets is heard, which Christian notes is good for alerting tourists. He spots three suspicious individuals whose behavior—looking around excessively—is typical of pickpockets. He decides not to pursue them further because they started to relax and talk, indicating they were no longer focused on their illicit activities. Pickpockets are always on alert, he explains, so a change in their demeanor suggests they've disengaged. Christian shares his motivation for tracking pickpockets, starting with his own experience of having his 3500€ scooter stolen. He also notes that others like POK London and Italian YouTubers do similar work, but no one was doing it in France. He decided to fill this gap, aiming to annoy and expose them, hoping that public recognition would reduce theft. The host raises a moral and legal dilemma: while theft is wrong, exposing pickpockets online means their faces remain public forever, potentially hindering their reintegration into society after serving a sentence. Christian acknowledges this but argues that the police often struggle to apprehend these "very clever" individuals. He believes his actions deter them and raise public awareness about the prevalence of thieves, encouraging people to be more careful. Regarding the financial aspect, Christian confirms his videos generate some income. His most popular pickpocket video, with 700,000 views, earned between 1500 and 2200 euros. He addresses the potential criticism that he does it solely for money and views, clarifying that YouTube is not his primary source of income. He works as a payroll manager for a small association part-time. He asserts that his main goal is not to earn money by catching thieves but to create content for a good cause. When asked why he doesn't become a police officer, Christian explains that he is not French and has a residence permit, making it difficult to apply and pass the necessary tests. They leave the subway without finding any pickpockets and decide to look for "petitioners"—individuals who solicit donations for fake charities. Christian explains that these groups pocket the money themselves. He tries to film them discreetly, hoping to catch them in the act. He confronts a group of these scammers, asking why they defraud people. The confrontation escalates, with Christian confiscating their fake petitions. He uses a "stinky spray" (similar to a fart spray) on one of them, which he calls "caca," to annoy them. One of the women tries to damage his camera pole. Christian mentions he has a spare. He notes that these groups usually don't have security, but he always remains cautious as sometimes one or two men might be observing nearby. He then explains how these scammers operate: they ask for a minimum donation (e.g., 10 euros), but if you agree, they'll claim the minimum is actually higher (e.g., 20 euros) to extract more money. The host questions the legality of Christian's actions, particularly physically stopping people. Christian recounts an incident where he was assaulted by a scammer. When the police arrived, the scammer escaped, so Christian pursued and restrained him until the police returned. He felt justified because he was the victim. Christian had previously contacted the police for clarification on citizens' rights. He shares their response: according to Article 73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, any person can apprehend an offender, but one must avoid risking personal physical integrity. Christian explains that if the situation becomes too dangerous, he retreats and exposes them on social media instead. Regarding filming and posting videos of individuals online, the police informed him that in principle, everyone has a right to their image. Publishing someone's face without their consent, even if they committed an offense, can lead to civil lawsuits. Christian acknowledges this legal risk but believes that if pickpockets are violent or severely in the wrong, exposing them is the best course of action. He distinguishes between what is moral and what is legal, choosing to act morally. The host then questions if it's not the police's job, especially given Christian's physique. He worries that Christian, or others inspired by him, might lose control and resort to violence, unlike trained police officers. Christian admits to nearly losing his temper and striking someone multiple times but always holds back. He expresses concern about others joining him, as many have offered, but he carefully assesses their intentions to avoid those who might be motivated by a desire for violence. He recalls a past incident with numerous scammers where he was injured, sustaining a head injury when six or seven individuals attacked him. The host then recounts a personal experience during the filming: he had to turn off his camera because a group of women and a man spotted him and started following him. He avoided looking back to prevent confirming their suspicions. He worried the situation could escalate into a chase. Christian then describes what happened from his perspective: while the host was being followed, Christian pursued the women and a man. He caught them in the act of robbing an Asian gentleman. He recorded the incident, noting that when one of the women saw him, she threw the stolen item to the ground. He then confronts them, warning others about the pickpockets and using the "perfume" (stinky spray) on them. The video concludes with the host reiterating that they are not recommending viewers replicate Christian's actions due to the inherent risks. The purpose of the video was to share Christian's work, which is popular on social media, and to allow viewers to share their opinions. The host thanks Christian for his openness and looks forward to future reports.