Beat The Pickpockets

[Barmaid]

I got sent this today by our local e-cops. I thought it might be worth sharing.

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/get-involved/our-campaigns/national-campaigns/pickpocketing/beat-the-pickpockets/

On the 3 occasions I have been dipped, it has been in a pub. (2x bag nicked and 1x purse, cards and phone).

In hindsight, all of the perps looked like perfectly respectable citizens as the above videos bring it home.

[boxtops]

Thanks Barmaid.

I got dipped in Spain a few years back - it was very scary - I got of the bus with my handbag zipped, by the time I went to cross the road, the bag was unzipped and my pruse gone :-(

[boxtops]

..and my purse, too :-)

[Svejk]

you cant replace your pruse, boxy. ;)

[Barmaid]

I sat in a pub in Euston in front of a low, wide table. My bag was between my legs. Somehow the young gentleman who asked to share our table hooked something underneath and nicked my bag. The contents were subsequently used to purchase underwear and clothes at a shopping centre just outside London. Bitch who bought the stuff was a size 12.

Second time I left my CD player hooked over the back of my chair - utter stupidity.

Third time, two "business ladies" sat on the bench next to us and plonked their coats down. Quick hand underneath the coats and it was bye bye to my purse, cards and phone.

NOW I split everything. Some in my case, some in a pocket and sod all in my bag. Never open my bag on the street. ANd dont get shedded in London anymore.

[boxtops]

You - shedded? Pfft....

[Barmaid]

lol, I did have my fags nicked off a table in the pub garden in Peterborough recently, but I identified who had done it and brazenly went and challenged them. They ended up buying me drinks all evening.

[ludwig]

I've never been pickpocketed or had a bag nicked. I'm a bit paranoid about it in touristy or crowded areas so I make sure everything's locked down and out of sight. For example I use those wallets that you wear under your clothes like money belts.

I became aware of a gang trying to lift something from me once in Florence. There was one guy obviously pushing into me - he was probably just a distraction while another bloke did the actual theft, and then there was a 3rd bloke standing nearby with a half open umbrella pointing to the floor (it was a blazing hot day without a cloud in the sky).

Thinking about it afterwards I reckon the 'lifter' would have dropped the wallet into the umbrella. However, because everything was secure, they had no chance.

[Barmaid]

You had probably clocked them Ludwig.

I scared my mother to death in Italy. She was sitting on a bench with my grandparents and her bag was just next to her. She didnt see me coming and I grabbed her bag and was away up the street with it. Stern lecture (from me) followed.

[ummmm]

I'm a bit paranoid about it as well. I keep my card and 'getting lost' money in my bra.

[pusskin]

While in Mercia Spain about 3 yrs ago, I wandered through this lovely open market, with my small fancy lightweight bag on my shoulder --zipped up.
Stopped a minute and held up a top that i quite liked, put it back to look at one mre, and strolled to next stall. I quickly noticed my bag unzipped --strange i thought! My purse had gone with my bank card and £60 worth in euros.
I'd never take my hands off my shoulder bag now, always have my hand across the opening. Thieving barstewards.

[Svejk]

that's the first place I'd look, ummmm. ;o)

[ummmm]

:-) But I'd know you were doing it :-)

[Svejk]

my friend took his ex to mexico city in an attempt to 'win her back'.
going down the underground there's all these signs 'beware of pick-pockets' etc.
my mate 'you should do the zip up on your bag, love'
her 'that's the trouble with you, you just don't trust anyone do you, blah blah, blah blah.'
anyhoo, 10 minutes later and her purse is missing from her bag. my mate dare not say anything cos its going to be his fault.
she 'casts' around the carriage till her eyes settle on a man-mountain, my mate swore he saw him in 'a fistful of dollars', and she says 'I think he took it and if you were any kind of a man you'd do something about it'.
and no, I don't know why he wanted her back, either.

[Peter Pedant]

Boxtops - Madree' ? You must have spent time in the Calle de las Recogidas ? [ Reclaimed Fallen Ladies ] that is where the multilingual police are.

They were so cripplingly slow that after a good chat with all the others who had been robbed - three hours I think, I left and went back at 0600 the next day. and was seen within 30mins.

Robbed outside the Garzon Museum by a spurious Police search. They aborted after I said - we really ought to finish this at a police station....
but by then they had my cards.

The Thpanith Policia didnt give a brass monkeys that impersonators were robbing tourists. Uninterest and indifference is too weak to describe their attitude.

.

Still at the time in Granada, the drug gangs had a shoot out in the bus station. No it wasnt Coronation St., it was real life ! ( and death )

[zebo]

My husband was robbed in Prague, going through a door way, one man dropped something and bent down to pick it up, we later realised that the video camera was missing from the bag he was carrying. Apparently, they work in pairs, one holds up the queue and the one behind does the robbing. It was done again getting onto a tube in Barcelona, but luckily OH was aware of it and the guy behind almost got his fingers broken.

[boxtops]

No Peter - Malaga. They were having a police purge on Eastern European dippers at the bus station, so a mobile police station was just over the road, and all dealt with very quickly :-)

[ludwig]

I've heard enough stories about people having things robbed to know you can literally never be too careful. It takes seconds.

If I've ever got a bag with me it never leaves my sight, and I mean never.