Master Pickpocket Breaks Down 12 Pickpocketing Tricks In Movies | How Real Is It? | Insider

Professional pickpocket Lee Thompson looks at 12 pickpocketing scenes from popular TV shows and movies and rates them based on realism.
He looks at "Birds of Prey" (2020), "The Take" (2016), "Ocean's Eleven" (2001), "Now You See Me" (2013), "Killing Eve" (2018), "Gangs of New York" (2002), "Pickpocket" (1959), "Pickpockets" (2018), "Focus" (2015), "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011), and "Sleight" (2016).

Thompson is a professional pickpocket magician and a member of the Inner Magic Circle with gold-star status. He's taken part in Mugler Follies shows in Paris and toured for 18 months, performing 1,700 shows, with Cirque Du Soleil Koozå. He's performed live on ITV's "Good Morning Britain" and BBC's "The One Show," and he was a consultant pickpocket magician for "Holmes and Watson" (2018). Thompson has worked with the UK police and Revenue and Customs in public-awareness campaigns about pickpocketing.

WATCH MORE HOW REAL IS IT VIDEOS:
Crime Experts Rate 24 Cons And Heists In Movies And TV
Ex-CIA Agent Rates 11 CIA Spy Scenes In Movies And TV
Ex-Undercover Cop Rates 13 Iconic Undercover Police Officers In Movies

------------------------------------------------------

#Pickpocket #Movies #Insider

Insider is great journalism about what passionate people actually want to know. That’s everything from news to food, celebrity to science, politics to sports and all the rest. It’s smart. It’s fearless. It’s fun. We push the boundaries of digital storytelling. Our mission is to inform and inspire.

Master Pickpocket Breaks Down 12 Pickpocketing Tricks In Movies | How Real Is It?

[polarispien]

Him: I've unfortunately robbed a bank.

*For a pickpocketing awareness display of course*

[TheKhaliente]

I love how careful he is to not incriminate himself.

[ianowens]

“Yea I’ve actually done this it’s really good I’ve stolen three grand doing this”
“For a pickpocket awareness campaign, of course”

[vund]

Dude actually swiped a keycard to get into this office and recorded this himself

[ilou]

This guy sounds like he's used to constantly reassuring people he's not a criminal

[katrinaendozo]

Whenever something is realistic, he's like "unfortunately, that's real" lol

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Looking forward to an actual handcuffed serial killer breaking down kills in horror movies

[jacksonbauer]

I was homeless in a college town for a period of time in the early 2000’s. His point about people being intoxicated is absolutely spot on. I wouldn’t even have to steal anything during spring/summer as people would get so drunk they’d drop/leave/forget items of value constantly. I once found a handful of wallets and almost a dozen purses/pocketbooks in one evening (well, early morning). Most people lack the awareness to recognize how they make themselves vulnerable. It’s not uncommon to see people who don’t look up from their phones for entire minutes in public while having headphones in, toting unsecured bags, etc. It’s good to see that he is educating people about being more aware of what’s happening around them and what to look for. I don’t advocate crime and I don’t make excuses for my past actions. I fucked up, it was my fault and I’ve worked hard for decades to rebalance the scales.

[LNYuiko]

"it's phenomenal"
"DON'T DO IT"
"it's phenomenal"

[dylansporrer]

Every time he clarifies that he does these things in cooperation with police to teach crime prevention, I become more convinced he is robbing people in his free time.

[michelledegeorge]

This makes me feel like it's a miracle that I've never been pickpocketed before...

[xlnuniex]

I wanna hear the story behind how he became a professional pick pocket consultant.

[ermusic]

“People carry babies in front of ‘em, that are not babies”

*Why did I laugh at this so hard*

[bulbatherapy]

I love how for every clip he just says “I’ve done it myself too lol”

[Scramble]

No one told me this was an option at careers day

[japfourme]

I always remember when I was at school 50+ years ago I was on stage with some other kids in a play, Oliver I think it was, and I was tasked with pickpocketing one of the other kids, once I’d done it the teacher looked at me and said, well we’re all waiting for you to pocket the other kid, the look of dismay and disbelief on their faces when I proved to them that I had already picked the lads pocket is something I’ll never forget!!

[scoobie]

Really adorable how he's so passionate about this subject

[brickbuilderx]

I never understood how pickpockets are able to steal watches, the fact that they can slip it without them noticing or feeling is impressive.

[muisatwar]

His words: “unfortunately, that is exactly how to steal a wallet”
His face: 🤤

[liberty]

""What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?”
“Knife to the throat?” asked Inej.
“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.
“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.
“You’re all horrible, ” said Matthias.
Kaz rolled his eyes. “The easiest way to steal a man’s wallet is to tell him you’re going to steal his watch. You take his attention and direct it where you want it to go""