Witness to pickpocketing
May 6th, 2006, 04:09 AM
#41
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Actually, Maire, I think this is the most positive type of thread about pickpockets I've seen. It invites us all to think, okay, so if the unlikely does happen, then what? Talking about it neither increases nor decreases the probability of it happening, but it could increase the probability of being prepared.
I've seen it twice, although both times were some years ago.
The first time, in Lyon, it happened to my companion. Two young men came up to us. We tried to get rid of them, but didn't succeed. Suddenly one of them ripped the tiny chain from around her throat and took off.
She threw me her daypack and took off after him. Despite his both being taller and having a headstart, she almost caught him - she had been on the track team. Later she conceded that the chain had had little monetary value, but she was just so furious at the violation, she just couldn't stop herself.
The second time, I was the intended victim.
I was returning to the campground in which I was staying in Amsterdam when I was 'befriended' by a young man who asked where I was from. When I told him, he pulled out a photograph and said, "I have a friend in Montreal - do you know him?"
Almost at the same minute I felt as if someone were overtaking 'us'. Completely innocently, I stepped aside, mentioning to my 'companion' that "I think this person wants to go by." And indeed, the person behind us went past. And shortly afterward, my 'companion' bid me farewell.
After returning home, I told friends the story of the naive innocent I'd encountered who'd been so ignorant of geography, he thought that I might have run into someone he knew in Montreal. Midway in a sentence, it finally dawned on me just who had been the naif! The photograph had been presented as a distraction, in the hope that I would take it from him to examine it, and in the process release my arm from its vice-like clamp on my shoulder bag. (In those days I was also too naive to wear a money belt.) The person behind was of course not simply overtaking 'us', he was the designated hitter, so to speak.
The irony is that my calm response probably threw them off better than any struggle, since it was so unpredictable. Since that day I've decided that that is to be my defense in any attempted mugging (as opposed to pickpocketing, which is a generally nonviolent crime.) My priority is going to be calming my assailant down, keeping a sense of humour in a situation in which humour isn't expected. For money is only money, but one's physical safety is another matter.
I've seen it twice, although both times were some years ago.
The first time, in Lyon, it happened to my companion. Two young men came up to us. We tried to get rid of them, but didn't succeed. Suddenly one of them ripped the tiny chain from around her throat and took off.
She threw me her daypack and took off after him. Despite his both being taller and having a headstart, she almost caught him - she had been on the track team. Later she conceded that the chain had had little monetary value, but she was just so furious at the violation, she just couldn't stop herself.
The second time, I was the intended victim.
I was returning to the campground in which I was staying in Amsterdam when I was 'befriended' by a young man who asked where I was from. When I told him, he pulled out a photograph and said, "I have a friend in Montreal - do you know him?"
Almost at the same minute I felt as if someone were overtaking 'us'. Completely innocently, I stepped aside, mentioning to my 'companion' that "I think this person wants to go by." And indeed, the person behind us went past. And shortly afterward, my 'companion' bid me farewell.
After returning home, I told friends the story of the naive innocent I'd encountered who'd been so ignorant of geography, he thought that I might have run into someone he knew in Montreal. Midway in a sentence, it finally dawned on me just who had been the naif! The photograph had been presented as a distraction, in the hope that I would take it from him to examine it, and in the process release my arm from its vice-like clamp on my shoulder bag. (In those days I was also too naive to wear a money belt.) The person behind was of course not simply overtaking 'us', he was the designated hitter, so to speak.
The irony is that my calm response probably threw them off better than any struggle, since it was so unpredictable. Since that day I've decided that that is to be my defense in any attempted mugging (as opposed to pickpocketing, which is a generally nonviolent crime.) My priority is going to be calming my assailant down, keeping a sense of humour in a situation in which humour isn't expected. For money is only money, but one's physical safety is another matter.
May 6th, 2006, 05:02 AM
#42
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I once witnessed a pickpocketing in Rome. I was 10-15 yds away and saw two boys lift a wallet from a tourist's back pocket.
I ran up and told him. He looked at me like I'd had the temerity to interrupt an important conversation! (He was talking to his friend ...)
It took HALF A MINUTE for him to take me seriously and check his back pocket!
I wondered why I'd bothered ...
Steve
I ran up and told him. He looked at me like I'd had the temerity to interrupt an important conversation! (He was talking to his friend ...)
It took HALF A MINUTE for him to take me seriously and check his back pocket!
I wondered why I'd bothered ...
