Black Friday Declared Pickpocket Awareness Day

Nov. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- CONTACT:           
410-956-8132

BLACK FRIDAY DECLARED PICKPOCKET AWARENESS DAY

Wayne Alan, pickpocket expert and America’s only World Champion Illusionist,
has declared Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to be Pickpocket
Awareness Day.  Bringing attention to this problem on one of the busiest
shopping days of the year will help consumers avoid falling victim to
pickpockets.  Despite the fact that no official records are kept, from his
research, Mr. Alan estimates that in the U. S., a pocket is picked on an
average of every 90 seconds and American’s lose over 50 million dollars a
year due to pickpockets.  In these challenging economic times, people have
to be all the more vigilant in protecting their money.

Today, one of the biggest concerns of having your pocket picked is identity
theft.  Most pickpockets sell this information to identity thieves.  Having
your identity stolen can cause major problems down the road, including
ruining your credit, and can greatly outweigh the immediate loss of having
your pocket picked.  The cost of identity theft to business is generally
unknown but based on information from the U.S. Department of Justice, it has
been estimated to be over 300 million dollars a year.


Mr. Alan has studied pickpocketing for over 30 years.  He has witnessed and
worked with some of the top stage pickpockets in the world, including the
Great Bora from Austria.  In Mr. Alan’s cookbook, Magical Meatless Meals,
Famous Foods From Famous People and Places (www.MagicCookbook.com), he tells
a very funny story about the great Las Vegas Pickpocket Ricky Dunn. Mr. Alan
has spent time with numerous experts, including the New York City Pickpocket
Squad, discussing the methods used by these thieves.

Despite his knowledge and sleight of hand ability, Mr. Alan has never used
pickpocketing in his magic shows.  As a magician on stage, he feels there is
a negative connotation to pickpocketing that he does not want to be
associated with.  Mr. Alan has performed his magic throughout the US,
Europe, and Australia, on national TV and thirteen times at the White House.

Like a magician, a pickpocket needs a certain amount of dexterity and the
ability to use distraction, or what magician’s call misdirection.  Most
pickpockets work in teams of two or three.  One person acts as a “stall”,
they slow down or stop so you bump into them while the partner or partners
act as the “pick”.  The target or “mark” is distracted by the stall and bump
and does not notice the pocket being picked while they are being bumped.

Protecting yourself from pickpockets is much like sports; the best defense
is an offense.  Make their job of getting your valuables much tougher.
Pickpockets try to blend into the crowd and you probably would not be able
to pick them out.  Be alert as they could be anyone, the mother with a baby
or the successful looking businessman.  Don’t allow yourself to look like a
“mark” or a target.  Pickpockets prey on tourists or people who look like
they are confused or distracted.  Try to avoid walking through crowds, walk
around them.  If you see two or more people approaching you, especially from
behind, be aware.  Carrying a dummy wallet in the more accessible back
pocket or in the top of your purse while the real wallet is in a money belt
or in a secret compartment in the bottom of the purse is also a way to trick
pickpockets.

Since most pickpockets will approach from behind, carry your wallet in the
front pocket.  Men are more attentive to the front pocket area and therefore
are more likely to feel a pickpocket’s hand.  The safest option is to not
carry a wallet and only use a money belt that is kept under your clothes.
Women should only carry purses that lock or strap tightly when closed.
Carrying it under your arm and holding it tightly with your hand will also
help to protect yourself.

If you do fall victim to a pickpocket, immediately contact your bank, the
department of motor vehicles, all three credit bureaus, call your credit
card companies to cancel your cards and be sure to file a report with the
police.

            End


Wayne Alan
"America's Only World Champion Illusionist"
Innovative Illusions Inc.
3103 Newcastle Lane
Riva, MD  21140
Phone-  410-956-8132
E-mail-  Wayne@WayneAlanMagic.com
Web sites-  www.WayneAlanMagic.com
               www.MagicCookbook.com


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