Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 22, 2003

MTPD to conduct pickpocket/identity theft prevention class

Special guest speaker a former pickpocket criminal

As part of its continuing series of Pickpocket Prevention seminars, the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) will sponsor the next such session on Tuesday, July 22, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Metro headquarters" MTPD Training Room, 600 Fifth Street, NW.

Pickpocket and Identity Theft prevention expert Det. Cedric Mitchell’s class will feature a former pickpocket thief who will speak to seminar participants, providing them insight on how pickpockets think and " ply their trade." The speaker, who does not want her name revealed, spent 20 years in this criminal endeavor. After being released from prison not too long ago, she has been attending school and working, in a continuing effort to turn around her life.

" While police departments in the region have rightly focused their attention on terrorism alertness and prevention, criminals have not stopped plying other forms of crime," noted Det. Mitchell. " In addition, the crime leading from pickpocketing is identity theft. And terrorists have been known to steal identity documents as well. By being vigilant in preventing and intervening in pickpocket crimes, police could also be preventing a more serious crime."

Sworn police and special police officers from various departments, organizations, and MTPD will participate in the class. For the first time, credit union investigators will participate in the class as will MTPD’s own recruits, and members of the U.S. Park Police. Some of the officers will make up the plain clothes units of their departments; therefore, media will not be able to film these officers attending the class. Class participants will learn about how pickpockets ply their trade, how they pick their victims, how they steal victims" identities, the kind of jargon they use, even how they learn to become pickpockets, and more. The officers also will be able to take information back to their jurisdictions and organizations to provide to those they serve on how to prevent themselves from being victimized by this crime.

In addition to class time, participants will travel to Metro Center, 12th and G streets, N.W., entrance, at 1 p.m., to observe Det. Mitchell and his team demonstrate ways in which people become victims of pickpockets.

Det. Mitchell was recently featured on the " Good Morning America" show (his second appearance on that show) with the reformed pickpocket, in a USA Today feature article, and on the New York City radio show called " The Dolans." He will appear on the " Montel Williams" show in the fall.

" The crime of identity theft is still the fastest growing crime in the nation," Det. Mitchell said. " Anything we can do to give citizens information for protecting themselves is a prevention tool for them."

This crime occurs mostly in crowds at malls, theaters, museums, bus stations, airports, stadiums, train stations, art galleries, department stores, grocery stores, street corners, and more. " While certain times of the year may see an intensification of this crime, such as the holidays, summer time is another period when pickpockets intensify their efforts, especially when lots of tourists are in town," Det. Mitchell says.

Tips for preventing this crime include some of the following:

∙ Men should keep their wallets inside a front coat pocket, not the back pocket.

∙ Bag pack wearers should never place valuables in their back packs, including identification documents such as driver’s licenses or social security cards.

∙ Women should keep purses secured at all times, and if the purse has a flap, wear the flap against the body.

∙ Women should place wallets deep down inside the purse.

∙ People in crowded situations anywhere should be aware of their surroundings at all times; they should especially be wary if someone creates a distraction, such as dropping a newspaper or change nearby.

News release issued on July 22, 2003.