The Pickpocket Wants to Bump Into You.

We all know what a pickpocket is don't we? Sure we have seen one performing their act on the stage. Pretty much like magicians, their antics can be very amusing.

Unfortunately, the thieves that pick pockets on the street are anything but amusing.

To lose your valuables to a dip (pickpocket) can be very costly, very inconvenient and sometimes heartbreaking. It is not only the loss of money, which can be bad enough, but the loss of credit cards etc., and that can cause you a lot of stress and inconvenience.

If you happen to be traveling abroad when you get robbed there is the likelihood that you will lose important travel documents, those will need to be replaced, often at the cost of a lot of time. Yes, pickpockets cause headaches.

Why do thieves take the time to learn the despicable art of picking pockets? Because it can be very lucrative, and the danger of being caught is less than the danger of being caught mugging.

The victim (known as a mark,) of a team of pickpockets usually does not know he, or she, has been robbed until after the event. It is often some time after, perhaps it is only when they reach for their wallet to make a purchase, that they realize what has happened.

Perhaps the mark remembers being bumped into or jostled, but would they be able to give a good description of the person that bumped them? The pickpocketing team would likely have moved on by then anyway.

A pickpocket loves crowds.

In cases where the victim realizes what has happened to them at the time, and manages to keep the dip in sight until the arrival of a police officer, would the pickpocket still be in possession of the victim's valuables?

Unlikely, they would most probably have been passed to another member of the team (known as a dish) as soon as the mark had been relived of them.

Witnesses? Skilled dips act lightning fast and surreptitiously, they don't chance passers by seeing anything. Usually all a witness could state is that he saw the thief bump into you or jostle you. Convictions for pickpocketing are difficult, unless the thief is inept, or gets caught by some kind of sting operation.

The least skilled pickpocket is the opportunist, and the opportunist is perhaps the easiest to guard against. A bag over the back of a chair in a restaurant, a wallet sticking out of a back pocket, an open purse or a bag left on a counter, all are temptation to an opportunist pickpocket.

This type of 'dip' may work alone. He (or she) makes their way to where the crowds are, shopping malls, airports, busy railroad stations, sports events, public parks, libraries, department stores and so on. He is looking for those of us who are being careless with our valuables, he will see his opportunity, go for it and disappear.

Avoid falling asleep in public places. Someone snoozing on a bus, subway, in a bar or airport lounge is a prime target for getting their pockets picked by an opportunist. If you are feeling sleepy then stand, if possible get fresh air, do not risk sleeping in public – you are likely to awaken minus your valuables.

Aside from the opportunist, pickpockets most usually work in teams. One of the team distracts the mark, perhaps by asking directions or some other question that requires them to stop to give the answer. Meanwhile another crook lifts the mark's wallet or other valuables. This other team member then swiftly passes the wallet on to a dish who disappears with it in a split second. All this happens without the mark being aware of the theft in the slightest.

Another method of stopping the mark, is the bump. One of the gang 'accidentally' bumps into the victim, delays him, or her, for a second with a polite apology whilst a lightning fingered accomplice relieves the mark of his goodies.

Someone drops a handful of coins in front of you. You being the helpful citizen that you are, take the trouble to stop and help pick them up. This entails you bending forwards to pick up the coins thus making it very easy for an accomplice to lift your wallet from your rear pocket.

Then there is the squirt. Someone 'accidentally' squirts mustard or ketchup on your nice new designer jacket, apologizes profusely, and insists on cleaning it up. As the cleaning takes place a 'dip' is helping themselves to the your wallet, cellphone, camera, or the contents of your purse.

A close cousin to the squirt is the 'bird droppings' diversion trick. A thief secretly splashes white liquid on your clothes, informs you that you have been blessed by the birds and just happens to have a wad of tissues and a helpful desire to clean you up. Meanwhile your pockets are being picked.

The idea of using children to pick pockets did not die out with Fagin and the Artful Dodger. Sometimes these juvenile street criminals work alone, their small size being an asset to working unnoticed. Often though, children are members of a pickpocketing gang, perhaps even a family, and are skilled diverters, dips, stalls or dishes.

In some cities in the world, child street gangs make their living by robbing unsuspecting tourists.

Don't flash the cash! Some individuals love to carry thick wads of folding money around with them and take any opportunity to show it off. Madness. Perhaps these people think they are impressing others by displaying a fistful of dollars, but it is more likely that they are looking as foolish as they are acting.

These folks should think who might be observing them when they pull out that wad of cash. They should think, but rarely do! Then the next thing that they know they've been pick pocketed or mugged. It is rarely necessary to carry large amounts of cash. If you absolutely have to carry cash then keep it well and truly to yourself. Do not display it, do not talk about it.

Guys - do not keep your wallet in your back pocket, it simply is not safe there. It is so easy to lift a wallet from a back pocket that dips refer to back pants pockets as sucker pockets.

If you must carry a wallet with cash and cards in it use your front pants pocket, but not if the pocket is loose. A tight pocket may be inconvenient, it makes it difficult for you to take out your wallet – but it makes it that much harder for a pickpocket to 'lift' it from you!

Ladies - do not place your wallet on top of the other items in your purse or handbag. Keep your bag closed shut, zip it if it has a zipper, and carry it towards the front of you with the flap next to your body. See also - Purse Snatching.

Consider using a money belt.

Now that you know how these light fingered thieves operate, read these Tips to Avoid Getting Your Pockets Picked.

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