Eng130397_M16187A_Text2.
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Text Two
Know How the Criminal Mind Works
Think like a criminal thieves coming from behind,
NEXT TIME you see a “Beware always walk against traffic and 75
of Pickpockets” sign, beware of carry your bag away from the
your own behaviour: clever road.
criminals often linger by the Distraction Tactics
signs and watch passers-by. 5 Be it dropped coins,
When they see the sign, people splattered ketchup on a shirt, or
unconsciously move their hand a stray child asking for change, 80
to where they’re keeping their thieves are adept at drawing
valuables, to make sure they’re your attention away from your
safe. This shows pickpockets 10 Mr Lefler. But it was a classic valuables. Tourists are perfect
exactly where to aim for, often example of how such gangs 40 targets, not only because they
indicating a supposedly secure operate – one person distracts usually carry more cash, but also 85
waist belt, which can be you, whilst the other slips because in an unfamiliar place
removed without the wearer they are easier to distract. If
nimble fingers into your purse,
feeling anything. 15 something unusual happens
your pocket, your bag.
Other tactics to be aware of while you are travelling, there’s
Never let go of your bag – 45
include potential thieves probably a reason for it. 90
even in your home town. Attach
standing behind you in a queue Pickpocket teams operate on
the strap to your ankle in a
at a cash machine watching your public transport, especially
restaurant rather than over the
fingers, or even pretending to 20 buses. Whoever takes the
back of your chair; hold your
video friends but actually wallet, usually passes it to
bag in front of you in crowded 50
recording you keying in your someone standing behind them. 95
areas, not on your back like a
identification number, to use By the time the victim notices,
rucksack.
when they steal your credit card the accomplice is already out
Thieves are constantly
later. 25 of the bus or tram.
reinventing their craft, adding
new twists to old tactics. New 55 Credit Card Copying
criminal strategies and danger Thieves have come up with
areas include the following: another way to steal the 100
information on your card using
Motorbike Snatch waitresses, hotel and shop staff.
and Grab When customers hand over their
One of the most common – credit cards for payment, during
and potentially dangerous – the processing a copy is made 105
types of theft, from Malaysia, 60 which is later used for a
Richard Lefler was walking Thailand and Taiwan to Europe, spending spree. Customers are
down a street in Madrid in late is when two thieves on a advised to keep their card in
1999 when a passer-by dropped motorbike take bags from sight at all times.
coins at his feet. Instead of pedestrians. There are reports of
reaching down to help the man, 30 serious injuries to victims, 65
Mr Lefler, an expert on including a woman whose arm
pickpockets, immediately had to be amputated after an
grabbed his back pocket – and attack, according to a Hong
found he was holding hands Kong-based security firm.
with a criminal. 35
Many snatches occur in 70
“I don’t know who was more crowded market or shopping
surprised – me or the guy who areas.
had his hand on my wallet,” says Since the ploy depends on
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