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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Why don't people stop pickpockets when they see them?
I was walking down the street coming back from work yesterday in a notoriously crowded part of the city when I saw a woman about to pickpocket some girl. I cut in and warned the girl, who stared at me blankly, got a cold stare from the pickpocket, who just walked on.
I feel in line behind her and just observed her (and the others around) from a distance. She managed to pickpocket two more people - with others right behind her SEEING HER DO IT - and no one reacted. After that I interrupted her on her third victim again, at which point she started yelling at me and just ran off.
I don't get it. are people afraid she's backed by ruthless goons or something?
Also, didn't get a thank you from either of the two people i helped. felt pretty crappy about that.
12 years 1 week ago in Health & Safety - China
The same way they may not help injured or dead people, they don't want to get themselves in trouble.
they will get accused of pickpocketing, could be another scam..
I will defer a bit from the stated fact that they do nothing when they see pickpockets in action.
While it is true that sometimes they do nothing, keep right on with their business and ignore what's going on in front of their noses, at least on one occasion I saw one person scream, and those nearby held a man who was attempting to steal the purse of a lady and while waiting for Police to show up they all pitched in and beat the guy a few times.
It is two very different ways to react to the same problem, yet in many cases, the prevailing way will be to just "NOT GET INVOLVED for maybe fear of reprisals ?.
Also, one time as I was exiting the Old (west) Guangzhou Train Station, I saw one guy approach a Chinese man in front of me with some papers in his hand, and start talking with him. Another fellow came from behind and tried to take something out of this guy shoulder bag. I yelled to him, and both fellows took off running like their shoes were on fire. The Chinese man came to me and thanked me many times, he even invited me to have a beer at a nearby restaurant/bar. My guess is that here, not everyone will react the same way all the time.
derek:
Happy, sounds like you almost fell victim to the classic, "3 Man Traditional Reading Papers Go For A Beer - Long Con". Elaborate yes, but many times effective when they get the right guy. Your wisdom may have thwarted their efforts.
HappyExPat:
Could be, but I am not that much of a beer man at almost 7 am, rather would have a cup of black coffee..............
I guess it can go both ways. Some people in China are trying to change the image of it's I don;t care about my neighbor. But for the most part, they tend to think hear no evil, see no evil, do no evil.
I have seen tht once, right infront of me and other Chinese people were just looking at it, why are Chinese people being like this?
I too warn people when they are being pickpocketed (happens a LOT in the subway!). My chinese friends tell me that I should not do that as the pickpocket or his friends might beat me up or stab me later.
Maybe it is true, maybe it is just to justify their incation. However, I just cannot stand by and say nothing.
here is why they do not. I once saved someone from a pick pocket we then became fast friends. Then the day came when he was taken by the local mob boss because he owed him money. I rescued him but put the boss’s second in command got hurt and he came after us. We know the Chief of Police was dirty so we called one of my contacts from Interpol. We were staying in a safe house while we waited, for Interpol to find him and take him in for trial. But then they kidnap my ex-girlfriend then we know what we had to do, we had to save her and take him down once and for all. With my friends Tec skills and my training he didn’t stand a chance, or so we thought. Turns out my ex was really the boss’s daughter. she didn’t want to lie to me but her father made her. He shot my friend but then the explosives my friend had set up went off and sent his men running, He was alone. I fought him to the death but I spared him because at the last minute my ex yelled out and I know I was not that man anymore. So I knocked him out cold and called Interpol to pick him up. I picked up my friend and gave my ex one last look good bye and left into the sunset.
So you know what never help anyone in china. that is like the third time that type of crap happened to me, just drink your damn tea and let him get screwed.