SAN ANTONIO – Just about everyone keeps a wallet and cellphone with them, but some might be surprised to find how easy it is for those items to be stolen at the hands of pickpockets.
Giani, a local magician, who also serves as a full-time police officer for the San Antonio Police Department, said pickpocketing takes skill and practice, unlike more conventional crimes like vehicle break-ins or home burglaries.
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"If it's in your front pocket, the person is going to have to come into your space," Giani said. "They're going to have to create a distraction, and it's better if they have two people or three people."
Giani said people who pickpocket use distraction to steal their belongings. Items left out in the open, like a cellphone or wallet that is within reach, are generally the easiest to swipe, Giani said.
"If you leave it, just for a second, it doesn't take long," Giani said. "And they'll work as a team, and they can grab a lot of money in one day."
Since Giani is a police officer, he said he often sees situations where crooks are far more brazen.
He recommends that men keep their wallets and phones in their front pockets, instead of their back pockets, and wrap a rubber band around it, so it's harder to steal.
As for women, Giani said, keep a close grip on your purse, and leave all items inside the purse, and not out in the open.