Pick Pocketing
From Guerrilla RnD Wiki
Pick-pocketing is a method of stealing. It involves removing items from a victim's(otherwise known as a mark) pocket or bags.
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[edit] Where is the Money
The pickpockets fist order of business is always to locate the wallet. Men generally carry their walled in their back right pocket, or if using a coat a right handed man will carry his wallet in his left chest pocket and a left handed man in his right chest pocket. Of course this is just a general theme of marks and by no means the rule. Any pocket could potentially carry a wallet, or other profitables.
A pickpocket will often be seen near tellers, ATMs, cashiers, or any vendor to view where a mark keeps his wallet.
A pickpocket will also hang out around the signs that say, "Beware of pickpockets." When a mark reads such a sign he naturally checks his wallet to make sure he still has it. He will soon forget the warning, but the pickpocket will not forget where the wallet is.
Asking for change is another obvious tactic the pickpocket will use.
There are also a number of "suggestive" tactics used by pickpockets. A pickpocket may actually say things like, "pickpocket, money, wallet." under his breath to see is anyone responds by checking there wallet.
[edit] Diversion
Most lifts involve some sort of diversion. A good diversion for a pickpocket accomplishes two distinct things. First it gets the mark off the thought of his money or wallet, as well as moving his attention. Second it causes a sort of disorientation for the mark. Making it so he will not notice the actual lift. This disorientation can be embarrassment, pain, confusion, anger, generally it is a bump, push, or joust.
A few examples of diversions follow:
A common method is spilling something on the mark. This is preferable to many pickpockets because is not only disorients the mark, but also gives them an excuse to touch the mark when they offer to clean them off. Many things can accomplish this goal for the pickpocket, but some favored ones are hot coffee, ketchup packets, soda, or even spit.
Another trick requires some stage setting. Placing money on the ground, or anything interesting looking on the ground, and remarking to the mark that he has have dropped it. A pickpocket could take this opportunity to attempt a lift, or have a helper approach the man. From that point any number of things can happen. The helper could bump the man while bending over, he could exclaim that the man found something of his, and prophetically thank him while pickpocket number one lifts. Sometimes a little creativity and improv can be necessary.
A common tactic employed by pickpockets is to pretend to be drunk. This alone can give them reason to touch and bump into marks. Also they may dress like officials, clergy, missionaries, or any other member of a "innocent" group.
For the ballsy pickpocket doing embarrassing things can be just the thing. Walking up to someone from behind and throwing your hands over their eyes, and saying something to the affect of "Guess Who?" When the pickpocket realizes he made a mistake he acts terribly sorry and asks forgiveness. At this point the mark is disoriented and his mind isn't on his money. Doing just about anything embarrassing enough will get people off common ground and give you a reason to apologize and shake their hand.
There are literally 100s of setups a pickpocket can trap a mark in, but one more common one should be addressed. A pickpocket with some acting skill will ofter pretend to be handicapped in some way. This could give the pick pocketer a more legitimate reason for bumping, or with his ruse going he could ask for help from a mark.
All these tactics become more powerful with more helpers. Be weary many pickpockets do not work alone.
[edit] The Lift
As we can see a pickpocket goes through a lot of preparation before the actual lift. We have already gone through what state the mark has to be in, and how to prepare so this section will be devoted to how pickpockets get your wallet from your pocket to theirs.
Most important thing to realize is pickpocketing is not slowly grabbing a wallet from a marks pocket and pulling it out. Its not a slow and delicate process. If a pickpocket set everything up correctly he will have more success moving quickly and forcefully to remove the wallet. Generally the pickpockets hand is never actually in the pocket of the mark.
Here we will go through tactics and lifts used based on location of the wallet:
[edit] The Back Pants Pockets
This being the most common wallet location we will start here.
Easily the most common technique pickpockets use is called the "two-fingered snag." Just like the name implies this is done only using two fingers, no thumb. To get an idea for this make a peace sign with you index and middle finger (normal for the peace symbol.) Your fingers should look like a V. Now curl your fingers slightly so you can insert them into a pocket and lift using those two fingers as a type of claw. There are many variations on this one particularly used one involves simply standing flatfooted and listing by going onto the tip toes.
From the back.
From the front.
This technique become even easier if a pickpocket can find a way to raise the wallet earlier during the disorientation of the mark. This is usually done by pushing the wallet up from below either with a knee and or whatever available.
The other common techniques used for the back pocket involve "slitting." This is a very common practise among pickpockets. For one the pickpocket uses a box cutter or razor to cut a square out of the pocket in order to make the contents fall right out. The other involves some type of cutters and a razor. A pickpocket will cut the top stick and simply slit the pocket in half with the razor so the wallet will once again fall out.
Razors are also a common way to get past such things as long coats, and other obstacles.
[edit] The Front Pants Pockets
The front pocket gets a little more tricky for the pickpocket. It involves more intense misdirection. a Pickpocket must disorient the mark, and also move his vision away from the pocket so the pickpocket can not be seen out of the marks peripheral vision. There are two main techniques use here as well. Also far all you would be pickpockets out there here is a hint, I keep my wallet in my front pocket.
The fist method is called "reefing." The thumb and forefinger are placed barely into the front pocket, and a series of small lifts create tiny pleats in the pocket. After several such lifts, the pocket will be turned almost inside-out,and contents can be gathered. This method however has a major downfall, it takes more time then a pickpocket wants to spend working on a pocket.
