The Art of Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing is an ancient craft, dating back thousands of years. While we can only guess exactly when it began, it likely started as soon as people began sewing pockets onto their clothing to carry valuables and free up their hands. Not long after, clever thieves realized that with quick and nimble hands, they could transfer valuables from someone else’s pocket into their own—provided the original owner wasn’t particularly alert or clever.

Over time, pickpocketing methods and techniques have become so refined that carrying valuables can be risky. The skill and professionalism of a pickpocket are crucial to their success and safety. By taking precautions and knowing when to stop “working,” a pickpocket reduces the risk of arrest. Considering that only about a quarter of all pickpockets are ever caught, and that evidence laws make convictions difficult, it’s fair to say that pickpockets often lead a charmed life.

Some countries have enacted laws against pickpocketing, trying in vain to catch thieves in the act. But it’s very difficult to catch a pickpocket working a crowd—every police officer fears making an unlawful arrest. Other criminals often look down on pickpockets, seeing them as the lowest rung of the criminal world. In reality, few other illegal trades offer the same independence and income as pickpocketing, since a pickpocket’s success depends almost entirely on their own skill, not on unpredictable circumstances like those faced by burglars or drug dealers.

Pickpocketing is a borderless art. How do pickpockets operate abroad? How do their techniques differ from those of local thieves? The information below is drawn from foreign sources and is not a manual for aspiring pickpockets, but rather a guide for those who want to recognize pickpocket tricks and protect themselves and their loved ones from being robbed.

Why Your Pockets Can Be Picked

A well-known psychological rule states that at any given moment, we can only focus on one thing. The scattered nature of our thoughts creates the illusion that we’re thinking about two things at once, but that’s not really the case. A businessman chasing success, a gambler watching a horse race, or a person rushing to the subway—all are focused on just one thought at a time. Their minds are occupied with immediate plans and indifferent to outside influences. That’s why a “chance” bump with a pickpocket often goes unnoticed.

Another little-known fact is that a stronger sensation cancels out a weaker one. To test this, try hitting one leg with your fist and the other with a pencil at the same time. You’ll feel the pencil, but only because you expect it. If someone hits you with a hammer on one leg while you hit the other with your fist, you’ll only feel the hammer. Pickpockets use both of these psychological laws to their advantage.

Given all this, it’s clear that pickpockets operate best in certain circumstances—usually in crowds, where people’s thoughts are elsewhere. A crowd is the perfect arena for a skilled pickpocket, as accidental bumps and touches provide cover for their actions.

The pickpocket usually starts by bumping into the chosen victim. At the moment of contact, they slip a hand into the pocket—while the sensation of the bump dulls the victim’s awareness and hides the thief’s actions. We’ll discuss this in more detail later, but suffice it to say, this is the typical method for most pickpocketing. In fact, if you hear about someone being pickpocketed, it almost certainly happened in a crowd.

Most people think they’d notice if someone touched their wallet. They claim that if their wallet disappeared, they’d immediately feel an unusual emptiness. While many people do get used to feeling their wallet in the same pocket, the mind doesn’t allow you to think about your wallet when you’re focused on something else.

Try this experiment: put your wallet in a different pocket than usual and leave it there all day. When you go to buy something, your hand will reach for the usual spot—and when it’s not there, you’ll feel a moment of panic. Then you’ll check your other pockets and find it. This shows that we believe our wallet is in its usual place even after we’ve moved it, and we only notice its absence when we’re thinking about it.

There’s an old saying among pickpockets: “You can’t steal money while someone’s thinking about it.” That’s why pickpockets love it when their victim is so distracted that they forget about everything else. If the victim’s attention is diverted for even a few seconds, they’ll be surprised to find they’ve been robbed without feeling a thing.

Distraction Techniques

When a potential victim is out in the open and the pickpocket can’t hide their actions in a crowd, they’ll use various distraction techniques. The goal is twofold: to divert the victim’s attention from their wallet and to create a bit of confusion to throw them off balance. If both are successful, the unusual sensation of a wallet being removed will likely go unnoticed.

There are as many distraction methods as there are people using them. Some are simple, while others involve a whole team. Female pickpockets often use their sex appeal, brushing up against a victim with their chest or hips. In such moments, the victim is so stunned that taking their valuables is easy. Remember: you’re not being seduced—you’re being robbed!

