Pick-pockets

The general refrain is that picking the pocket is like any other crime and hence pickpockets need to be punished. One can’t disagree with this supposition.

Yet at the same time pick-pocketing is in a different genre of crime. It is the most difficult and daring crime. It is invariably done in the public and the possibility of apprehending the culprit is much higher than in the case of other crimes, e.g., killing, robbery, stealing a vehicle, goondaism, confidence tricking, white collar crimes, etc.,

I have a soft corner for pick-pockets. It is a risky profession. There is every chance of being caught. They have only their nimble fingers for executing their job. They have to be extremely quick in conducting their operation and that too unobtrusively . It is invariably done in the open when there are other people around and hence higher chance of being caught. If caught they would be beaten by the people who are near, which is not the position in respect of most other crimes.

A pick-pocket has to appear to be as nobody, i.e., not conspicuous either in their looks or attire or body language or demeanour. Nobody in the crowd would give a second look at him. He has to dress also in such a manner that he does not stand out. When the people around have blue eyes, he would be noted if he has green eyes. So also hair and body colour. Suppose his hair is yellow or red or his body colour does not have an Indian look, then he would be spotted or remembered. So also if he is too fat, very tall or, say, has a bulbous nose.

A pickpocket has to carefully choose his victim, ideally a little absent minded or distraught and wait for the right opportunity and all the time keep an eye whether others are watching his actions. At the appropriate time, say, when there is a commotion in the bus/train/crowd or some other activity draws attention of all. When people are rushing out or getting into the train, when there is much jostling, he conducts his operation swiftly. That is the time when the attention of others are on getting in/getting out of the train or go ahead in the midst of jostling. His nimble fingers are the instrument for the operation. Once the operation is done he has to vanish quickly but without hurrying lest it attracts attention. On these counts it is an expert profession, whatever other value judgments one may make.

Then again the body risk factor in pick-pocketing is much higher than in the case of other crooked acts. If he is caught immediately at the act, then people all around pounce on him and beat him thoroughly. Invariably people derive vicarious pleasure in such an action, as if it makes them proper citizens, who should do a Samaritan act of catching the thief and punishing. And once police arrive, they also do the beating. And the downside of such happening for the pick-pocket is that immediately he has to shift his area of operation.

Pick-pockets are easy targets for Police. If caught. He would be subjected to beating by the Police, apart from Police taking money from him for not formally filing a case against him. When a person reports to Police about his being pick-pocketed, the Police would round up the pick-pockets who operate in the area where the incident had occurred and then subject all of them to sound beating to find the real culprit.

Apart from the risk involved as above, pick-pockets would have to live days without any income because they have not been able to zero in on proper victims.

Honourable thieves abound in this blessed country, most of them going around as proper and respected citizens. Many of them thieve Government money which is public money. Many vandalise public property. Many manufacture spurious goods. Corruption in this country is rampant. So also nepotism. So also vulgar display of ill gotten wealth. Many have deep prejudices, are sanctimonious, hypocritical and self-righteous This is only an illustrative list and not exhaustive. How is it different for a corrupt policeman to extract money from you and pocket the same for a doing his duty Does anybody think of these state of affairs when they beat or condemn a pick-pocket, labeling them as ‘anti social elements.’. So I look at pick-pockets not with the same eyes as most others do.

Foot-note: Some time back in Bangladesh thieves had grouped themselves into an association and one of the functions of which is to offer training courses to new entrants, particularly in picking pockets. The Association was able to enroll within a short time of its formation more than 10,000 members.

Signing off: As a nerd put it pithily ‘ a picket pocket must have steel balls.’

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