Pickpocket today, woman on O'Connell Bridge

dame

Bit of a rant here. It's been seriously bugging me because I feel I should have done more but I'm not sure what.

I was walking across O'Connell Bridge a couple of hours ago, wearing a backpack when I felt a tug at my backpack. I swung around and there was a woman right behind me, a little to my left. I expected her to say sorry or something, as you would if you bump into someone, but she avoided my eyes completely and walked on. I quickly checked my bag. The front zip had been pulled half way open but luckily there hadn't been anything in there to take anyway. I looked around but of course there were no guards to be seen. I walked a bit faster and stayed level with her for a minute staring her out of it. She stared straight ahead and avoided any eye contact at all. My mind was whirling and I was so tempted to scream at her and let everybody on the street know she was a pickpocket, but at the same time I was afraid I'd be somehow charged with verbal assault or making false accusations or something. Later I wondered why I didn't whip out my mobile and take a picture of her to show the guards but of course I didn't think of that at the time. Would that be considered illegal anyway, taking a picture of someone without their consent and no concrete she was a pickpocket?

So what's the best thing to do if something like that happens?
Scream pickpocket!
Grab onto her and scream/call for guards?
Take her picture and show it to the guards?
Post her description up here so that anyone seeing a fat (at least size 16), 5' nothing, red-haired, low pony-tailed woman, wearing a pinky/salmony coloured rugby-type top with tiny white stripes, dark trousers, will perhaps be able to avoid her but watch her to see if she tries to pickpocket someone else?
Anything else I haven't thought of?

I will be watching out for this woman in Dublin city centre every day now and if I ever see her try something like this again I will do something.

Advice to all;
No wallets/phones/valuables in pockets of backpacks.
Be wary when someone gets too close or grabs onto you or your bag.
Warn someone if you see this happening to them.

5starpool

She sounds very attractive.

Next time, give her a thump. It'll make you feel better.

Jimoslimos

dame wrote:

I will be watching out for this woman in Dublin city centre every day now and if I ever see her try something like this again I will do something.

You'll be so preoccuppied looking out for this one that ya won't notice her 20 other scummer mates theivin the eyes from your head.

dame

Jimoslimos wrote:

You'll be so preoccuppied looking out for this one that ya won't notice her 20 other scummer mates theivin the eyes from your head.

DarkJager

Grab her by the collar of her scruffy knacker jacket and feed her a headbutt....

Mrs_Doyle

A few years ago I walking down Camden st, having just been in the Palace.
It was about 2.30am and I was walking along with my friend, but neither of us were really drunk. A Romanian guy start walking along beside me, trying to get me to buy a rose from him.
He was kinda joking with us as he walked along, and then suddenly he stopped walking with us, and said Good Night.

Don't ask me why, but my instinct was to check my bag, which I had been carrying on my arm.

My wallet was missing! So, I just starting screaming, 'Hey, hey, hey, HE TOOK MY WALLET!'

The guy who took it tried to make a run for it, but my screaming had grabbed the attention of everyone on the street and some passer by tripped the thief up.
The thief threw my wallet across the street, got up, and made a break for it.

He got away, and I got my wallet back.

Another time I was in a little pub on Talbot street. It was about 5 in the afternoon. Offaly had played Laois earlier that day and the pub was jammers.

I was just about to get served at the bar when a man bumped into me, on my right side (the side my bag was on).
I put my hand into my bag, only to meet his hand on the way out.

Again I started shouting (I don't know why that's my first reaction, but it seems to work), 'He has my purse, he has my purse'.

The barman grabbed him over the bar, by the scruff of the neck, a bouncer was there in seconds. The guy dropped my purse on the floor, and the bouncer pulled open his coat (manky trench coat type thing) to find a few more ladies purses!

Anyhow, my advice to anyone, should they ever find themselves in a similar situation - SHOUT, cause a scene, attract as much attention as possible.

It worked for me anyway.

0ubliette

My sister was on a train in spain once, and a guy tried to pickpocket her, all she had was some crumpled up tissue in her pocket, she totally freaked out, pulled the tissue out of her pocket and threw it in his face and screamed 'HERE!! IS THIS WHAT YOURE F*CKIN LOOKIN FOR IN MY POCKET!?!'
shes pretty hardcore sometimes

godtabh

I was in Italy getting a train last year. Got on the train at about 4 in the morning. No one around except me, my friend and as it turns out about 7 knackers (dont know where theywere from but they werent Italian).

