Be wary of the pickpocket thief

Pickpocket thieves

Pickpockets are the ‘portable’ menace in society, attempting to steal valuables and possessions from unsuspecting individuals, who are often present in public areas or crowded places within communities.

The pickpocket thief is resourceful, cunning and will resort in bold and successful methods in order to steal from innocent victims.

Within our pick pocket overview, we have first selected some useful tips and information to help keep you safe from the stealthy pickpocket on the street, with a finishing section which outlines some common cons that a thief can practice to get away with your valuables.

Always protect yourself from the pickpocket

1. Before you use them, try and remember to make a note of all details and identifying number information on a driver’s licence, bank or credit cards, cheque books or similar. It is also an excellent idea to have to hand their respective emergency contact telephone numbers, which will need to be used immediately when reporting any theft. Ensure this information is safely stored at home or within another secured location.

2. When on the move or stationary, try not to hold a handbag or purse in the hand as the item can be very simply forced from your grasp by way of a knock or via a grabbing attempt. Purchasing and using a bag which has a shoulder strap design can be highly beneficial, always ensuring the exterior pockets or flap area are placed against your body.

Pickpockets can sometimes attempt to cut shoulder straps to remove them from a person, so be wary of this possibility. Handbags which incorporate a top opening facility are often attractive to the pick pocket thief.

3. Whilst many individuals consider walking with hands placed in the pockets to be impolite, the benefit of doing so will stop a thief from gaining access to them.

4. Never place all valuables together in a bag or other holdall or even wallet, and especially ensure keys to your home are placed in a pocket area.

5. If you can, it is safer to always conceal bank cards or cash within individual pockets, purses or wallets. Where practical, dividing currency to place in all storage areas will result in less significant theft if you are pick pocketed.

6. When out and about making everyday purchases in the newsagent or train station for example, it is easy to display cash or jewellery items unwittingly. Try and ensure this does not occur and keep smaller amounts of money separately available in purses or wallets, to reduce temptation to the would-be thief.

7. By keeping wallets, money sleeves or purses out of reach in the interior pockets of coats and jackets, or front facing pockets they are less inviting to pickpockets. Never leave a wallet protruding from a back trouser pocket; this is an easy, favoured location where a thief can simply and deftly steal your cash.

8. When involved in any shopping in busy community areas, be very vigilant as pickpockets can often practice their trade. Be watchful around shop entrance ways, bargain hunter sections, lifts, escalator paths, or areas which feature product demonstrations. All of these areas and similar places can give crowded cover to protect the thief who discreetly steals from others.

9. Always be very observant of surroundings before a cash machine is used and try to avoid using an ATM at night or in a secluded area. Where you observe suspicious looking individuals or groups, choose another location instead. When involved in the process, ensure that you are closely standing in front of the machine to block any observers from noting your PIN number details or becoming aware of the nature of your transaction.

When leaving an ATM you can confuse a potential thief by deliberately walking a short distance in the opposite way you intended, then sharply reversing your route. If it is apparent you are being followed, seek help from nearby groups of people or summon police assistance, dialling ’999′ where required.

10. Never leave items you own in a publicly accessible place without proper supervision, even for just a moment. So whether you are inspecting the wall timetable in a train station and turn your back on bags for a moment, or you place them on the floor to use a cash machine, don’t perform this. In doing so, it can leave you a tempting and easy target for thieves

Avoid the pickpocket ruse

Professional thieves operating as pickpockets will commonly work with a partner who is responsible for a distraction, which then allows the thief to engage in robbing the ‘marked’ victim. These distracting techniques are employed via a number of frequent ways, which include the following:

1. Fighting – where a resulting argument can occur, groups of people will naturally begin to interact and move around each other to avoid the actual fight. In the resulting confusion, pickpockets can avail themselves of your wallet, handbag or purse.

2. The helpful member of public – if you ever witness a person who loudly shouts ‘be careful of the pickpockets’ or similar phrase, they may be attempting to incite you or others to instinctively reach for their money or valuables. By doing so, easily and simply alerts pickpockets in the area to the exact location of your items.

3. Accidents – the resulting confusion which can stem from an accident which is caused by another can be all the time a thief needs to steal from you. A slipped foot or dropped possession in a crowded area are all that’s required to cause an instant episode of uncertainty in the area, leaving you a potential mark.

4. The apology – this classic is still very effectively used by the pickpocket and involves a speedy interaction where a collision on your person is planned. Performed either by way of a knock, bump, spill of food and drink or similar, the thief apologises, and then rapidly disappears with your possessions in hand.