It’s impossible to list every possible trick, as they change depending on the situation. Here are some of the most common:

The “Splash” Method

This involves spilling something—preferably hot—on the victim. While the “operator” helps clean the victim’s clothes, they have plenty of opportunities to clean out their pockets as well. In some cities, ketchup is popular for this trick, squeezed onto the victim’s clothes from a small packet. While the pickpocket apologizes for their clumsiness, the victim is robbed. Some pickpockets use a cruder version: dumping something on the victim and then quickly stealing their money while apologizing.

“Can I Help You?”

Under the guise of helping, one person can easily steal another’s wallet. Elderly people are especially vulnerable, as they often need help and are less suspicious. Another favorite trick is to point out money “dropped” on the ground and claim the victim dropped it. While the victim picks it up, an accomplice demands the money, and during the ensuing argument, the pickpocket robs the victim. Another old method involves secretly puncturing a car tire. While the pickpocket or their team offers help, the car trunk is opened to get the spare, and before the victim can thank them, the thief disappears with their luggage.

“Pity Me!”

This method is rare but effective when done well. A convincingly disabled person approaches the victim in a wheelchair or on crutches. Most people subconsciously avoid looking at disabled people, and while the victim tries not to notice, they can be easily robbed. Some have even used fake casts with a hidden hand inside, leaving their real hand free to pick pockets.

“How Could You Think I’m a Pickpocket?”

This distraction relies on the pickpocket’s acting skills. One method involves dressing as a doctor, priest, or another “trustworthy” profession. Another involves a group of three or four pickpockets pretending to be very drunk. They approach well-dressed people, telling stories about an attractive woman they just saw. Drunks are often overly friendly and like to hug strangers, giving the pickpockets a chance to rob their victims while distracting them with conversation.

“Surprise” Tactics

Sometimes, a pickpocket spots a promising victim but has no time to plan. In these cases, they rely on improvisation. A typical “hooligan” method is to knock off the victim’s hat or glasses (or knock a briefcase from their hands), to anger and distract them. Another trick is to follow the victim to their car and at the last moment say, “Hey, get out of my car!” After apologizing for the “mistake,” the thief leaves—with the victim’s wallet. Another trick is to sneak up behind the victim, cover their eyes, and say, “Guess who?” While the victim is confused, their pockets are emptied. When the victim turns around, the pickpocket acts embarrassed, claims they thought it was a friend or relative, and leaves quietly.

Another technique involves throwing something at the victim—a baseball, briefcase, even a child—anything that can be caught. This usually requires a team, with one person robbing the victim while the other throws the object. These are just a few of the many distraction techniques used by experienced pickpockets, but they give a good idea of how pickpockets operate. New methods are always being invented, but most are variations of these five main techniques.

Pants Pockets

Now let’s look at the actual techniques for stealing from pants pockets. First, the pickpocket must determine where the wallet is. Most people keep their money in the right pocket, but it could be in a side or back pocket. A bulging pocket is a giveaway. People rarely keep anything more valuable than car keys or a lighter in a side pocket, but pickpockets will steal keys for later use.

The next step is to figure out how the wallet is positioned. This may seem trivial, but the wallet’s position determines which extraction method to use. Most people carry their wallet “upside down,” with both ends up and the fold at the bottom. Some carry it the other way, but the extraction is similar. If the wallet is sideways, most standard methods won’t work, and the pickpocket may have to use a “cutting” technique. Wallets with three folds are usually placed seam-down. If the wallet is in any other position, the pocket may need to be cut. Checkbook-style wallets are usually placed with the narrow end parallel to the ground.

The most typical method is the “two-finger grab.” Standing next to the victim, the pickpocket forms a V with their index and middle fingers and slips them into the pocket. As pickpockets say, “Your fingers are both in and out of the pocket at the same time. That’s enough to grab the wallet, but not enough for the owner to feel anything unusual.” During a bump or distraction, the thief grabs the wallet and pulls it out quickly and forcefully. A variation is to pull the wallet up to the top of the pocket for later extraction.

