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Vigilante Lock Picker Wanted For Reopening Parks In Paris’ “Red Zones”

Mysterious lock picker defies lockdown boundaries


Lockpark cover
Images adapted from: @gvdeclercq and Thomas Coex/AFP

With countries slowly easing on lockdown policies, there are still incidents of trespassing citizens challenging authorities to lift restrictions sooner.

In France, an unknown man picks locks at parks at night as Parisians anticipate eventual reopening of public places.


The lock-picker risked his livelihood to make people happy 


The man, known by “Jose”, lock-picks gates at parks in poorer areas of Paris to give the citizens a place to escape their cramped apartments.

As summer looms, the indoor heat makes being trapped in homes very uncomfortable. Like other Parisians, Jose wants places to reopen sooner so that citizens can escape the heat and find an outlet.

While the mysterious lock-picker told Le Parisien that lock-picking was not his livelihood, his stunt breaks safety measures in place. According to ABC News, he could get a 5-year prison sentence or a 75,000 fine if they find him.

Lockpark Les Invalides
Citizens relax in front of the Les Invalides while police officers ensure they follow social-distancing rules.
Image credit: Thomas Coex/AFP

Officials have yet to decide when red zones will reopen parks. There are debates on whether parks should reopen with safety measures or remain closed for the time being, especially after France entered stage 3 lockdown.


France divided in half


Lockpark green red zones
Image credit:
BBC

There are designated green and red zones throughout France’s region, with green slowly reopening businesses while red remains under tighter restrictions.

Public parks, schools, and eateries remain closed in red zones until further notice, so Parisians in red zones are stuck at home with nowhere to go.


Summer can wait


With summer already approaching, many are eager to go outside and get some sun after months of lockdown.

There’s no telling when things will return to complete normalcy, but it’s perhaps best to not make plans for now.


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