3 ms·

Depends on where you are I guess. Italy has a lot of tourists (in big cities at least) who often carry large amounts of cash, so taking cash does make sense. Bu

by franga2000 5y ago

Depends on where you are I guess. Italy has a lot of tourists (in big cities at least) who often carry large amounts of cash, so taking cash does make sense. But I doubt most other people carry 500 € on them. In my experience most people regularly carry st most 50 € in cash, so going for cards makes sense. As you said, ATM limits of a 250-500€ are common, but that still beats the contactless limit of 25€ (not to mention you get cash and it's easier to conceal your identity at an ATM than a store). So up to 50€ in cash and 25€ in stuff vs up to 550 € in cash (on hand + ATM limit) sounds worth the effort to me.

jaclaz 5y ago
Still, yes and no. My (simplicistic but simple) "get the money (and card, but without PIN) and run" approach is working 100% of cases (if you are a good pickpocketer). Your "get the money and the card and then use a sophisticated computerized method" is - at most - working 40% of cases (and you need to be BOTH a good pickpocketer AND a computer expert OR have a computer expert as accomplice[1]). If we imagine that 1/3 of people are like you say (with just 50 Euro), 1/3 is like I say (500 Euro) and 1/3 are mid-way (let's say 250 Euro), on average 12 "jobs" I have (let's exclude the 25 contactless, as they are the same in both cases: 4x50x100%=200 4x250x100%=1000 4x550x100%=2200 Total 3400 vs. 12x550x40%=2640 I am still ahead, if we have 1/2 at 50, 1/4 at 200 and 1/4 at 500: 6x50x100%=300 3x200x100%=600 3x550x100%=1650 Total 2550 we are roughly on par (I have no expenses for the computers, camera's etc.). BTW, "my" method is old, proved, always worked and will always work, "your" is going to have a hit now that these scientists told everyone about the method, people will start using "finger movements concealing devices"[2]. [1] in this latter case you will also have another person to divide profits with [2] the effectiveness of which might be the topic of a new article, besides the title of a new US patent application

jaclaz 5y ago

Still, yes and no. My (simplicistic but simple) "get the money (and card, but without PIN) and run" approach is working 100% of cases (if you are a good pickpocketer). Your "get the money and the card and then use a sophisticated computerized method" is - at most - working 40% of cases (and you need to be BOTH a good pickpocketer AND a computer expert OR have a computer expert as accomplice[1]). If we imagine that 1/3 of people are like you say (with just 50 Euro), 1/3 is like I say (500 Euro) and 1/3 are mid-way (let's say 250 Euro), on average 12 "jobs" I have (let's exclude the 25 contactless, as they are the same in both cases: 4x50x100%=200 4x250x100%=1000 4x550x100%=2200 Total 3400 vs. 12x550x40%=2640 I am still ahead, if we have 1/2 at 50, 1/4 at 200 and 1/4 at 500: 6x50x100%=300 3x200x100%=600 3x550x100%=1650 Total 2550 we are roughly on par (I have no expenses for the computers, camera's etc.). BTW, "my" method is old, proved, always worked and will always work, "your" is going to have a hit now that these scientists told everyone about the method, people will start using "finger movements concealing devices"[2]. [1] in this latter case you will also have another person to divide profits with [2] the effectiveness of which might be the topic of a new article, besides the title of a new US patent application