Security issue: Pickpocketing

Lifting a wallet from a handbag without being noticed, a classic example of pickpocketing

Pickpocketing is a form of theft that involves the stealing of valuables from a victim without their noticing the theft at the time.

Description

Pickpocketing is a issue that is especially present in large cities, where crowds of people are omnipresent and distractions are plentiful. Pickpockets may be found in any crowded place around the world. However, Barcelona and Rome were recently singled out as being particularly dangerous pickpocketing havens.

Contributing circumstances

Known circumstances to influence the likelihood or effect of burglary, are presented in the table below:

Contributing Circumstance	Influence	Description
Lack of surveillance.	Decreases risk of detection.	A low level of surveillance, particularly round-the-clock surveillance, decreases the perceived risk of detection for a perpetrator and thereby increases the attractiveness.
High levels of burglary in the vicinity.	Increases likelihood of targetting.	The distance to known places where offenders live matters. On average, burglars travel 2,6 km to commit their crimes and the odds of a neighbourhood’s being chosen increases by a factor of 1.67 for every kilometre closer to the burglar’s home it is located.
High levels of unemployment	Increases likelihood of targetting	High levels of unemployment are associated with higher levels of burglary. In fact a study showed that increased unemployment in one year predicted increased violence in the next year.
Low levels of ownership	Decreases the inhibitions for committing the crime	Uncertainty of ownership can reduce responsibility and increase the likelihood of crime and anti-social behaviour going unchallenged.
High expected levels of drug- or alcohol abuse	Reduces inhibitions for crime	The presence of regular abusers of alcohol or drugs has a strong correlation with the occurrence of burglary, often thought to be caused by the need for financing an addiction. Studies show that about 40% of all burglary is committed under the influence of alcohol.
Long reaction times or inadequate action of reaction force.	Decreases likelihood of apprehension	Untimely or inappropriate reactions to violence lead to a perception of little control, which will increase perceived risk for the public and decrease perceived risk for the perpetrators. Also, reducing the impact of an assault (by timely intervention) will also be impossoble and lead to greater effects of incidents.
High percentage of single family detached homes	Increases the perceived reward and vulnerability	Single family detached houses are often attractive targets–with greater rewards – and more difficult to secure because they have multiple access points .
Large residential areas	Increases attractiveness of area	The number of residential units in a neighbourhood influences the chance of this neighbourhood to be chosen by burglars. When the number of residential units in a neighbourhood increases by 1000, the odds of being chosen rises by a factor of 1.35.
Increased ethnic heterogeneity	unknown	Ethnic heterogeneity is associated with higher levels of burglary. A study showed that an increase of 10% in heterogeneity in a neigbourhood makes it a factor 1.13 more likely to be chosen by burglars.
High amounts of traffic	Increases the visibility of targets	Houses near major thoroughfares are more likely to catch the attention of burglars passing by. Moreover, it is more difficult to distinguish residents and visitors from strangers in heavily traveled areas.
Multiple accesses and exits to neighbourhood	Decreases the risk of apprehension	Multiple access ways, particularly when limited in surveillance, provide good access and exit opportunities for criminals. Alleys, for example, provide both access and escape for burglars, and limit visibility to neighbors. In addition, large side yards facilitate access to the backs of houses.

Some areas are very tempting for pickpockets, so you should be especially careful when you are in the following places:

• Public realm - urban square and parks
• Outdoor activities and shows
• Public markets
• Waiting lines
• Traffic lights
• Escalators
• Rush hour in public transit
• Food courts
• Major public parking lots

The most significant factor in the victim profile possibly may be psychological. A crowded terminal creates a distracting environment. People are packed together in cramped waiting areas listening for public announcements, watching a departure, carrying packages, or talking on a cellular telephone. The station's environment creates a sensory overload. Further, the victims, conditioned by the rush hour atmosphere of the station, are accustomed to the close physical proximity of other people. Those who use mass transit expect to be bumped and jostled. The victim also expects to have even less personal space when descending the escalators and riding the train, focusing more on boarding the train and finding a seat than being concerned with others.

Impacts

• perception of unsafety

Economic impact

Property crimes such as pickpocketing lead to considerable costs in both a direct (primary) and a indirect (secondary) way. Direct costs of pickpocketing come in the form of:

• Preventive costs in anticipation of pickpocketing (e.g. security measures, prevention, insurance fees);
• Material and immaterial costs as a consequence of pickpocketing (e.g. physical damage, repairs, mental harm); and
• Responsive costs to pickpocketing (e.g. the costs of detection and prevention, persecution, support trial, etc.).

In addition, pickpocketing on a large scale could lead to secondary economic impact, but these effects are relatively minor compared to more serious types of crime.

Measures

• Surveillance
• Reaction force