Steve
May 6th, 2006, 07:07 AM
#43
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I think I posted this once before . . . on a trip to Paris, a young girl tried to push through the metro turnstyle with my daughter and while doing so, had her hand inside my daughter's bag (big purse).
I yelled, daughter whipped her bag around, and girl ran off. We stopped to check the bag to see if anything was stolen and lo and behold . . . we found the thief's watch . . . a nice one, too!
In Covent Gardens in London, there were about a billion people coming out of the tube station and we (3 ladies, 60-ish) saw a guy grab a wallet and run around the corner to his waiting friend. There were so many people and the streets were so packed, we could not have done anything or even reported it.
Interesting thread . . .
Sandy (in Denton)
I yelled, daughter whipped her bag around, and girl ran off. We stopped to check the bag to see if anything was stolen and lo and behold . . . we found the thief's watch . . . a nice one, too!
In Covent Gardens in London, there were about a billion people coming out of the tube station and we (3 ladies, 60-ish) saw a guy grab a wallet and run around the corner to his waiting friend. There were so many people and the streets were so packed, we could not have done anything or even reported it.
Interesting thread . . .
Sandy (in Denton)
May 6th, 2006, 10:24 AM
#44
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Sue, I'm glad you found this to be a positive thread. Everyone has such interesting stories. I'm glad to see the pickpockets don't always get what they're after--and sometimes even leave a watch!
I'm curious, do you find yourselves curbing your natural inclination to be polite or trusting when strangers approach--well, let's say more than you do at home?
I'm curious, do you find yourselves curbing your natural inclination to be polite or trusting when strangers approach--well, let's say more than you do at home?
May 6th, 2006, 10:34 AM
#45
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>...do you find yourselves curbing your natural inclination to be polite or trusting when strangers approach--<
Absolutely. I do my best to not let anyone touch me.
At a small cafe in Florence, a little girl (about 8-9) of Eastern European appearance (very pretty), came up to us and began stroking my wife saying, "pretty lady, pretty lady". I gently removed her arm and led her away from the table.
I don't know what she said, but I don't think that little kids should talk that way to strangers.
Absolutely. I do my best to not let anyone touch me.
At a small cafe in Florence, a little girl (about 8-9) of Eastern European appearance (very pretty), came up to us and began stroking my wife saying, "pretty lady, pretty lady". I gently removed her arm and led her away from the table.
I don't know what she said, but I don't think that little kids should talk that way to strangers.
May 6th, 2006, 10:50 AM
#46
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Happened to my husband on a train in Madrid - jostled by a "team" - he realized what was going on & cussed them out (they responded in kind). They got his sunglasses out of a shirt pocket but the important stuff was in a zipped interior pocket.
May 6th, 2006, 11:31 AM
#48
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I slapped a pickpocket once! Here's a link to the thread were I wrote about the incident:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1380636
~Liz
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1380636
~Liz
May 6th, 2006, 12:16 PM
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This is a true story.
In 1987 DH, our 5-year old daughter and I spent the summer driving through Mexico. When we were packing up to leave Oaxaca early one morning DH went down to the car with our last load and found the window broken and a thief in the car. He yelled and the thief pulled out a knife. DH backed away but when the thief ran, so did DH. When he turned the corner, he saw 6 men - the thief with the knife, a thief holding our luggage and 4 men with shopping bags.
The 2nd thief dropped the luggage and both thieves took off, with DH in pursuit yelling for help. The 4 men with shopping bags turned out not to be accomplices and joined the chase. So it was 2 thieves, DH and 4 men with shopping bags running through the streets of Oaxaca at 7 am.
One by one the helpful shoppers dropped from the chase. Then the thieves got in a taxi and DH continued to run after the taxi, still yelling. At 6'1", blonde, wearing shorts and yelling in bad Spanish, he attracted attention. It was the morning rush hour so a police officer directing traffic, saw this, pulled out his gun and ordered the taxi to stop. One thief took off out the other door, and the thief with the knife was caught.
Minutes later a paddy wagon came and thief, DH and the traffic cop got in. They asked DH his story and when he mentioned the knife, the officer whacked the thief and yelled.
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, I heard DH yell an obscenity so I asked our daughter to lock the door and wait and I rushed to the street. Our car window was broken, the door ajar, stuff everywhere, but no DH. I asked the hotel clerk to call the police but he said it wasn't possible. I was frantic. I walked up to the corner where a crowd of people had gathered. No DH but luggage strewn everywhere. Several men with shopping bags came up and began helping me gather our things and a lovely man in the beauty shop at the corner piled up our stuff, called the police and watched our luggage and our car while I went to get my terrified daughter. I had no idea if I'd see DH again.
