Comments on: Swift swiper strikes

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:49:11 +0000

Somebody should have adverted you of some places at Barna (well, almost everywhere, also Madrid, and other popular cities). In the most touristic places, the carteristas and all kinds of m0f0s are widely known. In order not to get swept, just don’t put anything away from your hands. Everything you bring must be your phone (on your trousers, any pocket, but never on hand), your documentation, and money. DO NEVER bring a bag or whatever, and of course if you bring it do never in your life put it apart from you. And always look at your sides. If someone is a suspect for being a thief, nail your eyes on him/her, as if saying “I got you, watch out, take your way back”.

As from the pictures, I guess they were romanian gypsies. Here in Spain it’s a plague (it’s known they are flown away from Romania just for normal romanians to get rid of them). They know a thing or two about stealing. Local gypsies are a different kind. Romanian, well you know… There are also young morocco boys doing the same thing.

Living in Madrid gives one eyes in his/her neck. Whenever I go outside I suspect from anybody like those. Thus, I am never surprised. I have more problems with airport personnel (they stole me a camera because of me being stupid) than with people like that.

So next time you come to Madrid or Barcelona, follow my advices. Ah, and you’d better go to other places; check Asturias (Ribadesella), Ibiza, Gerona… there are fewer m0f0s. But there are.

Well, as in everywhere. Or not?

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:33:59 +0000

Wow. That’s all I can say. Wow.

By: Bambi

Bambi — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:51:20 +0000

Distraction thieves are often pickpockets, and vice versa. It’s a fine point. From the victim’s perspective, valuables are gone, and it doesn’t much matter if they disappeared from a pocket, purse, or tabletop. Or… maybe it does matter. One has a right to assume that items tucked into pockets are safe. Violating a pocket is much like burglarizing a home–as opposed to leaving a wallet/phone/camera exposed on a table.

Anyway, charlie, you’ve asked a good question. Do these young thieves also steal items from a person’s body, as Kharem does? Perhaps some distract thieves are afraid to risk that physical contact. But in my research, most do cross over. There is little to risk in failure. The pickpocket gets a glowering look or a shove, then moves on to the next mark.

By: charlie

charlie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:26:58 +0000

do children thieves (gypsies) start out as distraction thieves then move up to pickpockets or do they pick pockets as well??

By: Bambi

Bambi — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:00:26 +0000

Many start before birth! In utero. Then, as infants, they’re passed around like props because a “mother” with child usually won’t be arrested. In many countries, it’s a matter of survival–homeless kids grow up on the streets and theft is their only meal ticket. These kids? Impossible to say because we didn’t get a chance to speak with them beyond the initial accusation.

By: y e l m

y e l m — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:50:17 +0000

Those kids look so young. What is the typical age when they turn pro?