With 91% of the pickpockets nabbed in the Delhi Metro
in the last six months being women, beware of even the most 'shareef'
looking girl standing beside you while you're busy fighting with a
co-passenger for a seat in the Metro.
Think pickpockets, and you imagine a tapori lingering at a public place eyeing his next target. And when it comes to female pickpockets, we're instantly reminded of Shabana Azmi who played one in Amar Akbar Anthony; looking very un-crook-like in a pair of bell-bottoms and a shirt. For all those who're unaware, even now, these harmless looking women are the ones who might steal your wallet in the Metro while you're listening to music on your phone on your way to work.
Not quite pickpocket-like
In the last six months, the CISF, which is responsible for the security of the Delhi Metro, has caught 193 pickpockets. Interestingly, 91% (175) of them are females. According to a senior Metro officer, some of these pickpockets have a very corporate-sector look and they don't look anything like a pickpocket. "Usually, pickpockets are not dressed smartly, and so, one can tell a pickpocket from afar. The typical pickpockets would carry a baby, would be dressed in a sari or salwar-kameez. But recently, we've noticed a new group of pickpockets who dress very smartly. They look like any other dilli ki ladki," said one of the senior security officers of the Delhi Metro. A security guard at Kashmere Gate Metro station, said, "Because of their smart appearance, even if they stand too close to other commuters, nobody suspects them. Aur bheed ka fayda utha ke yeh araam se purse ya wallet nikal leti hain."
They wear jeans or formals: "Jeans-shirt pehanti hain aur dekhne se lagta hai kahin kaam karti hain. Kabhi-kabhi yeh formals mein bhi aati hain," said one of the security guards at Rajeev Chowk station. They are usually active on the Gurgaon line, and especially during rush hour, which is morning and evening.
They carry laptop bags: If you think every laptop-carrying person is either a student or an office-goer, you're mistaken. "This group of pickpockets also carries laptop bags. Ab usmein laptop hota hai ya nahi, yeh toh pata nahi, lekin laptop bag gives them a perfect working-girl look," said a security guard posted at the Central Secretariat station.
They speak fluent English: Another thing that catches most Metro passengers unawares when it comes to these pickpockets is that they speak in English, and that too, fluently. "The typical pickpockets that we know of can't speak English. We recognize them through their activities and their appearance. But these girls speak the language very confidently and can easily be mistaken for a working professional," said the senior CISF Delhi Metro officer.
Why are they gutsy?
According to a CISF official, most of the time, commuters don't file a complaint if their pockets have been picked. In such a case, the pickpockets are freed after just a warning. Says the officer, "The cases of pickpocketing are increasing because they know that the commuters won't go through the trouble of filing a complaint. Therefore, the pickpockets have become fearless. But with the help of Delhi Police, we've released a few photos of the suspects. We monitor them through CCTV cameras and avoid their entry into the Metro."
Pickpocketing to buy fancy gadgets!
A few months ago, a girl pursuing an MBA was arrested for pickpocketing at Delhi Metro stations. She reportedly did this to buy herself expensive gadgets, like cellphones. She had stolen a purse on February 21, and later withdrew `50,000 from an ATM. On March 1 this year, she stole another bag and similarly withdrew `20,000. On the basis of CCTV footage, a trap was laid, and the girl was finally put behind bars.
Think pickpockets, and you imagine a tapori lingering at a public place eyeing his next target. And when it comes to female pickpockets, we're instantly reminded of Shabana Azmi who played one in Amar Akbar Anthony; looking very un-crook-like in a pair of bell-bottoms and a shirt. For all those who're unaware, even now, these harmless looking women are the ones who might steal your wallet in the Metro while you're listening to music on your phone on your way to work.
Not quite pickpocket-like
In the last six months, the CISF, which is responsible for the security of the Delhi Metro, has caught 193 pickpockets. Interestingly, 91% (175) of them are females. According to a senior Metro officer, some of these pickpockets have a very corporate-sector look and they don't look anything like a pickpocket. "Usually, pickpockets are not dressed smartly, and so, one can tell a pickpocket from afar. The typical pickpockets would carry a baby, would be dressed in a sari or salwar-kameez. But recently, we've noticed a new group of pickpockets who dress very smartly. They look like any other dilli ki ladki," said one of the senior security officers of the Delhi Metro. A security guard at Kashmere Gate Metro station, said, "Because of their smart appearance, even if they stand too close to other commuters, nobody suspects them. Aur bheed ka fayda utha ke yeh araam se purse ya wallet nikal leti hain."
They wear jeans or formals: "Jeans-shirt pehanti hain aur dekhne se lagta hai kahin kaam karti hain. Kabhi-kabhi yeh formals mein bhi aati hain," said one of the security guards at Rajeev Chowk station. They are usually active on the Gurgaon line, and especially during rush hour, which is morning and evening.
They carry laptop bags: If you think every laptop-carrying person is either a student or an office-goer, you're mistaken. "This group of pickpockets also carries laptop bags. Ab usmein laptop hota hai ya nahi, yeh toh pata nahi, lekin laptop bag gives them a perfect working-girl look," said a security guard posted at the Central Secretariat station.
They speak fluent English: Another thing that catches most Metro passengers unawares when it comes to these pickpockets is that they speak in English, and that too, fluently. "The typical pickpockets that we know of can't speak English. We recognize them through their activities and their appearance. But these girls speak the language very confidently and can easily be mistaken for a working professional," said the senior CISF Delhi Metro officer.
Why are they gutsy?
According to a CISF official, most of the time, commuters don't file a complaint if their pockets have been picked. In such a case, the pickpockets are freed after just a warning. Says the officer, "The cases of pickpocketing are increasing because they know that the commuters won't go through the trouble of filing a complaint. Therefore, the pickpockets have become fearless. But with the help of Delhi Police, we've released a few photos of the suspects. We monitor them through CCTV cameras and avoid their entry into the Metro."
Pickpocketing to buy fancy gadgets!
A few months ago, a girl pursuing an MBA was arrested for pickpocketing at Delhi Metro stations. She reportedly did this to buy herself expensive gadgets, like cellphones. She had stolen a purse on February 21, and later withdrew `50,000 from an ATM. On March 1 this year, she stole another bag and similarly withdrew `20,000. On the basis of CCTV footage, a trap was laid, and the girl was finally put behind bars.