Another favorite trick is to kick the victim just below the wallet, pushing it up so the corner sticks out. The thief then grabs the corner and holds on as the victim walks away, letting the wallet slide out unnoticed. Sometimes, the pickpocket grabs the wallet while the victim is standing still, rising on tiptoe to pull it out. This is usually done in a crowd or when the victim is distracted.

Another method is “slow extraction.” In a long line or crowded bus, the wallet is slowly pulled out, inch by inch, until it’s free. A former pickpocket explains: “You have to pull very gently and show your hands after each big bump. You don’t want to say, ‘Hey, look at my hands,’ but keep them visible so the victim doesn’t get suspicious.” This method is used on victims wearing tight pants, as the two-finger grab is easily felt. Pickpockets usually avoid people in very tight pants for this reason.

These techniques must be done quickly and confidently. Strangely, you’re less likely to get caught if you yank the wallet out than if you try to remove it carefully. The only time precision and slowness help is when the pockets are very loose and the wallet can be removed without being felt.

The last method for back pockets is “cutting.” A razor blade is wrapped halfway with thick tape to make a handle, and the exposed edge is used to slice the pocket. Some pickpockets cut the pocket so the wallet simply falls out, but there are more effective methods. For example, using small wire cutters, the top of the pocket is cut, then the razor slices it open from top to bottom. If the wallet doesn’t fall out, it can be easily pulled out. The beauty of this method is that the razor rests on the wallet, so the victim feels nothing unusual. The top of the pocket is usually cut with wire cutters, as it’s too thick for a razor. Cutters are also used when the wallet is attached to a chain or the pocket is buttoned. The threads holding the button can be cut, or the flap removed entirely.

Cutting is also used to access side pockets. While the victim is distracted, a neat crescent-shaped hole is cut in the bottom of the pocket, and everything falls out—unless the pants are skin-tight.

Jacket Pockets

A typical modern jacket has five pockets of interest to a pickpocket: two side pockets, two inside pockets, and a breast pocket. Side pockets are easy to rob, as they’re away from the body. Some jackets have fake flaps to create the illusion of extra pockets, but these aren’t worth discussing. The real challenge is the inside pockets.

Since most jackets are worn open, the inside pockets aren’t pressed against the body, making them almost as easy to rob as side pockets. Pickpockets rarely target inside pockets unless they see a wallet or something valuable there. If they don’t find a wallet in the back or side pockets, they’ll prepare to go for the jacket.

The first step is to find out which side the wallet is on. Most modern jackets have inside pockets on both sides, so some investigation is needed. A good way is to bump into the victim and stop with both hands on their chest at the level of the inside pockets. Another trick is to ask them to make change for a bill. If these don’t work, the pickpocket watches how the victim sits or stands, hoping to spot where the wallet is. Among professionals, it’s believed that left-handed people use the right inside pocket, and right-handed people use the left.

The main secret to stealing from an inside pocket is to misdirect the victim. Since this is usually a “frontal attack,” the pickpocket must distract the victim so they turn their head and can’t see the thief, even out of the corner of their eye. While the victim brushes dirt off their jacket, their own movements hide the pickpocket’s actions.

A typical example: the pickpocket lifts the jacket slightly, slips their fingers into the pocket, and removes the wallet, keeping the jacket away from the victim’s body. This usually requires an accomplice. Solo pickpockets have their own tricks. For example, they might sprinkle powder on the victim’s shoulder (opposite the wallet) and point it out. While cleaning it off, their hand hides their actions. Or, pretending to be drunk, they might rest their head on the victim’s shoulder (“the dog’s kiss”), using their body to hide their hand. The pickpocket may also use surprise, saying something like, “Look, it’s Madonna!” or any nonsense to make the victim turn their head. They might point up and say, “A plane is crashing!” or “Is that a UFO?”—anything to make the victim look up. While the victim’s head is turned, the inside pockets are easy to rob. If the victim later thinks the pickpocket was crazy, so much the better. In a crowded elevator, a woman might ask the victim to press a button, and while they do, their jacket is open for the taking.

Finally, some events are practically made for pickpocketing inside pockets—like big celebrations with fireworks. While everyone is looking up, the pickpockets get to work. Air shows and solar or lunar eclipses offer similar opportunities, though it’s hard to predict how many people will be wearing jackets at such events.