A SHORT PICKPOCKET GLOSSARY

Bridge: (also Britch or Breech): Right or left front pocket.

Cannon: A highly skilled individual who removes property from pockets. A “Top Gun”.

Cruising: Scanning a crowd for a mark.

Dick: Pickpocket Detective.

Dip: Placing hand in pocket or purse.

Fingersmith: Same as cannon.

Framing: Using two or more stalls to distract a victim.

Grift Sense: A highly developed knowledge of human reaction. A pickpocket’s greatest weapon.

Jostler: A pickpocket who steals while bumping into people in a crowd.

Kissing the Dog: A pit worker (as mentioned later) who must look his victims in the face as the steal is made.

Leather: A wallet. “Going for the leather”.

Lush Worker: Victimizes drunks. The lowest of the breed.

Mark: A victim.

Nudger: A pickpocket or confederate who creates a diversion by obnoxious means (e.g., stepping on toes; bumping into victim; tripping victim; garlic on breath; etc.).

Ocho Mob: Pickpockets from South America (most often from Colombia) who invade the U.S. AT Christmas. Come in teams of eight, hence the name Ocho.

Pit Worker: Highly skilled pickpocket. Specializes in stealing from the inside jacket pocket. Must face the victim as the steal is made.

Plastic: Credit cards.

Prat: Rear pants pockets.

Purse Snatcher: A thief who grabs a lady’s purse and runs. Not a true picket.

Seat tipper: A thief that sits behind a women in a theatre. When the purse is placed on the next seat, the seat is tipped back with the foot so the purse falls through.

Shade/ Shill: A confederate who obstructs the victims path, or creates a diversion before or after a steal takes places.

Stall: An accomplice who works with a pickpocket.

Stiff: A newspaper, magazine, coat, package, or other such items, used to conceal the hand as the steal is made.

Tip: A crowd.

Whiz Mob: An organized group of pickpockets.

Wire: Same as cannon