Pickpocket spotted in action

Dave Smith wrote:
LordAvalon wrote:


So when visiting touristic places (everywhere in the world) just
remember to keep watchful and not to have open bags, wallets in the
back pocket of your pants... Be careful of children if they seem out
of place (late at night, in small groups with no school bag...).
Nothing to be afraid of but it is a noisance.


When my son was 16 he went on a school trip to Europe. We live in a
small town and the chaperone was not terribly street wise. When an old
lady bumped into my son on the bus (intentionally) he pushed her away and
yelled at her. The chaperone was shocked at his behaviour and blasted him
for being rude to an old lady. When she was finished berating him she
discovered that her wallet was missing from her purse. The old girl was a
pickpocket.


About a year ago on the metro I saw a similar pickpocketing. Train pulls
into the station. I get on. At the door at the other end of the train
there is a commotion. A 20ish Asian guy is sandwiched between two men.
He is alone, very prosperous looking, and loaded down with bags from
expensive stores. The guy in front is yelling at him for bumping into
him when the train stopped. The guy behind, the one who pushed him into
the other pickpocket, is still tangled up with the Asian guy. He felt
something, reached for his wallet, found it gone, and began grabbing the
guy behind him. He realizes at that moment that he was pickpocketed, the
two guys start running, he takes off after them. Last I saw them all 3
were running down a corridor toward the exit. This happened ahout 10am
on a weekday. There were no other people were on the train when it
happened. So much for the guidebooks that tell you that metro crime
happens mainly on crowded trains and/or at night.

"Patrick Hernan" wrote in message
...

So much for the guidebooks that tell you that metro
crime happens mainly on crowded trains and/or at night.

Perhaps the thieves read that section of the guidebook and figured they'd
have less competition (not to mention the element of surprise) operating
during off-peak hours.

Richard

Jack Campin - bogus address wrote:

[Italian pickpockets]
I remember seeing a similar performance in Rome railway station
10 years ago. Why don't the police round them up and deport them?

A friend of mine claims to have seen "GAYS GO HOME" spraypainted
on an Edinburgh council estate.


Are gays pickockets?

--
Best
Greg

Mxsmanic wrote:

The fact that someone has no ethics
doesn't necessarily mean that he is dangerous.


I dunno Max...here in the States they are called "Republicans"...

--
Best
Greg

"Gregory Morrow"
gregorymorrowEMERGENCYCANCELLATIONARCHIMEDES@eart hlink.net wrote:


Mxsmanic wrote:

The fact that someone has no ethics
doesn't necessarily mean that he is dangerous.


I dunno Max...here in the States they are called "Republicans"...

applause

Candidate for "post of the week".

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

Take a look at this web site: http://www.jones.tc/barna/scams.html. It's
got pages and pages of accounts of personal experiences with street crime,
mostly in Barcelona, and mainly pickpocketing.

Harriett


"Richard" wrote in message
...
"Patrick Hernan" wrote in message
...

So much for the guidebooks that tell you that metro
crime happens mainly on crowded trains and/or at night.

Perhaps the thieves read that section of the guidebook and figured they'd
have less competition (not to mention the element of surprise) operating
during off-peak hours.

Richard

Richard writes:

Perhaps the thieves read that section of the guidebook and figured they'd
have less competition (not to mention the element of surprise) operating
during off-peak hours.

Since they were pursued, it sounds like their strategy was not well
chosen.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

snippety snip
It's bad enough that bands like this prey on innocent people, but it's
particularly distasteful when they prey on those who have stopped to help
them.

I remember seeing a similar performance in Rome railway station 10
years ago. Why don;t the police round them up and deport them?

The police do. The way it works in Italy is that the police know exactly
where they live work etc and where they come from. They then go and do deals
with the airlines back to their home countries and when they can negotiate a
block of cheap seats, they go and round up enough immigrants to fill those
seats.

In short, these pickpockets have become so daring that they're not even
afraid of getting caught. Also, once you catch them, they're not just gonna
stand around while you call the cops. If you try to physically restrain
them, some violence may result. Therein lies the quandary.

Hi,

had an attempted "dip" in amsterdam once....I felt the tug and partner
spotted the dip... being a couple of American "John Wayne" types the
dip became the prey... after "greeting him" and "patting him down"
(with the brass knuckles I'd picked up in paris) he decided to go
swimming in the canal.... strange day for it considering it was october...

So, let me get this straight. If you ever saw a pickpocket

red-handed, would

you actually try to physically detain them and call the authorities,
especially in a foreign country where language could be a barrier.

Hi,

If I was the target I would not bother trying to "call the authorities".

I'd just decide it was "a good day to kick somebody's ass".

In europe I carry a switchblade and a set of brass knuckles (get a new
set each trip) just like when I was "with it" in the US.

"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be layed a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from
them." J.B.Books