Crime
Prevention - Pick Pockets
The "art"
of picking pockets is among the world's oldest professions.
Author Charles Dickens' Artful Dodger is probably among the
best known pickpockets. However, all are not juveniles - and
all are not males!
The skilled
pickpocket is not the seedy character you'd expect to find
lurking in a dark doorway. He (or she) appears about as average
as you and I in appearance and manner. Because they make a
study of how to "blend" into the crowd, pickpockets
usually remain undetected and can practice their activities
with little hindrance.
Pickpockets
follow no regular schedule. They operate equally well during
daylight hours as they do at night. And if you have been led
to believe that picking pockets takes place only in crowds,
forget it! The only known fact is that they generally focus
on the public during times when they might be carrying more
money than usual, such as during pre-holiday spending sprees,
store sales, at fairs, carnivals, horse races, tourist attractions,
casinos, near bank entrances, etc.
While
many pickpockets work alone, there are also teams of two or
three which sometimes involves a female accomplice. A team
with nimble fingers is next to impossible to apprehend. The
first team member removes the valuables from the unsuspecting
victim's pockets. He then secretly passes them on to the next
member who quickly disappears. When a female member is also
employed, she generally engages the victim in conversation
to distract or delay his attention.
Contrary
to what most think, experienced pickpockets do not place their
hands all the way into the victims pockets. Rather, the expert
criminal reaches into the top of the pocket, takes up a pleat
in the lining, then makes a dozen or so more tiny pleats,
folding the lining with swift dexterity between his fingers.
The shortening pocket lining moves the valuables upward so
that they emerge at the mouth of the pocket. The entire act
takes place in a second or two.
The best
protection for foiling pickpockets is to remove the opportunity
of becoming a victim. . .
For
Men:
1. The
target areas are back trouser pockets, and suit coat and sports
jacket pockets, located inside and out. A pickpocket who values
his freedom avoids front trouser pockets, and especially buttoned
or zippered pockets.
2. If
it is necessary to carry your wallet in an unbuttoned pants,
coat or jacket pocket, be sure it contains only what you can
afford to lose. Keep large sums of money, credit cards, ID's,
etc. in your front pocket or any buttoned or zippered pocket;
keep your keys on a chain, attached to your clothing.
3. Do
not "pat" your pocket to see if you wallet is still
there, as this notifies the criminal of the location of your
valuables.
For
Women:
1. Do
not carry your wallet in your purse. Conceal it in a coat
or sweater pocket where it does not show a bulge.
2. Use
a purse that is difficult or time consuming to open.
3. Never
let your purse lie unattended on a store counter, restaurant
floor, or in a grocery shopping cart.
If you
have been victimized by a pickpocket, immediately notify police
and give the best description you can.
