The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-02-13

1t was Police Inspector Knox who
said it. and he knows. Nobody in town
would dispute his right 10 lie called the
best man in town IN this line of detect
i've service He use almost his entire
time in watching for pickpockcts. and
what he SAYS about them is peculiarly
interesting.
Said the Inspector, III explanation OF
the somewhat surpris, NJ statement
quoted above. The female professional
pickpockets always seek victims among
their own sex. as the women OF to-day
are given to carrying their pocket
books and watches in exposed places
Then. too, the thieves are less apt 10 be
suspected because Of their sex. ana.
most important of all for tie reason
that in the wide range of style of
women's wraps nowadays they find
plenty of opportunity to h de their
hands while at work. 4 shawl or wrap
of any sort which seems TO be care
iessly carried on the left arm. hides
the right hand while it feels for the
location of a pocket and then makes its
way to the pocket opening, where the
top of the lining is seized by the fingers.
1t is then but moments work to draw
the lining UP until the pocket is practi-
cally turned inside out and the contents
drop into the pickpocket,s hand. The
fingers which do this work are never
inserted deep into the pocket. They
Just catch the lining Of the upper edge.
The trick IS done in a crowd where
eyerybody's attention is riyctcd on Il
special object where Il tG..ch of Il
strangers hand or even rough iostling
itself is not needed.
Generally pickpockct has a coafed-
crate. Then ii, rs sometimes happens
the loss of a pocketbook IS immediately
discovered, the real thief, having
passed the purse to the confederate,
can be as sympathetic as anybody, and,
if suspicion makes 1t absolutely
necessary. can submit to an cEamina-
ton with the same confidence in the
result that might be felt by the most
innocent person present. 1t is the
wrap, however that gives tie female
pickpockets the great advantage over
the light-lingered thieves of the other
sex, and the latter try to overcome this
by using an ovcrcoat, if the weather Is
not so cold that an oyercOat carried on
the arlu Will attract attention, or Il
linen buster in summer. Sometimes
the men make ! newspaper answer the
purpose. II the male pickpockets are
not the more successful they are at
least the more aGro't and audacious.
They have to be SO, Tor they don't con-
fine themselves to womeu'S pockets.
They seldom try 10 take money from
mems pockets. as clOse-titting clothes
make the risk OF detection too great;
but they find it an easy matter TO steal,
or, ~ it is termed, ring watches
from men. This is done while the vic
tim, with unbuttoned coat and expand
ed watch chain, stands III Il street
crowd. The thief slyly gets the watch
from the o :. e with one hand, while
with the otAcs lie gIa'ps the chain
at the lower end. \ short. quick jerk
with both hands in opposite directions,
and the ring which is the connecting
link between the chain and the watch
becomes separated from the watch
stem. The watch is then in the hands
of the thief, while the cIain and ring
are dangling down the front OF the vie
TINS wa stcoat.
person has but to try this trick
with his own watch to see how easily it
may be done. Pickpockets do these
things in crowds, but they cannot al
ways find a crowd, and sometimes have
to resort to maxim" one themselves.
They do this generally on railroad
trains, where the general hustle and
hustle give them opportunity to get .
well-dressed man in their clutches. Az
the victim is about to enter the car he
is brought face to face with a man who
is in 4 hurry TO get out. The two
squeeze together in Il doorway, and
two other men. both in Il hurry, as.
cend the platform and also try TO oct
into the same car. Three Of the men
are pickpockets, and the stranger is
between them by prearranged plan.
He is quickly robbed of his watch. and
perhaps diamond pin aud his pocket
book. This trick is well known to the
police, but policemen do not travel on
every train.
1t Is for the reason that crowds are
constantly cOngregating before the
windows Of large stores that Inspector
Knox is detailed to patrol in citizens
clothes on Washington street in the
vicinity of Temple place. Ii there is Il
crowd in that vicinity Knox is surely
standing in some doorway from which
he can view the face Of almost
everybody in the crowd. He does not
watch hand; he watches faces. Not
that he recognizes the face of every
pickpooket, but he knows that if Il man
or woman in that crowd is paying No
attention 10 the window scene or other
attraction, bat is occupied iii viewing
the clothing OF his or her neighbors. he
or she is, nine times out of ten pick
pocket. The suspicion may be strength
oned by the nervous or cautious WAY in
which the thief occasionally turns his
head. presumable To ascertain if he is
watched. The Inspector still pays no
attention 10 the hands. He waits
patiently till the suspected person
leaves the crowd. Ii the latter is
really pickpocket he will walk quick
" along, turn into Il side street. where,
in ii doorway. he Will wait for his con-
federate; or, If there be no confederate,
will take out the stolen pocke;books
and examine them While he is en-
gagged the Inspector interferes
.'Pickpockets." said Inspector KuoN.
''arc of MI ages. I've arrested during
my twenty-threc years of service rs
police officer in uniform aad citizens
dress. 5000 persons and ut least Loo
were pickpocActs. The oldest pick
pocket know is IN Engiishman named
Richard BuSby, who is now serving a
sentence OF seven Years in the State
prison at CharieStown. lie is 80 wears
old. | arrested him about 4 year a.rt,.
and when | saw him pick pockets on
Washington street X that time |
thought THAI it was his ghost. as | ha
understood that he was dead PICK
pockets never wear gloves. and seldom
work IN the street lGyin- cold weather.
for the cold HumbS their timers" h.
speetor Knox gave this catalogue OF
''donts' Tor the benefit of shoppers:
Don't carry 4 roc,.elacok in ynuI
hand
Don't carry a pocke;hook in a louse
pocket whicl hangs away from tie i,e..
son.
Don't lay your handbag containing