The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-18
POCKET PICKING.
.y THIEVES GET AT THE POCKETS
OF THEIR VICTIMS.
sr,,so and the Front and Back
....u.p-DsscrIptlOn Of q Number
q, the Tricks of Light-Fin'
gered Gentry.
BROOKLYN Eagle.l

IbfOOk4H LeBN0'4
V.,t.t nicking is one of the principal
y s~ n tbieyedom. Occasionally lit is
~ siuoIe handed. but only the cleverest
..rr. csn thus work alone. For pocket
:.tins thew nearly always go two to-
I.,s.r.ofte1 three, occasionally four.
s h, The number may be, whether
H. Or four, the person who really does
va,k Is called the wire. Suppose
~ one is the wire and the other two
: tbs front and back stalls. Stalls is
snost always practiced in pocket pick
4 The stall acts as though he did not
Ipg TO the thief, and yet does all he
Il 10 assist the wire The stalls walk
ore or behiud-any way so that they
n divert the victim attention from the
n and cover his work from any one
so happens to pass by. The wire will
keep the treasure in his hands long,
passes it into the hands of one of the
sIs who thus becomes tie swagsman or
nksr.
Peketbcoks. when emptied of their
nlsnts, are thrown away the first OPP
EIunity, to avoid Identification. In
ding pockets they are guided to their
edm BY his general appearance and
amer. Thieves become very expert in
iGng what position persons hold in
t and whether they are likely to have
money about them. Moreover, they
lEh people in public places, paying or
siing money, and they will follow
en- very long distances If the victim
ans gold watch then the thieves are
nHcIed to the risk at once; money OK
money, they make sure of q watch.
hence Of mind makes many a victim
he piCkpocket And when the per-
nknOt prsoccupied and absorbed in
oEn thoughts the stalls always divert
victims attention from the wire by
anhg against the victim, as if by acci-
u asking him the way to somewhere,
a' hour Of the day, or by creating
ne disturbance.
DOA male and female thieves are very
Va Ct what they call tanning peck.
which is done by suddenly, as if by
5aenL passing one hand quickly and
MY over the pocket, and thus they car
u moment which pocket contains
IeSSurs The wire always uses the
eIp and two forefngers, generally OF
ngnt hand When they get their vic
=. 10 nights the pocket is picked in a mo
= AUG Tue gang at once disperses. Il
sle gets into trouble by being de
- o. suspected. then the lis come
AN S9d. acting as if they did no
We lAlef, do their uttermOst to ge
Wv OF the scrape, and clear off
- money is loose in the pocket thu
~ ~ eau it wedding" people occs
S., .Glak that they have lost or mis-
ss ssl ! loose money In going from stor,
'i ~, !! may be so, but often the wir,
wedding When ladies' pock
nS " long that the wires finger
ss,d ~. ,La the bottom, he puts his lef
49, ~ tAe bottom of the pocket outsid
~ Dress and very dexterously an,
~ ~ ~ y perceptbly, lifts the pocket M
sesIo .ae night hand; and this is callet
i5S y; Instruments used in poke
a0,s SIC aSi sharp penknife or a pair Q
+ nniH aau pair of pliers-the forrne
k i,a,S pockets and ladies' dresse:
reS.' st Tor cutting watch Guard
ane As n CSAen from the pocket muc
d Win pocket books or purses.
aaaraa 1--WE ways make a venture or thro,
aas0l5 10y, as he calls 1t, when b
pa Il ts enan No matter where th
Asi Ts NC iS1y or gentleman is worr
sA 4 ' oua his finger along the GUARD
e fads i = sIiues him to the Watcl
spenllT n,' 70 be silver watch, he wi
nun l SJ' II back in disgust, but
sdetects..SiA s s.. Tor gold watch.
ID o. S;a either by the alertness of b
lie vs,o S OWN awkwardness he wi
"a h, s H back if possible or saw n
sanSl!s Ot entangled with his bnffon,
aH, and = Ss S his victim, beg b
ssst aisvssoo cover his OWE retreat
@ By tho urea pIeak the watch from Il
ASt Tia ,IIoiowing quick and eas
ka bsOdS watch &c is tightly grasped I
ottAs ftISG ., the powerful and flesh
salch v SSono resting on the part !,
I'd mere the stud and rino are :
sssB lie ring to wh, cu III, ing gb are
@ager of A. Sucy between the thuu
lFs The =" sl right hand. This DO
hs watch thief considerable now '
IDS Il and by sudden wrenchi,
6eaks opposite directions. the rir
gs conn ~ the stud is twisted off. {
Iasses TISO 9dy happens. the small D
"a out Trough the ring to fasteR
sot tine Vtoccaslonally the thiev
esdiSossit other times thew cam cam,
i f ,ouulty of the circums SeTs
aaa s OGn. the guard; and when '
. nd da Tus his watch out Of !
Aat soIgllng by the chain he e m,
nd O@ething of the kind s
sdiy Il s. 3, The man that :. .,
q po . follow advice iz s y q
h. ~~Orest that offers. sure
= % leatbo- >