-alan-
pfm Member
Prompted by this on the watch thread..
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...te-luxury-watch-thefts-women-southern-england
I was wondering if anybody else has been targeted by pick-pockets.
I was, at least once to my knowledge. Was travelling on the Paris Metro a few years back with my wife and daughter, heading back towards the airport with bags and suitcases aplenty. A team (of five we later realised) fell into place - youngish 20-30 year old males, two in front, two behind us on an escalator, with a fifth loitering near the top. As we came to the end of the escalator, one of the lead pair feigned stopping to adjust a shoe, crouched down and caused a pile-up as the three of us stumbled /nearly fell over him. By coincidence I'd seen exactly the same scenario reenacted on a documentary on pick pockets a couple of years earlier, so twigged what was going on.
Despite knowing what was happening, with us all piling over the guy at the front, and with the weight of the guys behind pushing in too, all of your attention gets focussed on the struggle to avoid falling over somebody else and trying to stay on your feet. In the ensuing melee I felt a couple of fingers go into the back pocket of my jeans and slide across a little business-card holder I had - didn't take it, but certainly checked it out. As the pile-up cleared the two pairs went off on different directions.
I pulled our lot to the side and explained what happened and asked them to check to see if anything was missing. The two girls were travelling with their handbags at the front, zipped, as I'd always have cautioned them on stuff like that. Despite that, the zip on my daughter's bag had been opened - but luckily her wallet and passport were in another zipped-section inside. About 10 minutes later we were on another train, and spotted the four lads - plus another one - calmly strolling along the platform like a well-dressed group of young tourists and professionals without a care in the world.
Looking back, it was clear we'd been hit by proper professionals: one to cause the distraction, a second in front and the two other behind making sure we were properly jostled, and working the pockets and bags in the chaos. The fifth presumably was on hand checking to ensure there were no cops around at the top of the stairs, or available for stuff to be handed off to if needed - or, heaven forbid - to bulk up the numbers to intervene in case things turned nasty. We were exceptionally lucky - but have to say, I was left in zero doubt that if those kind of guys are going to target you, there's very little you can do about it.
Anybody else been targeted or done ?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...te-luxury-watch-thefts-women-southern-england
I was wondering if anybody else has been targeted by pick-pockets.
I was, at least once to my knowledge. Was travelling on the Paris Metro a few years back with my wife and daughter, heading back towards the airport with bags and suitcases aplenty. A team (of five we later realised) fell into place - youngish 20-30 year old males, two in front, two behind us on an escalator, with a fifth loitering near the top. As we came to the end of the escalator, one of the lead pair feigned stopping to adjust a shoe, crouched down and caused a pile-up as the three of us stumbled /nearly fell over him. By coincidence I'd seen exactly the same scenario reenacted on a documentary on pick pockets a couple of years earlier, so twigged what was going on.
Despite knowing what was happening, with us all piling over the guy at the front, and with the weight of the guys behind pushing in too, all of your attention gets focussed on the struggle to avoid falling over somebody else and trying to stay on your feet. In the ensuing melee I felt a couple of fingers go into the back pocket of my jeans and slide across a little business-card holder I had - didn't take it, but certainly checked it out. As the pile-up cleared the two pairs went off on different directions.
I pulled our lot to the side and explained what happened and asked them to check to see if anything was missing. The two girls were travelling with their handbags at the front, zipped, as I'd always have cautioned them on stuff like that. Despite that, the zip on my daughter's bag had been opened - but luckily her wallet and passport were in another zipped-section inside. About 10 minutes later we were on another train, and spotted the four lads - plus another one - calmly strolling along the platform like a well-dressed group of young tourists and professionals without a care in the world.
Looking back, it was clear we'd been hit by proper professionals: one to cause the distraction, a second in front and the two other behind making sure we were properly jostled, and working the pockets and bags in the chaos. The fifth presumably was on hand checking to ensure there were no cops around at the top of the stairs, or available for stuff to be handed off to if needed - or, heaven forbid - to bulk up the numbers to intervene in case things turned nasty. We were exceptionally lucky - but have to say, I was left in zero doubt that if those kind of guys are going to target you, there's very little you can do about it.
Anybody else been targeted or done ?