They were all pally first. Then one went for my wallet while another one was distracting me. He wasnt very good at it as I could fell a hand in my back pocket.

I turned around pinned him down gave him a slap or two. The rest werent expecting this and fled. I gave your man a kick in the arse as he fell off the train and that was that

Tar.Aldarion

Was her name 'Ammo'? Find out.

godtabh

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Was her name 'Ammo'? Find out.

I used to know a girl called Ammo. Vey scary altogether

_blank_

I know a girl called Ammo.

It's not her though.

Jonesy3110

A few years ago I walking down Camden st, having just been in the Palace.
It was about 2.30am and I was walking along with my friend, but neither of us were really drunk. A Romanian guy start walking along beside me, trying to get me to buy a rose from him.
He was kinda joking with us as he walked along, and then suddenly he stopped walking with us, and said Good Night.

My sister has the exact same story!

I heard a story once as well that there was a group of Romanian woman travelling on the tube in london, one would sit down next to you and have a big coat on their lap which they would use to conceal themselves as the slashed open your bag with a knife and steal your stuff. You'd stand up and your bag would be sliced up and youd be like wtf?? I heard it happened a lot, don't know if it still does though.

WindSock

Hmm, fat, red hair and a pink top you say? I think I know who you're speaking of.

You should have like you previously suggested, taken a pic of her. Its not illegal as far as I know to do it in a public place without persons consent. Just make sure she doesn't swipe your phone in the process.


'As long as everybody is filming everybody else, justice will be served'

Nightwish

I had a similar experience walking down O Connell St at the GPO. I felt something at my bag and looked back and saw a little romanian boy who was no more than 6 years old. I turned an ran but the little fukcer legged it down Henry street at the speed of light. I just thought, what kind of an adult will her be, if thats what he's up to at the age of 6.

Oman

I was in Dublin last week and as i was walkin downt he streets i could have sworn the someone was takin something from my pocket but i was slow to react and when i turned round no one was there. i had a note book in my pocket so he probably went for that and when he realised what it was didnt bother takin it

judas101

Mrs_Doyle wrote:

I walking down Camden st, having just been in the Palace.
It was about 2.30am and I was walking along with my friend. A Romanian guy start walking along beside me, trying to get me to buy a rose from him.

that exact thing happend to me during the weekend. one of those romanian rose guys came over to us then 2 of his friends joined him and the kinda jostled into the girl i was chatting to. i was pissed and there was lots of ppl around as whelans just closed so i didnt think it was too unusual. but then i saw his hand come out from her coat pocket. i gave him a shove and shouted at him, he tried to scarper but lucky enough there was a garda van right there and one of our fine gardai intercepted him. obviously didnt take him away but at least they were being vigilant.

i say, you should deal with them fairly harsly. i'd have popped that right cnt in the face had i seen him get anything.

dcarroll

i would have thrown the little tramp off the bridge

Alessandra

I think the best advice is to cause a fuss, scream, shout draw attention to the thief.

My mother was on business in Amsterdam there a few years ago. Her and her colleagues were walking through the trainstation it was packed. She felt a hand in her bag and she screamed at the top of her lungs, turned round and confronted the man. He was a well groomed man in a suit carrying a briefcase. People stopped to look. He just looked straight ahead and kept on walking away. Nobody intervened to apprehend him but by the screaming he was stopped from getting away with her wallet.

Another time my brother was taking photos is Krakow and a guy ran up and actually snatched the camera off him, my brother turns and runs after him catching him, rattling him up and retrieving the camera. Guy ran off.

blow69

Coming home from a night out up in cork.was on the Western Rd. When leaving the club we got flyers about drink offers so i put it in my wallet.so on the way home i decided to take it out and see what it was about.I barely had it out of my wallet when these 2 guys ran right past me and swiped the wallet while the other pushed my friends away.At first i froze but instincts kicked in and i started shouting.There was a group of other students up the road a bit and heard us shouting.They grabbed them and pinned them to the floor.We gave them a few slaps and then tied them to a fence leaving a note beside them saying 'watch ur purses.these people are thieves.it was ****ing hilarious! Realised the people who helped lived at the same apartments as me.Been friends ever since.