Minutes later the police car came and asked if my husband had yellow hair and shorts. They said he'd caught the thief and to follow them in our car to the police station. DH was their giving his testimony.
Eventually we were free to go. The police officers directed us to a window repair shop nearby where 3 men, who'd been called by the police while we were driving there, ran out, replaced our window in 2 minutes, charged us $10 and apologized for all of Oaxaca.
Despite the thieves and the hotel clerk, it was a wonderful experience of the kindness of strangers. In our two months in Mexico we encountered remarkable, kind people who helped us out of one crazy car-related jam after another.
In 1987 DH, our 5-year old daughter and I spent the summer driving through Mexico. When we were packing up to leave Oaxaca early one morning DH went down to the car with our last load and found the window broken and a thief in the car. He yelled and the thief pulled out a knife. DH backed away but when the thief ran, so did DH. When he turned the corner, he saw 6 men - the thief with the knife, a thief holding our luggage and 4 men with shopping bags.
The 2nd thief dropped the luggage and both thieves took off, with DH in pursuit yelling for help. The 4 men with shopping bags turned out not to be accomplices and joined the chase. So it was 2 thieves, DH and 4 men with shopping bags running through the streets of Oaxaca at 7 am.
One by one the helpful shoppers dropped from the chase. Then the thieves got in a taxi and DH continued to run after the taxi, still yelling. At 6'1", blonde, wearing shorts and yelling in bad Spanish, he attracted attention. It was the morning rush hour so a police officer directing traffic, saw this, pulled out his gun and ordered the taxi to stop. One thief took off out the other door, and the thief with the knife was caught.
Minutes later a paddy wagon came and thief, DH and the traffic cop got in. They asked DH his story and when he mentioned the knife, the officer whacked the thief and yelled.
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, I heard DH yell an obscenity so I asked our daughter to lock the door and wait and I rushed to the street. Our car window was broken, the door ajar, stuff everywhere, but no DH. I asked the hotel clerk to call the police but he said it wasn't possible. I was frantic. I walked up to the corner where a crowd of people had gathered. No DH but luggage strewn everywhere. Several men with shopping bags came up and began helping me gather our things and a lovely man in the beauty shop at the corner piled up our stuff, called the police and watched our luggage and our car while I went to get my terrified daughter. I had no idea if I'd see DH again.
Minutes later the police car came and asked if my husband had yellow hair and shorts. They said he'd caught the thief and to follow them in our car to the police station. DH was their giving his testimony.
Eventually we were free to go. The police officers directed us to a window repair shop nearby where 3 men, who'd been called by the police while we were driving there, ran out, replaced our window in 2 minutes, charged us $10 and apologized for all of Oaxaca.
Despite the thieves and the hotel clerk, it was a wonderful experience of the kindness of strangers. In our two months in Mexico we encountered remarkable, kind people who helped us out of one crazy car-related jam after another.
May 6th, 2006, 12:34 PM
#53
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That really is a great story Rose. Sometimes some of the best memories can come from bad events.
For us, I don't think I've ever seen a pickpocketing from a distance. I'm probably too busy enjoying to views to monitor more than than our immediate personal space. We did have three attempts on us within a tow hour span in Timisoara, Romania though. None very professional though. Saw it coming, dodged and shot 'em the "ah, ah, ah" look. A week later, a boy of about 8 tried to reeeeach inside an open doorway where were having a slice of pizza in Medias, Romania and grab the day pack strapped around the back of my wife's chair. Little guy grinned at me when I turned my head and stood up - and was gone like a shot. Neither place is very well known to tourism, so I was sort of surprised to see that these were the only two places where it happened on that trip. But then, maybe they hadn't had enough practice!
May 6th, 2006, 02:31 PM
#54
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I believe I have told this before, but this is one for the books. We were on a student tour in Paris. While boarding the crowded metro, one of our adult chaperones felt a hand upon his (which was in his pocket holding tightly to his wallet.)When the pickpocket could not forcibly move his hand out of the pocket he pulled him off the car right before our eyes! We screamed and yelled and the train took off. We went off at the next stop, waited for awhile, and, lo and behold, here came the chaperone on the next train. He had pushed both men down (it was a tag team operation) and hopped back on with his wallet still in his possession! No one helped, nary an eye batted. At the stop he was dragged out at, he wasn't helped either! My husband had better luck a few years ealier in Paris when someone witnessed the robbery and brought back a young girl who had lifted his wallet. There weren't police around either incident.
May 6th, 2006, 05:02 PM
#55
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Pickpocketing and a group of kids gangs up on someone.
