The pickpocket 'Tales of a Nigerian commuter'

I was reminded by the scenes I witnessed today of a threat to those who board public vehicles as their means of daily commute. The threat is not a new one but has simply changed its targets. Previously the targets or victims used to be people walking in crowded public spaces but apparently the public buses or vehicles are now a new front for this criminal operation. The threat in question is that of pick pockets.

These criminals usually disposses individuals of their valuables such as money or mobile phones that are kept in the pockets, purses or bags. Most often than not the do not bear arms but there have been cases of arms being used when the victim attempts to resist or tries to be 'stubborn'. The modus operandi is usually to create some sort of distraction to cause the would be victim to let his or her guard down if it is within a vehicle. Once this is achieved, the pick pocket or pickpockets ( as they sometimes operate in clusters or groups) then proceed to stealthily gain access to the pocket or bag of the victim and collect any valuable they can while trying to avoid arousing suspicion.

If it is in a crowded or busy public space they can adopt strategies like bumping into the victim while simultaneously dispossessing them of their valuables. In the public vehicle scenario, the last step or phase of the operation would be to disembark from the vehicle at the slightest opportunity.

It happened that while returning from a trip to the city centre, the vehicle I boarded was flagged down by a prospective passenger. The driver obliged and parked his vehicle properly for the pick up. At that point a group of about three boys also signified interest in wanting to board the vehicle. Two of the boys thereafter boarded alongside the passenger while the third decided not to board citing the excuse that the available seat was faulty.

As this was happening, the guy who initially flagged down the vehicle suddenly decided he was going to alight probably out of suspicious of his unwanted companions who seemed too eager to board along with him. The moment he did so, one of the other young men also alighted but was asked to board again by his companion speaking in one of the popular local dialects.

Initially I didn't read any meaning to the series of events that had just transpired. However something very unusual happened when the two companions decided to abruptly alight from the vehicle. As both of them alighted, the one who had sat close to another male passenger started creating a scene accusing the passenger of touching him while he was in the process of disembarking. I was amused at this accusation as it didn't make any sense. It was after they had crossed to the other side of the road that their motive was exposed in the conversation between the driver and the 'accused' passenger.

The driver explained that the duo that boarded the vehicle were pick pockets and had been trailing the passenger who eventually decided to disembark from the vehicle before it continued on its route. He explained that in order not to arouse suspicion by immediately disembarking when their would be prey slipped through their fingers, they decided to scout for another prey from the passengers already in the vehicle while plotting to exit at the next bus stop.

Their 'failed' prey then joined the conversation at this point and narrated what the duo had attempted to do. He explained that one of the young men all in pretence of 'adjusting' to sit more comfortably had managed to get access to one of his pockets and slipped his phone out of it. Unfortunately for the pickpocket he had gotten wind of his action and promptly repossessed his phone before it could be passed on to the other pick pocket.

He continued that it was his repossession of his mobile phone that the young man covered up by creating a scene that he was being touched. He further added that if the young man had tried to forcefully prevent him from repossessing his mobile device, he would have dealt him a slap and raised an alarm as to what the pickpocket had attempted to do.

The driver then added that the pick pockets had come out in full force and were picking targets from amongst passengers at the major bus stops after 'sizing' them based on their appearance or the type of mobile device or bag being carried. He stated that although he had his suspicions about some of them when they board his vehicle , there was no way he could warn other passengers explicitly or tell such individuals not to board as he had no clear evidence that they were about to commit a crime or had committed a crime. He therefore said that the key thing is for passengers to be 'sharp' (i.e. vigilant) when they board vehicles especially when anyone that looks or behaves in a suspicious or unusual manner boards alongside them.

Summarily as we say over here anytime you board a public vehicle where passengers have to sit close to each other because of space constraints "Shine your eyes"( i.e. be alert to what is happening around you) to avoid having to narrate stories that touch the heart.

Shukran

Danke

Merci

Gracias

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ধন্যবাদ

Спасибо

for reading.