WindSock

Sweet Justice ^^^^

burnedfaceman

some bloke tried up pickpocket me in amsterdam, i felt his hand go for my wallet in pocket so i grabbed his wrist while in pocket and nutted him. pretty sure i broke his nose there was blood everywhere (and the fact that i have a large skull may also have been a factor) he ran off holding his nose..

grimloch

I'm taking a shite in my man bag and I'm going to leave it half open tomorrow.

Karl Hungus

Thankfully never been pickpocketed myself, or even had someone attempt it on me, but I've known a few people falling foul to those flower sellers.

I'd just avoid so-called flower sellers at all cost.

Oh, and the Knacker-dwarf! There's only one of him though...

Dord

blow69 wrote:

Coming home from a night out up in cork.was on the Western Rd. When leaving the club we got flyers about drink offers so i put it in my wallet.so on the way home i decided to take it out and see what it was about.I barely had it out of my wallet when these 2 guys ran right past me and swiped the wallet while the other pushed my friends away.At first i froze but instincts kicked in and i started shouting.There was a group of other students up the road a bit and heard us shouting.They grabbed them and pinned them to the floor.We gave them a few slaps and then tied them to a fence leaving a note beside them saying 'watch ur purses.these people are thieves.it was ****ing hilarious! Realised the people who helped lived at the same apartments as me.Been friends ever since.

Ah jaysus thats a nice happy ending

TBH if someone pickpocketed (sp?) me and I turned 'round and saw them i'd run after them. I'm pretty fast and I ain't a small guy so if I caught them they'd be fooked! :mad:

dame

Thanks folks, if it ever happens again I'll be screaming!!

Interesting to see nobody here admitting to being pickpocketed and the thief getting away with the goods, aren't we the lucky bunch! :rolleyes:

Seriously though, glad to hear the happy endings and thieves getting caught.

DonkeyStyle \o/

grimloch wrote:

I'm taking a shite in my man bag and I'm going to leave it half open tomorrow.

What a treat for the person sitting next to you on the bus

Rhyme

Similar case on Henry Street there last month, felt a slight tug at my back pocket (nothing in there but a cinema ticket stub and a pencil). Some kind of reaction kicked in and i stopped dead and this thief slammed into my elbow. They didn't seem too pleased and started giving out to me

I offered them the ticket stub.

But yeh, raise a racket... seems to be the best solution.

cacio

dame wrote:

fat (at least size 16),

you've just given a lot of women another reason to feel bad about themselves, including me. thanks, i love being made feel like crap.

Fajitas!

Hmmm... Had a similar incident crossing from the Bridge onto O'Connell St a week ago - I have a big kind of rucksack for all my camera gear (Click for pic) and had my tripod attached to the back. I have it tied on in a wierd way, so it would take a few minutes to get it off.

Felt something odd going on with my back when crossing the road in a mass of people and stopped, to feel a thud - A small redheaded woman obviously trying to untangle the middle strap on the tripod, just got it in her face and again when I turned around.... She just ran off in the opposite direction... I wasn't too intent to run after her with the kit in my back, but was pretty paranoid after that.

As for taking a picture of her, nope, no legal issues, as long as it's in a public place. There would be a problem if you published that image proclaiming her to be a thief without any evidence, but just going to an Gardaí with it wouldn't be an issue.

WindSock

cacio wrote:

dame wrote:

fat (at least size 16),

you've just given a lot of women another reason to feel bad about themselves, including me. thanks, i love being made feel like crap.

Oh grow up, you obviously already have issues if this makes you bothered.

Black Swan

Now, if you were a lad and it was a young reincarnated May West who was reaching into your pants pocket, you might think of her differently? Ha!

Fighting Irish

Nightwish wrote:

I had a similar experience walking down O Connell St at the GPO. I felt something at my bag and looked back and saw a little romanian boy who was no more than 6 years old. I turned an ran but the little fukcer legged it down Henry street at the speed of light. I just thought, what kind of an adult will her be, if thats what he's up to at the age of 6.

one that can talk properly

luckat

cacio wrote:

dame wrote:

fat (at least size 16),

you've just given a lot of women another reason to feel bad about themselves, including me. thanks, i love being made feel like crap.

Oh grow up. Or maybe not.

R0ot

dame wrote:

Later I wondered why I didn't whip out my mobile and take a picture of her to show the guards but of course I didn't think of that at the time. Would that be considered illegal anyway, taking a picture of someone without their consent and no concrete she was a pickpocket?