For a quicker lift from the front pocket. The first thing to know is the position of the wallet. Make sure to find a way to feel the pocket before attempting a lift. You must know: how the wallet sits in the pocket, how deep the pocket is, what else is in the pocket, and the shape of the pocket. Once you know these things apply the two finger snag, while adjusting for variables. A pickpocket wont normally pick this pocket because they choose there victims and will almost always go for something easy. Here is a video of the two finger snag on the front pocket.
The most common entry into a front pocket is slitting. A crescent shaped cut is made along the pocket making all content accessible or simply fall out. Also if a chain is employed by the mark cutting the belt loop will generally free the wallet.
[edit] The Coat Pockets
The coat pocket allows for both difficulties and opportunities. The coat pocket is ideal because it can be moved away from the mark making it less detectable to the mark. However this means more preparation and initial distraction. The mark must be looking in a different direction.
The actual lift is preformed by lightly lifting the coat by the lapel, and worming the fingers into the coat pocket all the while holding the jacket away from the body.
Next we will move onto watches.
[edit] The Watch
by ChubbyChaser
There are many methods a pickpocket could use to steal a watch. These methods are most easily organized by the style of watch band. In this entry we're going to be covering the leather band or "buckle" type watch band. To remove a buckle watch band, it's necessary to unbuckle it as inconspicuously as possible. The main difficulty to this is doing it with only one hand. To accomplish this requires finger dexterity, misdirection, and loads of practice.
Let's cover the techniques that the author has found to work well.
[edit] Method 1
This technique utilizes the assistance of the hand that is engaged in the handshake to do the difficult part of the steal. The tip of the finger is used to wedge, twist, pry, and pull the tail of the band through the loops. From there it is simply of matter of a pull, push back, and slide with the non-shaking hand. The tail is hooked with the side of the thumb, pinched, gently pulled back, pushed to flip over the prong, and the palm is used to grip the watch face and slide the unbuckled watch off the wrist.
[edit] Method 2
The only difference between method 2 and method 1 is in method 2, the tail is pulled free from the loops using the thumb rather than the index finger of the shaking hand. The thumb is a bit more clumsy but has the advantage of requiring only one hand for this steal. After the tail is pulled free from the loops, the thumb is already in position and setup for the pinch.
[edit] Method 3
Method 3 is much more direct, and resulting requires more misdirection. Additionally, the way that the non-shaking hand behaves is unnatural, so it may be helpful to camouflage it in similar quick and erratic motions or contact.
For this method, you cut to the chase and just pinch the tail with your thumb and index finger of your non-shaking hand. You slide the thumb tip under the portion of the tail inside the buckle and pinch the opposite side of the band with your index finger. The rest is fairly straight forward and once again: pinch, pull, push, slide. The differences there being the prong can be pushed with the back of the thumbnail, and the watch is dragged off the hand holding the buckle with the thumb and index finger.
The middle, ring, and pinky fingers can be wrapped around the mark's wrist to provide a small amount of camouflage, however increasing the sensation of the lift. In contrast, those fingers can be held away from the mark and only the thumb and index finger touching for an almost unnoticeable amount of contact, however this leaves the steal visually obvious.
[edit] Method 4
Method 4 was the first method that we developed. In our experience it has the highest failure rate and because of the broad spectrum of watch band flexibility, the results are unpredictable. It does however have the advantage of keeping the pulling and pushing on the watch band in one axis: rotational force around the marks wrist. The caveat to that being, it is very difficult to minimize the strain to that axis.
Method 4 also has the advantage of very minimal visual exposure. This method could be described as: drag, pull, push, slide. The thumb drags the tail back through the loop. You can pinch the tail to your index finger's knuckle, pinch it to your index finger, ect. Whatever works best for you. Practice and see what works best for you. Everyone's hands are different.
[edit] Method 5
This method makes no apologizes. Method 5 is the most direct method we worked with. It's rough, it's dirty, it's fast, and it's simple. If you're taken off a buckle style watch band before: congratulations, you probably already know method 5. In practice, I (ChubbyChaser) am skeptical of the utility of this technique, however I believe it's worthy of mention for the purpose of further practice and investigation. It is interesting to note that the fastest and most impressive steal I have performed utilized this method.
[edit] Method 6
Same as Method 5 but the prong is flipped with the back of the thumb or index fingernail.
Front view:
This view has been included to highlight a trick which can be used to minimize the twisting of the watch on the marks wrist throughout the steal.
[edit] Extra Tricks
A trick smart pickpockets will employ when doing a watch lift is they will put extra pressure on the watch before removing it. This gives the mark a instinctive feeling that his watch is still on due to the pressure he felt on his hand.
Another trick watch booster will often employ is they will apply lubricant to their hands allowing for more seamless removal of the watch.
[edit] Practice
Pickpockets will practice their craft many times before they take them to the streets. Pickpockets will do their practice on helpers, manikins, chairs, or just stuffed clothes.
[edit] If They are Caught
If a pickpocket is accused of theft his response depends on how far along the act they are.
If a pickpocket does not have possession of the wallet of other item. They will strongly deny any intention of theft. They will not let up and most likely get angry at the accusation.
If a pickpocket has the wallet he will most likely deny again, but when the mark checks his pockets the thief will run. Run as fast as he can. If it is his usual "picking grounds" he should have an escape plan already in motion.
Pickpockets are the type of thieves who will never come in nicely. They will either deny, or run.
