When travelling in Europe, it is important to understand that pickpocketing is part of the culture there. If a traveler truly wants to be immersed in the life of a European, they must learn to pickpocket.
But how does a pickpocket get away with it? Taking things from sensitive areas of a person’s body, like their pants or coat pockets, seems pretty impossible. But 33 percent of all travel insurance claims result from stolen items.
First, the lingo of the pickpocket. The one being stolen from is the “mark.” To steal the item, a would-be thief will try to make the item be less visible to the mark. They do this by creating “shade.” Something like a jacket in front of the mark’s hands or getting people to look the other way.
A large part of a pickpocket’s arsenal is in distraction — but not large, overarching gestures. Rather, pickpockets distract with smaller movements. For instance, when a person is on a crowded bus, it’s common for there to be little touches between the crowd as the vehicle goes over potholes and makes turns.
The pickpocket uses these innocuous things to get the items they’ve targeted. The brain can only notice so much at a time. It’s why people don’t usually notice the touch of their clothes or their own breathing until someone points it out.
Once the mark is distracted or looks the other way, it’s much easier to steal their valuables, even from their pockets. Pickpockets use the power of limited attention to take advantage of the mark.
This tactic is used in close-up magic, as well. Distract the audience with something while their other hand does something else. It hides the card, it puts the quarter off to the side, it transfers the ball from one cup to the other.
Politicians and news media are using these same strategies.
Federal agents are patrolling metro area streets and detaining people driving their cars or when they go pick their children up from school. Businesses are being raided during the day, and workers are being detained and sent to Texas. Civilians are being tear-gassed, hit with pepper spray or, in the case of Alex Pretti, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Renee Good, shot.
It all becomes too much. People can’t pay attention to it all. And you become a pretty easy mark.
Now that you understand the pickpocket, it’s important to understand how to avoid these types of theft. There are three tactics that are universal, whether you are dealing with a pickpocket, a close-up magician or the current news cycle.
Be prepared. Put your money in an impossible to reach spot. Always keep your hand on your phone. Find news sources you trust and question those that ask you to go against what you know or see. Don’t pay attention to news sources or politicians that knowingly lie, use AI to alter images or flood you with irrelevant information. Talk with friends and family and have an open dialogue to avoid creating an echo chamber.
Stay vigilant. Pickpockets know to strike in crowds or during chaotic moments. Stay vigilant on what you watch, listen to or read. Don’t let one news source or politician throw their shade in your way. Look at a news story from all angles.
Pickpockets aren’t looking for a challenge. They’re looking for easy targets. They want those they know will get them money or valuables quickly. They want you to be inundated with too much. That way, they can make you an easy mark. If you arm yourself with knowledge and media literacy, you become a challenge.
Lastly, all of this takes energy, so take a break. You don’t stay in a crowd for the whole vacation in Europe — find ways to rest. Similarly, you should avoid staying in the chaos of the news cycle for too long.
If you’re rested, you can stay more aware. Don’t become an easy mark.