Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-06
BEWARE OF P|CKPOCKETs
IS ADVICE OF DETECTIVES
Fair "c>'k Visitors Urged to Keep
Close Watch Upon Their
Purses.
USE MANY CLEVER RUsEs
"Dips" Usually operate in Thrces
iii Dense Crowds Such as Will BE
Found at Fair Grounds During
This Week.

Police are Offering advice to visi-
tors-and homefolks. too-who will be
IN Richmond this week as to the best
met.loG Of protecting their purses
from the omniprescnt dip of State
Fair Week. Many new and old gags
are worked by the clever sleight-of-
crowds, and pedestrians are being
urged not to forget to keep their
hands upon their lucre when caught
IN the Jams at the Fair Grounds or
downtown.
1t is customary for the professional
pickpockets to work in threes, ac-
c0rding to the sleuths. That is. one
dip" gets in front of the victim,
pushes him around Il bit to distract
attention. The real artist is generally
III the rear and removes the purse from
the pocket during the confusion. The
Third crook, generally much trusted by
his pals. then takes the purse from
dip number ., and disappears, ar
ranSements having been made before
division of the spoils. Thus. if the
victim Squeals. those nearest at hand
are searched. and with the money gone
the two dips" cannot be proven guilty.
Many Clever Schemes.
Many schemes have been worked re-
Gently by pickpockets in Richmond
and adjoining cities.
If, when walking along the street
enjoying the cooi autumn sunshine,
some affable stranger picks up
pocketbook riG-t before your eyes and
offers TO divide the contents, don't
accept Il. Just HE yourself TO the
nearest telephone and notify the po-
This is the advice being passed out
by police and detectives as u result of
recent activities OF a gang OF con-
idcnce workers that has been swim
ding persons in many cities in recent
weeks.
The confidence workers as a tyne
are clever. well-dressed and usually
sons OF refinement. The scheme which
they have been working recently to
defraud their victims is known IN po-
lice 'arson as the old. pocketbook
trlck, or dropping the leather" and
IS usually worked by two operators.
Picks Up Purse.
No. l. striding past the person Sc
iected as the victim. picks up 4 purse
which has been conveniently dropped
for the purpose, directly in sight OF the
victim. An opportunity is given 10 the
victim TO share the contents. and just
about the time the purse is to be
opened No. bobs up. He tells No. !
and the victim tlat lie saw them pick
up the purse. and will report same to
the police IL he is not permitted TO
share with them.
The purse is opened and the contents
are found to consist Of few bills OF
small denomination along with coun-
terfeit bills OF larger demo mination.
The two operators tell the victim that
- tHcS 1tlcNlpl 10 get the Dil!S
changed TO divide the contents equally
t.ley may be looked on with suspicion.
They suggest that the victim get a
sum OF money TO enable Them to make
the change and meet them at some
appointed place.
Division OF "Spoils.7
In the meantime, the pocket
taken TO some me- rei abR place pn ana lefs
until the time set for making a di-
vision OF the "spoils." When the vic |
tim appears with the money to make |
the Change, the operators take it. sol
10 set the purse and fail to return.
The scheme has been worked re-
Gently in the foreign. colored ard
are making vigorous effort 10 an
prehcnd the swinGlers.