Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#1
Pickpockets in Canterbury target old woman
1.
o 1
Be alert in large crowds, or anywhere people are pushed up against each other such as subways and other forms of public transportation. Be cautious of anyone who bumps into you, as incidental as it seems. Pickpockets can work in teams in less crowded areas as well to make incidental contact seem more natural.
o 2
Watch out for drunks, especially an attractive one. She'll stumble around pretending to bump into people or touch a man affectionately and pick his wallet while he's distracted.
o 3
Keep an eye out around ATMs for suspicious observers. Some pickpockets stake out cash machines watching where people put their money--it also lets him know who is carrying cash around.
o 4
Spot anyone who is constantly looking over her shoulder. Pickpockets often do this to make sure no one is watching.
o 5
Decline help from strangers who offer to clean spills off of you. There is a lot of patting and rubbing allowing pickpockets opportunities to swipe things. He may have even caused the spill on purpose as this is a common trick.
o 6
Notice people who are wearing nice clothes, a suit or dress perhaps, but with sneakers to make a fast getaway. They may also be carrying a jacket or newspaper in one arm to disguise what the other arm is doing.
Tips & Warnings
• Pickpockets can strike in teams in less crowded areas, using a "stall" who suddenly stops causing the "mark," or the victim, to bump into them while the "pick" bumps into the "mark" stealing his wallet. Or they look for ways to get marks to help such as by dropping change or shopping bags, forcing the mark to bend over and leave an open door for the pick to swing in behind him.
• Check for lost items immediately after contact with a stranger. Be subtle though--some pickpockets will be looking for where people pat themselves to observe where they keep their wallets and valuables.
• Pickpockets tend to be non-confrontational. They don't steal from someone unless it's an almost sure thing; they spot the easiest mark in the crowd and strike.