Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Pickpocket Science

The New Yorker (via MR) analyses in some depth the 'neuroscience' (shudder?) of pickpockets, in the warm shadow of a theatrical performer, and not a hardened Fagin of the trade, so rest easy I guess. I liked in particular this anecdote about Jimmy Carter: 

He is probably best known for an encounter with Jimmy Carter’s Secret Service detail in 2001. While Carter was at dinner, Robbins struck up a conversation with several of his Secret Service men. Within a few minutes, he had emptied the agents’ pockets of pretty much everything but their guns. Robbins brandished a copy of Carter’s itinerary, and when an agent snatched it back he said, “You don’t have the authorization to see that!” When the agent felt for his badge, Robbins produced it and handed it back. Then he turned to the head of the detail and handed him his watch, his badge, and the keys to the Carter motorcade.

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