Hi, I am researching for a book, and I am looking for techniques that
street pickpockets use when they steal valuables(I only have space for
the best 5)

Hi dogsbollocks,

This topic interests me since I was once pick-pocketed on a vacation
in Prague. It happened in a subway car and everything turned out quite
well, since in the end I had his jacket and he had nothing of mine.

From my research, I've discovered that although there are many
variations of ways someone can separate you from your possessions, the
basics are fairly standard. Those basics consist of opportunity,
benign physical contact, distraction, sex, and compassion.

You can get a good idea of how each method works by examples (complete
with photos to give you a better idea of what's happening) at the
following site:

Howstuffworks "How Pickpockets Work"
http://travel.howstuffworks.com/pickpocket1.htm

Other pages on this site provide information about how people can help
proof themselves against these nimble-fingered thieves.



Now, it appears that pickpocketing is an equal-opportunity
"profession." Children, senior citizens, healthy people or crippled,
men and women -- all practice this fine art. Some countries seem to be
more notorious for this street crime than others. I found an
interesting website maintained by Bob Arno. "Time Magazine called him
"the world's foremost expert on the techniques of first-rank 'wires.'
"

Who Is Bob Arno?
http://www.bobarno.com/whois.htm

On his website you'll see an interesting listing of variations listed
by public places and by country. Places include airports, casinos,
escalators, restrooms, and department stores.

(It was interesting to me to see he lists Prague in the country
section under Czech Republic.)

Thwarting the Pickpocket
http://www.bobarno.com/bata.htm

Other articles which might interest you are:

Arthritic Granny Was Pickpocket
Mastermindhttp://travel.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=pickpocket.htm&url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/040302_sn_granny.html

and

MSNBC: Hospital Issues Pickpocket Alert
http://travel.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=pickpocket.htm&url=http://www.msnbc.com/local/wbal/A1180153.asp

and

Pickpockets Work With a Nasty Bag of Tricks to Divert Your Attention
http://travel.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=pickpocket.htm&url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/102998/scam29.html

As Bob Arno says, " It's not what you wear... just be aware!" I'll be
keeping that in mind after all I've read researching this question.

I wish you well,
revbrenda1st 



Search strategy:

pickpocket methods
://www.google.ca/search?q=pickpocket+methods&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&meta=