Caught-in-the-act criminals aren’t always keen on conversation. “Why I should talk to you!” some say. We’ve been threatened with rocks, hit, spit upon, flipped off, and mooned. But we’re constantly astonished at how many thieves talk to us. Why do they do it? We don’t flash badges at them, we don’t dangle handcuffs. The outlaws don’t know who we are or what’s behind our front. Might we be undercover cops? Hard to imagine, with our flimsy body structures and frequent lack of local language.
Interviewing thieves
My husband, Bob Arno, can usually find a common language for an interview, though he or the perp may have limited ability with it. Sometimes we have a translator with us or can snag one, impromptu. Most importantly, Bob has a unique advantage: he has worked for forty years as a pickpocket.
Inside knowledge, familiarity with moves and challenges, and level dialogue allay our subjects’ suspicions. Or perhaps they’re highly suspicious, nervous, and confused. Ultimately, they don’t know what to make of us.
Okay, so Bob’s a stage pickpocket. He steals from audience members in a comedy setting and always returns his booty. But the physical techniques are the same, the distraction requirement, the analysis of body language, the sheer balls. And Bob has that other illicit necessity: grift sense. He can sense a con, he can play a con.
No doubt our interviewees intuit that in only moments. Next thing we know they’re buying us a beer, accepting our invitation to lunch or, in our favorite case, offering us lucrative work as partners.
While victims relate their anger, inconvenience, and bemusement, their perpetrators tell tales of persecution, desperation, an unjust world, or alternative beliefs in the rights of ownership.
Excerpt from Travel Advisory: How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams
Chapter One (part-m): High and Dry on the Streets of Elsewhere
10 Comments
Just learned of you and Bob, you two have real great advice. I know this post is quite old, but wheres the video you mentioned of these mooners?
I should see the video! ;D lol.
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@Charlie: Most pickpockets look for the easiest opportunity: a vulnerable handbag, a protruding wallet, valuables left unattended, distracted marks… Other create opportunities: causing a distraction, causing the mark to behave in a way that is beneficial to the thief… “High-end” pickpockets will target a mark suspected of being wealthy, following the person and waiting for or creating the opportunity. And yes, many pickpockets “specialize” in a certain theft: purses, back pocket, cargo pocket, etc. Read our “brief primer on street thieves” at http://bobarno.com/hunters.htm
@Charlie: a lot about how pickpockets select their victims is aat http://bobarno.com/hunters.htm, and at Pocketology 101 at http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/theft-thwarter-tips/pocketology-101/
You’re right: the thieves who mooned us felt above everything. They have the confidence to moon in public, just as they feel confident enough to put their fingers into your pocket.
Bambi one thing that has amazed and puzzled me is how pickpockets select there marks. i mean is it there age’sex’alertness’hair color (blondes) or even what pocket you have your wallet in.
how do pickpockets select there marks??
AND THE MOON IM SUPRISED SHE HAD ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO PULL IT OF IN A PUBLIC PLACE!!
‘Is mooning limited to women?’
I’d guess it is. You can only allow so much ugly. 😉
Is mooning limited to women?
You should see the video. She slaps her butt, and it’s quite wobbly! The other woman did the same; and after a long time struggling with her belt, the little girl pulled her pants down, too.
Oh that is one ugly butt. I would never let that woman pick my pockets! 😉