Pickpocketing is among the leading crimes in Kenya.
It is commonest for decades.
Despite being common, many people are still falling into the trap.
With the recent surge in crime in Nairobi, pickpocketing was reported most among the victims.
Major cities in Kenya record crime as populated places are the most affected.
Just like companies preserve their secrets, the crew involved in the vice are also secretive, being creative as days go by.
Here is what pickpockets do not want you to know
They work in groups
Contrary to the image of the solitary trickster you’ve conjured in your mind, pickpockets often team up in large groups to get their victims.
Usually, one of the gang will distract the mark, often with a fake tourist survey or petition, or by ‘accidentally’ spilling something on them.
While the victim is distracted, their accomplice will take the opportunity to grab items from unguarded pockets or bags, sometimes going so far as to cut through the material of bags to access the contents.
They like high-traffic places.
They like places such as transportation hubs, busy streets, and any other place where you expect to have limited personal space.
In these locations, they know that people expect some level of contact with strangers and so people are less likely to notice slight bumps or jostling.
Also, the movement of victims is predictable. The criminal can time his movements with the rhythm of the victim.
Mostly target the distracted
Another reason that pickpockets look for victims in high-traffic areas is that these are usually areas of transition.
If you get off a bus in a city you’ve never visited before, you’ll need time to adjust to your surroundings.
That’s when pickpockets strike.
However, they also target common commuter
The more you are familiar with, the more the pickpockets learn about your moves.
They know when you arrive and when you leave and in the company of who.
This gives them an easy time to attack you.
When you look too cautious
Somewhat counter-intuitively, travelers can also make themselves more vulnerable by being obviously over-protective of valuables. By constantly patting your pockets to check on your wallet, you are signaling to very observant pickpockets that the pocket contains something of value.
They make digital steals too
Carrying less cash in lieu of paying with a credit card seems like a natural defense against getting your money stolen, but thieves are adapting to modern technology, too.
They will try to steal your credit card numbers by waiting for you to take out your card to make a purchase and snapping a picture of the numbers with a high-res digital camera or camera phone. That could end up being more damaging than stolen cash.
This is a new type of theft that happens quite often and which the public isn’t very aware of
Pickpockets prey on nice people
Pickpockets prey on the fact that people are often willing to help others, and they’ll use this to their advantage.
