What To Do When Your Wallet Is Stolen
This thread at Fatwallet forums has some good tips if you ever have your wallet stolen. There is one important thing that was mentioned that should be done by everyone, and that is to make sure nothing in your wallet has your social security number. Many of the old insurance cards use to have the SS number as an ID number. However, this has changed in the last few years.
It's probably a good idea to have a listing of what's in your wallet (credit cards, ATM cards, etc.). That way, you'll know who to call when the wallet is gone. It was mentioned that you shouldn't have to close your credit card accounts. You can just ask them to re-issue you a card with a new number.
Finally, an important fact was mentioned that should help relieve fears of identity theft. Common thieves on average are not too bright. Many will simply remove the cash and dump the wallet in the trash.
posted by Ken @ 9/19/2005 05:51:00 AM
5 Comments:
Ever wonder how those magicians manage to steal the wallets of their unsuspecting audience members? Embellish this recommended routine a bit, and it was probably what I saw done by a live performer to several guys in the audience. Moral: Watch out when you're called upon to participate! Here is the link:
http://www.mcmagicwords.com/books/theatricalpickpocketing.html
That link above was not working--and I located the site's new URL--try this:
http://websites4magicians.com/mcmagicwords/www/books/theatricalpickpocketing.html
Hopefully, this will work. The performer I saw had borrowed the bills, done several minutes of tricks with them, moving the audience members around, and then when returning the bills, the participants discovered they had been relieved of their wallets!
Still had trouble getting the link to work--it was to a site selling a book called "Jim Ravel's Theatrical Pickpocketing" and this is an excerpt:
Like magic, pickpocketing requires certain skills but there are also secrets that make seemingly impossible steals well within the grasp of a competent magician. As a longtime confidant of Jim Ravel's and former artist for Genii magazine, Paul Butler was the perfect choice to write and illustrate this lifetime of secrets that kept Jimmy Ravel (Mr. Pickpocket) in constant demand as a top variety performer. With decades of professional experience as both a professional magician and pickpocket under his belt, Jimmy was the ideal person to bring the art of theatrical pickpocketing to the world of magic. He will teach you the applied psychology and step-by-step moves required to steal watches, wallets, belts, suspenders, cuff-links, neckties and even the shirt right off a spectator's back. So whether you are looking for an entirely new career or simply want to add some screamingly funny moments to your present act, Theatrical Pickpocketing is MUST reading for every working magician, or anyone who would like to be. Includes a glossary of pickpocketing terms and a valuable list of additional books on or about pickpocketing. Over 80 photos and illustrations complement this handsomely bound book. $28.50
A PEEK INSIDE THEATRICAL PICKPOCKETING
[I can remember going with Jimmy Ravel to see him work a banquet show and being dumbfounded at how fast he lifted a spectator's wallet. When I mentioned it later, Jimmy just smiled. Years later, when I was able to read this manuscript, it dawned on me that he had fooled me with his Million Dollar Wallet Steal. This is something that could go into any magician's act right now.]
THE MILLION DOLLAR WALLET STEAL
Lifting a man's wallet is one of the most difficult steals you will be faced with. The reason for this is that a billfold is one of the most valuable pieces of property a person carries, and therefore he carefully protects it. Because the Million Dollar Wallet Steal convinces the spectator that his wallet is safely in his back pocket, his attention can be easily diverted. The clever secret behind this steal then allows you to quickly and easily remove the wallet without detection.
It is best to utilize this steal while performing a trick that requires you to borrow a dollar bill from the subject. (Or you can simply offer to show him how to carry his wallet so that a pickpocket can't get to it.) When he has removed his wallet, take it from him, remove the dollar and put it back into his pocket yourself. Replace the wallet in the spectator's hip pocket closest to you. What actually happens is that half of the wallet is placed into the pocket, leaving the other half hanging out as in Figure 1. The subject's coat has been removed in this illustration but in actual performance, the subject must be wearing a coat.
After replacing the wallet, show your hands empty (via a logical gesture) and guide the spectator's hand to the rear of his coat. Keeping his hand on the OUTSIDE of the coat, tell him to feel the wallet in his pocket. The subject will pat the wallet, and through the material of the coat, it will feel as though the wallet is secure in his pocket. (If you don't believe this... try it yourself.) Now, as you move the subject forward or to either side, you simply reach under his coat for a brief moment, place your forefinger under the fold of the wallet and lift straight up. The wallet will easily slide out into your hand.
This is, without a doubt, the easiest and fastest wallet steal that you can learn. The move is so simple and fast that you will honestly fool the subject. They cannot understand how you could possibly perform the "lift" so quickly and imperceptibly
You "wallet bloggers" gotta love the comment in the following article, "...I wasn't thinking about my wallet at all..." At least he still had his wallet after this crime, so check-out this article:
http://www.crisscross.com/jp/kuchikomi/171
An anecdote about losing a wallet--along with advice about being prepared for the loss of one's wallet:
http://www.fool.com/community/pod/2004/040902.htm
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