Pickpocket Safety Tips
Here is a valuable safety tip from ABC's Good Morning America on how to avoid Pickpockets.
"It can happen in a split second. A shopper leaves a purse open in a shopping cart and turns away for a moment, perhaps to browse the shelves or try a free sample, or maybe she's distracted by her phone, but that's all a pickpocket needs to reach into her purse and snag her wallet.
The distracted, rushed world we live in makes shoppers easy prey, said Bob Arno, an expert in pickpocketing who advises law enforcement on how to catch crooks red-handed.
"The thieves analyze you very well," he said. "They are like a school of fish swimming and they'll subtly watch for the weakest victim. … The one who is not paying attention."
Another classic pickpocket move, Arno said, is to work in pairs, where one person distracts the victim, while the other swoops in and does the stealing.
In surveillance video a man is seen getting the clerk's attention, and while the clerk's back is turned, the man's partner, standing in line behind a woman, waits for her to look away from her purse and swipes her wallet.
Arno offered a few tips to prevent people from becoming pickpocketing victims.
1. Don't Be Distracted Just Because Someone Appears Trustworthy
Most pickpocketing instances are crimes of opportunity, Arno said.
"It's more about not paying attention. … Victims make it easy for the thief," he said. " all say they love the person who is lackadaisical. They can practically smell them."
2. If It's Easy for You to Get Into, It's Easy for Thieves Too
Instead of leaving your purse or backpack in the cart or hanging off a chair at a restaurant, Arno suggested carrying it under your arm or keeping it in front of you.
"If I'm feeling at all threatened I have it up front," he said.
3. Keep Everything in Your Line of Sight
Never, ever leave your purse or bag in the shopping cart and walk away from it, Arno said. It will make you a prime target."
Carry a fast deploying pepper spray with you at all times. This Sabre Spitfire is the smallest and fastest deploying pepper spray available. It can fire at any angle up to 10 feet away.
Guardian Self-Defense & Security Products LLC is one of the largest most trusted online distributors of non-lethal self-defense items and surveillance equipment in the US. We specialize in premium pepper spray, mace, personal alarms, stun batons and more. We are "The Self Defense Product Experts"!
Shop Stun Batons
Stun Master 110,000,000 Volt Bad Ass Metal Stun Baton And Flashlight
17 reviews
Looks like a police "billy club" and delivers an amazing 110 million volts of electricity 4.9 milliamps depending on the charge of the batteries Made from some of the strongest material on the planet - high-quality aircraft aluminum High-end tactical 120 Lumen LED flashlight Firm rubberized contoured grip...
- $49.95
$59.95- $49.95
- Unit price
- / per
Streetwise Mini Barbarian Stun Baton Flashlight 9,000,000
2 reviews
The MINI Barbarian is the perfect name for our newest stun baton. If Conan the Barbarian lived in modern times, we are sure this would be his weapon of choice. Even in our more refined culture, there are still “barbarians” who roam the streets....
- $49.95
$54.95- $49.95
- Unit price
- / per
Streetwise Barbarian 9,000,000* Stun Baton Flashlight
5 reviews
Protecting yourself with the Barbarian is as easy as 1,2,3: Identify Threat: An attacker will use the cover of darkness to sneak up on their victims and to hide their identity. He'll also look for the most vulnerable victim. This powerful light beam shined...
- $55.95
- $55.95
- Unit price
- / per
Safety Technology Repeller Stun Baton 40,000,000 Volts
2 reviews
Safety Technology Repeller has 40,000,000 volts of stopping power. The rubberized coating ensures a firm grip and the strips down the barrel of the Repeller stun baton release a hellish shock to anyone trying to take the baton from you. It is rechargeable and has...
- $39.95
- $39.95
- Unit price
- / per