London streets in the other 19th century could be dangerous place . InThe London Guide and Stranger ’s Safeguard Against the Cheats , Swindlers , and Pickpockets that bristle within the Bills of Mortality , constitute a Picture of London as Regards Active Life , print in 1819 , “ a gentleman who has made the police of the metropolis an object of enquiry twenty - two days ” assay to avail unknown to the city head off fall victim to all manner of crime — including diving , otherwise known as pickpocketing . “ This fashion of obtain the property of others , is for sure the most genteel , profitable , and beguiling of any , ” the author notice , “ because it requires some degree of ingenuity to exercise it properly , and a outstanding deal of address and firmness to get off without detection . Professors of the artistic production are admire for their dexterity , by every one but the prompt loser . ” Here were some of the author ’s tips that would serve freshman to the metropolis keep their pocketbook — some of which we should heed even today .
1. Don’t act like a tourist.
Fitting in was the name of the plot in London . neophyte , according to the author , were
The solution , then , was to “ seem like a thorough bred cockney in your gait and way , by order the hat a fiddling awry , and with an unconcerned stare , penetrating the wily visage of the rogues ; you arrive at one more prospect , at least , of escaping the snares that are always laid to entrap the countryman or new comer . ”
2. Walk the right way.
concord to the author , walk in London was n’t a childlike thing ; in fact , it was a organisation , with “ every one take the right hand of another , whereby confusion is avoided ; thus , if you walk from St. Paul ’s towards the Royal Exchange , you will be entitled to the wall of those you converge all the way ; whereas , if you cross over , you must take the air upon the kirb Harlan Fisk Stone . ”
walk in a “ contrary mode ” was sure to attract the attention of pickpocket , who would “ hustle such an one against his accomplice in the day time ; the alien will be irritated no doubt , and express his outrage , which will be the good for the rogue : in a half - min ’s altercation , they get the best of the jaw , because the loudest and most insolent ; — a spar or two ensues , in which he who feign to support the unknown to the direction of town , draws him of his pocket - book , or his watch , if he has either , a fact they take care to ascertain beforehand . ”
To avoid this inauspicious fate , the author try the “ necessary of cautiously , yet energetically , pursuing his way , without apprehension or doubt ; since it is better to take the air a little out of the right path , than black market the risk of being directed wrongly . "
3. Avoid crowds.
hang out in property where many people were gathered increased a person ’s chance of losing his wallet — especially if there ’s some kind of hurly burly . “ If a horse fall , or a char faints , away [ pickpocket ] hunt down to encrease the crew , and the confusion ; they create a hustle , and try over the air pocket of unsuspecting persons , ” the author enounce . He suggest " steer[ing ] clear of assemblages in the streets , by fit round them . " If that ’s unavoidable , " pressing rather rudely through them " is the samara : " You become the assailant , if I may be allowed the full term , and sum up one more chance of steering clear of danger . ”
4. Don’t ask for directions in the street.
pickpocket would direct “ zany someone ” who “ stand gaping at the names of streets , as if in dubiousness which road to take , ” and postulate people on the street which way they should go . The thief would roll the hick to an alleyway or some other ideal area to either “ neatly ” blame his pocket or tucker him up and take his money . The author notify “ that no one should enquire his fashion in the street , but in comely store . "
If a man could n’t find oneself a decent shop , he was advised to ask someone carry a small parcel of land ; this showed that " they are shopmen or porters , " the writer says , and thus could be trusted . " Thieves do not go about encumbered in that manner , at least not hitherto ; but they might possibly adopt it hereafter , from this touch . ” Oops .
5. Be on the lookout for shabby clothing.
Though “ thieves frequently go well - dress up , especially pickpockets , ” a close observer “ may always discover in the dress of the genteel pickpocket , some want of wholeness , or tatty article , as a out of practice chapeau , or the boot - crown in defective order , or a dirty shirt and cravat . ”
6. Men: Avoid ladies out at night…
“ Women who walk the streets at dark , are always pickpockets , ” the author propose . “ I see no reason to set down those who by day entice the man into their dens , any thing well . Such as sales booth at the turning point of lanes and court of law , inviting men to stop , are awkward hands , but contrive to pick up a good harvest occasionally : they rob indiscriminately every article of apparel , knocking off the silly ( perhaps drunken ) serviceman ’s hat in the street , with which the confederate runs away ; at other times they will take off his cravat , while bestowing upon him their salacious caresses . A broach , or shirt - pin , is constantly made dependable prize of , but should the deluded man enrol one of pestiferous dwelling house , which are so legion in this metropolis , the loss of all he has is inevitable . ”
7. … And Beware of women asking silly questions.
Just in suit that first bakshish was n’t enough , the author really wanted to drive home the pointedness that ma’am could be cutpurse , too , so the effective course of action of action at law was just to breeze by them . “ It is recommend over again not to be stopped in the streets , even by a handsome woman . " It was for a human race ’s own good . Lady pickpockets own , grant to the source ,
A woman might even grab a man ’s arm , " as if for security , " but what she was really doing was keeping him from using it . Goodbye , wallet !
8. Ladies, don’t window shop.
Or if they did , they should at least have the good common sense to not get so close to the windows that a thief could get under their skirts . “ Ladies who press to the windows of draper shop are ok secret plan , ” the author says . “ When they bust pocket with basketball game , scarce any operation in all the light fingerbreadth trade was easier than the dive , or putting in one ’s hand ; afterwards , on the disuse of the wicket , the matter was performed by a little boyfriend , or boy , getting between the branch of the accomplice ( a tall one ) and spread out the half-slip , cut off the pouch , with a knife attached to the bridge player . ”
9. And If you do get your pockets picked, don’t go after the thief.
“ Should a dip take to his bounder , and be easily distinguished from his followers , it is not always advisable to stop him , ” the writer cautions . After all , “ some are arm with knives , which they would not hesitate to use in a dogfight . ”
