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Be aware of your surroundings - especially in crowded places.
Be aware of bumps, commotions, agressive people
Sometimes a person will fall down, drop something or look ill and we rush
in to help. That's great and I recommend it, but be aware that it may
be a diversion. You need to stay alert!
Be aware that on streets, in malls, bus terminals, traveling on a bus,
train or plane, it is extremely important to be aware of your suroundings.
Signs that read "Pickpockets About" or someone yelling "There's a pickpocket
in the crowd" are not always what they seem - It can be a ploy by the
pickpockets to locate your valuables.
The first thing I need to do in my show is locate the people with watches,
etc. If I bring 5 people on stage and none are wearing watches or have
anything in their pockets, well, there goes the show. So ... I scope out
the people in my audiences and see where the valuables are.
Pickpockets do the same thing - the signs are put up by the pickpockets.
and the person yelling may be one of the "gang".
I know the first thing most of you will do. I've seen it at my shows.
When you learn that I can pick pockets, the men will check for their wallets
and the women will check for their jewelry...in the order of value. They
check the most expensive item first and then the next most expensive,
etc.
That action points out to me exactly where the wallets and valuable jewelry
are located. A man in a business suit had 4 pants pockets and 6-8 pockets
in the jacket. The wallet, cash and credit cards could be in any one of
10 or more pockets. A pickpocket doesn't usually have time to search all
10, but when they see you purchase something and replace the wallet or
check to see if it's there when you see the sign, they now have the exact
location. It saves a lot of time.
If you think there are pickpockets around or you see a sign, don't be
obvious about checking for your wallet or valuables. Also be aware that
pickpockets are about.
Don't show money or valuables in public.
While I was entertaining at the Flamingo Hilton Casino, a gentleman flashed
a roll of bills towards me and stated, "I only have $ 2,000, I need to
go home and get more." I was dressed in a tuxedo and looked like one of
the casino personnel, but the point is that everyone around could have
seen and heard that he had $ 2,000 cash. And if they observed him replacing
the money in his pocket...well....
Don't carry valuables in a backpack or fanny pack.
Anyone can reach into a backpack without you seeing or feeling. Fanny
packs, if worn, should only be worn in front. Keep in mind that will not
protect you from a thief undoing it or slashing the belt and getting away
with it. If you do have a fanny pack, make sure the buckle is near the
pouch in front so a pickpocket would have a more difficult time getting
to the latch without your knowledge.
Prevention Techniques
Don't wear or carry expensive jewelry if you are going to be in a crowd
or an unfamiliar place.
Wear a money belt.
Split your cash up onto several pockets - (if a man has 10 pockets and
divides $ 200 into each, the pickpocket may only get to 1 or 2 pockets
and thus only get $ 20-40 of the $ 200.
Don't carry large sums of cash with you - and if you must, then always
keep most of it in a money belt under your clothing.
Use credit cards or Travelers Checks.
This information courtesy of pickpockets.com
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