Are they doing this yet in Paris and Rome?
 

A new pickpocket ploy in Boston:

Officers spoke with the victim who stated that he had been smoking a cigarette outside of 279 Tremont St. when the suspect, described as a white female dressed in black, approached the victim and hugged him. The victim quickly discovered his wallet had been stolen and reported the crime to officers.

I think I might just be suspicioud of a perfect stranger who felt an irresistible urge to hug me.

They certainly are doing it here in the Netherlands. Often the hugger asks a simple question and on receiving a reply hug the huggee and steal their necklace/wallet/other valuable.
Its been going on here since early this year, at least.

Whether suspicous or not, I don't allow strangers to touch me. Pickpockets do all kinds of things to get near someone, doesn't seem so unusual in terms of pickpocket tactics.

This is new????

And agree - never to let a stranger get close enough to hug you? There is a reason it is called "personal space".

It's new in Boston, nytraveler. Everything's up to date in Kansas City, but not in the Hub of the Universe.

We are used to armored car robberies and women robbing banks, but when we get purses stolen from the backs of restaurant chairs or women hug us, we just say, "Well, gollee, how about that!" :-)

They just shoot and rob you in fl.

And it is obvious, that the hugee has a billfold in an easily accessible spot - like a pocket.

I think the reason such tactics work is the element of surprise. It is easy to say you won't let anyone touch you, but you have to have pretty quick reflexes to fend off a hug you aren't expecting. And while you're fending it off, they're picking your pocket.

Assuming that victims are all idiots is a dangerous mistake.