The former - it;s highly unlikely you will notice. If you do - shout, point and try to ID the person - but they'll probably get away.
In the second it's an asault. Yell for the police and do whatever you can to help - including throwing things at the kids and dragging them off the victim.
The former - it;s highly unlikely you will notice. If you do - shout, point and try to ID the person - but they'll probably get away.
In the second it's an asault. Yell for the police and do whatever you can to help - including throwing things at the kids and dragging them off the victim.
May 6th, 2006, 06:13 PM
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I have seen a few things happen, and only stepped in once.
1) in line at the train station in Amsterdam, a woman 2 people in front of me was picked. Actually, her entire purse got stolen. What did I do? Stand right there and tighten the already death grip on my bag.
2) When I was working in the offices at the MACBA, my desk had a view of the entire plaza which is a big place for tourists, skaters, druggies, and pretty much anyone who wants to get from one place to the other in the Raval. At least once an hour per day in the summer we hear running feet and look up to see a tourist chasing a spry teenager who always escapes the same way: jumping over the fence where the junkies hang out to end up in a school playground. What is weird is that rarely do the people scream. When they do, their stuff usually gets thrown because there is a lot of security and they will pursue if there is screaming.
3) On the BCN metro I was in a pretty abandoned car, and in the 4-seat bay, I faced 2 Brazilian girls who had a bag between them. The one on the inside got up to consult the map, and a man in the aisle (standing despite ample seats: red light, people) struck up a conversation with the seated girl. Right away his friend came and went for her wallet in the bag, not even looking at me. I just sat there thinking about what a horrible person I was, but then I thought "well, what if they try to hurt me?" Anyways, the guy could not find the wallet, so the train stopped and he grabbed her purse and walked off. the other girl came back, looked down and said "not again." They looked to me and I have never felt like such an ass.
1) in line at the train station in Amsterdam, a woman 2 people in front of me was picked. Actually, her entire purse got stolen. What did I do? Stand right there and tighten the already death grip on my bag.
2) When I was working in the offices at the MACBA, my desk had a view of the entire plaza which is a big place for tourists, skaters, druggies, and pretty much anyone who wants to get from one place to the other in the Raval. At least once an hour per day in the summer we hear running feet and look up to see a tourist chasing a spry teenager who always escapes the same way: jumping over the fence where the junkies hang out to end up in a school playground. What is weird is that rarely do the people scream. When they do, their stuff usually gets thrown because there is a lot of security and they will pursue if there is screaming.
3) On the BCN metro I was in a pretty abandoned car, and in the 4-seat bay, I faced 2 Brazilian girls who had a bag between them. The one on the inside got up to consult the map, and a man in the aisle (standing despite ample seats: red light, people) struck up a conversation with the seated girl. Right away his friend came and went for her wallet in the bag, not even looking at me. I just sat there thinking about what a horrible person I was, but then I thought "well, what if they try to hurt me?" Anyways, the guy could not find the wallet, so the train stopped and he grabbed her purse and walked off. the other girl came back, looked down and said "not again." They looked to me and I have never felt like such an ass.
May 6th, 2006, 06:26 PM
#57
I know I posted earlier but it is not here? I have never actually seen it happen in Europe but many times here in Boston on the subway, where I have yelled, Watch your bag, watch your wallets and the would be thief running off the next stop. The same for the perverts, I saw a guy kneeing a preteen on the subway, she in tears, I stomped on his foot he ran to the door and almost flew out but I gave that child a lesson in not to be silent, I HOPE
May 6th, 2006, 06:31 PM
#58
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We witnessed a pickpocketing near the Trevi fountain in Rome. The tall, goodlooking thief had his hand in and out of some man's pocket so fast without breaking his stride that we didn't actually realize what we witnessed until it was over and the man had melted into the crowd. Nice work. Raise an alarm? No Italian. Alert the police? Ditto. Run after the man? I'm a middle-aged woman with one functional knee. So, we tightened our holds on our own belongings and moved on.
May 7th, 2006, 04:21 AM
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It happened to us in Toulouse to my sister. Luckily the police were the ones who witnessed the event and tackled the pickpocketer. We went to the police station and filed a complaint, in the process meeting many of the local policemen. They were very nice and we were very thankful.
May 15th, 2006, 05:58 PM
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My brother, as a Paris resident, saw a pickpocket in action on a bus. Big mistake for the thief! My brother shoved him to the floor and made him give the wallet back. Then he threw him off the bus. (Presumably, but unconfirmed, he threw him off when the bus came to a stop. LOL)
