Bob Arno and Bambi in a den of thieves—6
byThiefhunting, Day One, continued. As we synchronize our thiefhunting plans with the film crew, I’m newly appreciative of Michele, our London-based sound recordist, who…
Thiefhunting, Day One, continued. As we synchronize our thiefhunting plans with the film crew, I’m newly appreciative of Michele, our London-based sound recordist, who…
Thiefhunting, Day One. Fully half the day is spent rigging hidden cameras. I’m wearing a button camera attached to an awful button-down shirt that…
Six of us—locked into a small, sweltering room. We’d done interviews in the convent refectory all day, first Bob, then I. Some of the…
“They’ve bugged our room,” I postulated to Bob in the taxi from the airport. “I bet they hid video cameras inside.” That aspect of…
“Are you wearing a bra?” That was one of the first sentences directed to me upon landing. We did not collect our luggage because…
Time to make an announcement. Our long-dreamed of, long-worked for project has become reality. Bob and I are making a documentary about pickpockets. The…
Every frequent traveler has a personal list of what he misses about home. The list varies depending on the type and length of travel….
irst there was skimming, now there’s shimming,” says Kim Thomas, former Las Vegas Metro Detective, now an international authority on forgery. Information on this…
“Door-pushers” are a problem in some cities. These thieves saunter down the long corridors of giant hotels with their arms outstretched, methodically pushing on…
Road Warrior Packing Tips Eighteen years of near constant travel gives one a certain authority on the subject. Bob Arno and I are on…
How to do a hotel room security check ob and I sleep more nights in hotels than in our own home and, to date,…
as it instinct or anger that made Bob chase my bag snatcher? He rocketed down the street brandishing the famous umbrella weapon that was…
A dozen boys swarmed around Gary Ferrari in front of the Sheraton Hotel in Lima. At least it seemed like a dozen—they’d appeared out…
What’s in the nice red bag? Camera? IPod? Cash? Credit cards? Its owners are snug in the hammock, backs turned, oblivious.
Is it legal to take photos at airport security checkpoints, or not? Occasionally I’ll politely ask a TSA officer if I may take a…
You want pickpocket statistics? How prevalent is pickpocketing? How many thefts occur in one day in New York, or Rome, or St. Petersburg, Russia?…
Go ahead—laugh. I did. Is there a more phallic kitchen tool on the planet? Or one more ridiculous? You should see the thing in…
In my previous post on theft from lobbies, I reported that the Hertz office had a sign on its door warning that thieves worked…
Purses and backpacks go missing at the worst times. Like, when they’re filled with cash, passports, cameras, medications, travel documents, and laptops. Like, when…
The scene: a hotel lobby, late morning. Guests sit with their luggage, waiting for rides. Some are waiting to check in. A man walks…
What could be the purpose of a motion-detector inside a hotel room? Is this a new trend? This one, in our room at the…
What is this? Anyone have a clue? It was mounted on the inside of our Westin Hotel room door. I know, I could have…
South Africa—It was somewhat of a shock to find nothing but white lines on asphalt in the place we knew we left a van….
I don’t think a plugged-up hotel bathtub or sink is terribly odd. The number of them we run into though, is. Why doesn’t housekeeping…
Bob had just made contact with the shoulder-surfing thief… Pirouetting, I went to find Kun Chang, our film director, who’d been with us all…
We started early at Gare de Lyon in Paris, on the hunt for a particular thief. He’s known for a specific M.O., and for…
After such a successful meeting with Pierre the part-time-Parisian-pickpocket, our filmmaker, Kun Chang, was full of confidence. He booked a soundman and assistant for…
“Dear Bob, My name is Pierre. I’m 33 years old and I have worked as a pickpocket in Paris since the age of 13.”…
Ms. Shopper’s in the store when her kid has to pee. While she’s helping the little one, her purse is stolen from the store…
When we interviewed Luciano in Naples, Italy, our translator, a Napolitano, explained how Rolexes are stolen off the wrists of drivers in the summer….