Paparazzi do it all the time why would it be illegal to take a picture of someone without their consent.

cance

cacio wrote:

dame wrote:

fat (at least size 16),

you've just given a lot of women another reason to feel bad about themselves, including me. thanks, i love being made feel like crap.

lose some weight then.

olaola

Was walking out of work with a group of lads heading down to the pub for a few drinks.
Had my phone in my paw texting a friend... I literally saw it slow motion.
A little knackbag running towards me snatched the phone out of my hand and kept running. I shouted - and one of the lads from work who was walking behind me grabbed the little fe*ker and got him down on the ground.
All of the guys decended on him. Gave him a few digs and got my phone back!
Savage!

Slow Motion

olaola wrote:

Was walking out of work with a group of lads heading down to the pub for a few drinks.
Had my phone in my paw texting a friend... I literally saw it slow motion.

It wasn't me honest guv !

dream brother

olaola wrote:

All of the guys decended on him.

So thought that said something else there!!!!!!

Steoob

was in ugc cinema on parnell street last week (or cineworld whatever you call it) and me and my girlfriend were just walking into the ticket que and we noticed this knackerish guy walking behind us... got far too close to my girlfriend and her bag, once i saw him i stood behind my girlfriend to block him then he walked off... eejit

jellie

Got my wallet stolen a few years ago on grafton street

Had gone into town after college, got off a bus up at the top of grafton street, had my bag on my back & (stupidly) my wallet in the back pocket (which i never usually did - worst day to do it). It was absolutley lashing rain so i was walking pretty fast down grafton street with my hood up & not paying attention. Was meeting my sister at mc donalds & went to take my wallet out of my bag & it wasnt there checked all the compartments in a panic but it was gone They mustve worked pretty fast cause it wasnt like i was taking a leisurely stroll. my phone had been in the same pocket but that was still there. Had about €80 in the wallet though, that i owed my mother for the bus&rail ticket id just bought, as well as the actual ticket, and all my cards.

Moral of the story: never put things in the back pocket of bags (yes i know its common sense anyway)

mogsy

does anyone know what would happen from a legal perspective if you assault someone while or after they attempt to/pickpocket you?

Duff Man Jr.

In dublin years ago for a all-Ireland my brother had a big novelty hat on and a knacker actually robbed it off his head

Elphaba

OP, the same thing happened me at the halfpenny bridge a few years ago.Standing at the lights waiting to cross and I had a back pack on. This little skank-ho was standing behind me opening the pockets of my backpack. I didn't even feel it but my friend saw her and turned around and the girl just stopped and stared straight ahead. Then the lights went green and I still didn't know what went on. She legged it off. So as someone said earlier - Don't carry valuables in bag pockets!

Zombrex

dame wrote:

So what's the best thing to do if something like that happens?
Scream pickpocket!

You want to be careful, often the pick pockets, particularly the women, will have "handlers" You shout "pickpocket" and you find yourself on your back after some heroin junky has floored you from behind

Best bet is to go straight to the Gardai (probably out side the GPO) and describe the girl.

dame

Wicknight wrote:

You want to be careful, often the pick pockets, particularly the women, will have "handlers" You shout "pickpocket" and you find yourself on your back after some heroin junky has floored you from behind

Best bet is to go straight to the Gardai (probably out side the GPO) and describe the girl.

Thanks all, some useful info, particularly Fajitas and Wicknight.

I got robbed at knife point 10 years ago on the ha' penny bridge.

5 o' clock on a saturday evening.

I feel alot safer walking around town these days to be honest.

Cheese Princess

I had a similar experience about a year ago.

Waiting to cross at the lights at college green and I thought I felt something pulling on my bag....an over the shoulder bag with lots of pockets and zips.

Looked around to see a middle aged blonde scanger who looked a bit guilty and said "sorry love" as if she had just bumped into me.

Lights changed and I crossed the road a bit confused as to what happened, then realised the main zip on the bag was open, although nothing was missing. Must have just caught her on time.

Anyway, one of Dublin's finest happened to be strolling down the street so I went and told him what happened and pointed her out. He says "oh yeah we're watching her alright". Obviously not bloody close enough mate!!!

He walked over to her and had a word and she went off on her merry way to try her luck again no doubt.

:mad: