Watch Out For Pick Pockets

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Okay, its that time of the season the tourist all around the globe to come to this side of the pond, but this caution can be applied anywhere in the world that you are travelling to.  The pamphlet is all around the underground, where I pick one up, when we went into Central London to play tourist and do the usual sightseeing.   This booklet was put together by the Metropolitan Police and TFL (Transport For London). You can pick this anywhere in the underground stations.

!BE AWARE!    WATCH OUT FOR PICK POCKETS ~ PROTECT YOURSELF.    Thieves operate in crowds and busy places and can work alone or as part of a team.

Police are working to reduce theft and pickpocket offenses on London’s transport network.

WATCH OUT FOR PICKPOCKETS!!  SEVEN WAYS TO SPOT A THIEF!!

Thieves, often called pickpockets, use a range of tactics to distract you in order to steal from your bag, rucksack (book bag) and pockets.  The following tactics are the most common used by thieves:

! ~ THE CONCEALED HAND ~ The pickpocket uses a an item, such as a newspaper, coat or bag to conceal their actions whilst they pickpocket the passenger.  – see this  video:        http://youtu.be/ve9kz7IVIVk 

! ~ THE DISTRACTION ~ Working as a team, one pickpocket approaches the victim and asks them for directions using a map as a distraction. The second pickpocket uses this           opportunity to steal from the victim whilst they are distracted. – see this video:  http://youtu.be/ZXS8Lj4M1N4

! ~ THE STALL ~ When boarding a bus the person in front of the victim deliberately stalls to cause an “artificial queue”. This allows the person behind the victim to take advantage of the close proximity and steal from the victim. – see this video:  http://youtu.be/u77gxbe-zyo

! ~ THE EASY DIP ~ A bag hangs on the back of the pram. Whilst the mother is distracted by her child, the pickpocket seizes the opportunity to take the bag or items inside, such as a purse or mobile phone.  – see this video:   http://youtu.be/q0_P9_QHYrk

! ~ THE GRABBER ~ The victim sits in a seat close to the doors or the bus and places their bag on the floor besides them.  The pickpocket notices that the victim is not paying attention to their bag. The loiter by the bag waiting for the bus to stop and as the doors open they take the bag and make a quick getaway.- see this video: http://youtu.be/80hg750J__c

! ~ THE BANK FOLLOW OFF ~ The victim is queuing at a bus stop after going to a cash point/bank.  The pickpocket(s) have watched the victim and target them as they know they have a quantity of cash on them. 

! ~ THE SNATCH ~ The victim is using their mobile phone and is unaware of their surroundings, the suspect takes advantage of the distracted victim and snatches the phone from their hand before making off.   – see all the video:   http://youtu.be/VWnrvUIrfVE

This is another video from Rick Steves – http://youtu.be/IR6Mq55xFrU – Thank you to all that made the videos; Rick Steves  and The British Transport Police.  

There are many more information in regarding to your travels worldwide, the message is always the same, be aware of your surroundings and be alert! Always be prepared and never leave your bag open always have it closed or zipped up. Never show your cash and as always, BE AWARE!! BE ALERT!!