A HEADS UP for the tourists out there

[Badgersmilk]

The drift in another thread    toward "bad neighborhoods" got me to thinking about this.

I've seen this "tactic" used in tourist area's several times, in several parts of the country, and wanted to pass along a warning for as many people as I can on what to keep an eye out for.

Three or more delinquents will sit around together on steps outside a store, or hang out together near any given corner watching the tourists walk by.  When they see their mark (potentially YOU) one of them will start to follow as you walk by in the crowd.  They'll let you get about 20-30 yards away from their group, then jump in for the "grab".  Taking wallets, cameras, lady's purses, even picking pockets if they think they've got ANY talent for it.  They then turn and run back past their group who immediately stand up and block you or whoever else might give chase to the actual thief.  If cops or other witnesses see anything they're distracted with you pushing, arguing with, and trying to get past the "guards".  Now if a cop IS called, or happens to see this happen the "guards" start telling how you just came out of nowhere yelling at them, threatening them, pushing them, and making it out as YOU should be arrested for having assaulted poor innocent little them.  The whole fact that your wallet or whatever got stolen is suddenly of little concern to cops because the delinquents are drawing a HUGE crowd by talking loud about how you went berserk and attacked!

What can you do?  If you walk past a small group that seems to be just sitting around vagrantly, keep going, but stop FREQUENTLY and look all around for the one following you!  You can pass it off as just "taking in the sights".  But, he'll LIKELY be there if you haven't concealed EVERYTHING of value well enough.  If you do see one may be following you just keep "looking around", and in his direction.  They'll figure out they've been made, go back to their group and wait for the next victim.

In this area if you go down to the boardwalk by the sea at night you'll see the "boys" pulling this crap EVERY night.  Cops will tell you "they can't really do anything about it."    Unfortunately, if you don't stop the crime yourself, BEFORE it happens...  Your outta luck.  And fortunate if they don't talk the cops into arresting YOU for "going berserk" on THEM!  Last time I saw this it was a grey haired old buy about 60, and YES the cops took him away because he WAS going berserk over it.   

Last time it was tried on me I was with my daughter on the boardwalk, window shopping with the tourists one evening.  I turned to look, and sure enough he was about three feet behind us!  Concentrating on her purse, moving in when we turned and I looked him in the eye.  Without looking away I put my hand in my pocket (on the LCP) and said LOUDLY.  "I wonder whats the biggest gun he's ever been shot with up till now?!?"  Don't even know if he heard me, he knew he'd been made though, panicked for a second, then turned quickly and walked straight back to his little gang who all started laughing.  We turned and continued on.  CAUTIOUSLY. 
Will it happen again?  I’m SURE.  Don’t let them pull this crap on YOU!