The Press., 1908-01-08
LONDON PIcKPOCKETS
Tricky or Brutal and Vicious, Ac.
 cording to Their Class.
METHODS OF THE @eUN MOB"

II BthuB TUT h plChpVSASt anu hAS SoAS VI
 confederates-. gentlemen" who reap
 an annual harvest of anything they
 can lay their hands upon in crowd Summer time. when race courses, ath-
 letic grounds and seaside places are
 crowded, Is the pickpocket's favorite
 and most profitable season. and when
 an event occurs like a royal garden
 party at Windsor the light fingered
 gentry positively chuckle.
 Twenty plain clothes detectives at tended the last garden party to pro
 tect bis majesty's guests from the tricks of the pickpockets, but the latter left Windsor richer by hundreds of pounds in spite of Scotland Yard and
 carried away with them the gold \ hunter watches of several of the titled | guests.
 | At one time the modern detective was apt to despise the pickpocket | somewhat, characteriZing him as low I and not particularly clever thief. His | ingenuity, daring and coolness today. however. compel our admiration" to
 quote one of the cleverest detectives, ! land we feel pleased when we lay one of them by the heels."
 The British pickpocket's tricks are
 many and various, and he is adding to
 their number every day. The false
 arm game is one of the cleverest and
 Is calculated to deceive a detective.
 even although he may have his eyes on the operator. coat Is thrown loosely over a false arm. which is held
 naturally. Apparently both of the pickpocket's hands are in view, while
 in reality the skillful fingers of one
 hand are going through the pockets of the man beside him.
 The use of the pOcketless overcoat, or
 cover for the hands. is an old dodge.
 which nevertheless is still popular
 with the pickpocket. He often pre- fers, however to use a novel inven
 ton known as the sash method. The sash consists of a piece of black silk or alpaca two yards long and three quarters wide. It Is folded the same as a neck scarf and crossed centrally beneath the coat and vest, both ends being brought under the arms and placed in the hip pockets of the trou- sers. When ready for action the tool" as the man is called who actually picks the pocket, places his hands be hind the folds of this device, and 1t enables him to conceal his purpose as he fronts a man to rob him of his watch or money If the latter is in his trousers pocket.
 A tool" however, has other means of covering his hands without resort ing to the aid of coat or sash. A newspaper or theater programme is often used. Beware of looking over a strangers shoulder to glance at newspaper or programmes little ac- ton we are often guilty of when it only necessitates a turn of the head.
 You may be risking nothing. but. on the other hand. you may be seated or standing by tue side of professional pfckpOcket. who has only to hold the paper at a certain angle while you are engrossed in some item to cover his movements as he relieves you of your valuables.
 The black silk handkerchief and hat are employed in the same manner as the paper. only the former is some times used in the "sling method" to carry a supposedly crippled arm. The manner in which that arm would rest against your face. as If raised to avoid some one striking 1t. while the other hand took your scarfpin and watch would excite compassion from the vic tim himself.
 The pickpocket's most dastardly trick but one. be 1t noted, which is only used by the man who Is too clumsy to perform that sleight of hand upon which the clever thief brides himself is that of binding the victim with pep per blown through a pipe The bowl of the latter is filled with a false bot tom and second tube. the cavity below the false bottom being filled with cay enne pepper. while tobacco Is placed | above 1t Approaching gentleman in an Ill lighted street. the thief asks for a light for his pipe. and while the vic | tim feels for his matches he is sudden | ly blinded by a discharge of cayenne | pepper. which the scoundrel blows | through the hole in the bottom of the ] pipe into his eyes. Maddened with the | terrible pain, the victim presses his | hands to his eyes. and the robber | snatches his watch and chain and de- camps, to repeat his exploit on some other unsuspecting pedestrian.
 It Is not very often. however, that | the pickpocket works alone. although | women who belong to the light finger ed fraternity who. by the way. are often more successful than men usually prefer to do so. Men thieves like to work In "mobs." for the simple reason that they can transfer the ''boo- dle" from one to the other in a crowd if recognized by a de- tectiye and arrested on suspicion there s nothing In their possession on which they can be convicted.
 Besides. confederates-or stalls" as hey are called in the vernacular of the 'profession"-are necessary to do that little bit of hustling which makes the tools" task so much easier and less ms the risk of detection
 Many arc doubtless aware that tram ermini In busy thoroughfares arc 'laces where the pickpocket is always ooking for plumber, and a mob" of our will often work together in such
 crowd. A prosperous looking victim 3 selected. and as he attempts to 'oard the car the four quickly sur ound him, with the artist" behind.
 The confederate in front uses every ubterfuge to block the progress of the fctim until the coup has been brought n, and while the men on each side em him in and distract his attention vith their hustling the man behind elps himself from his pockets. It is
 trick which rarely fails with cool. ex. ert thieves. although amateurs at the anne are often caught through lack of erve and quIckness.
 The "stall' or confederate wRl not How any one who has been chosen for {