Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 24, 2003

MTPD to conduct pickpocket/identity theft prevention class


Identity theft is fastest-growing crime in the nation

As part of its continuing series of Pickpocket and Identity Theft Prevention seminars, the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) will sponsor the next seminar on Wednesday, October 29, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Metro headquarters’ MTPD Training Room, 600 Fifth Street, N.W. Pickpocket and Identity Theft prevention expert MTPD Det. Cedric Mitchell’s class will feature a former pickpocket who will speak to seminar participants, providing them insight on how pickpockets think and "ply their trade." The speaker spent 20 years in this criminal endeavor. Since being released from prison, she has been attending school and working in a continuing effort to turn around her life. Det. Mitchell was recently featured on the "Montel Williams" show and "Good Morning America" show, along with the former pickpocket. USA Today and The Washington Post featured articles on Det. Mitchell, and he was a guest on the New York City radio show, "The Dolans." "As the holiday season fast approaches and people begin their gift shopping, this seminar comes at a time when it is vitally important to remind customers what they can do to avoid becoming victims of this crime," noted Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. "The holiday season is one of the times during the year when those who commit this crime increase their activity," she said. "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. Pickpockets, for example, continue to stay under the radar of law enforcement and the public," noted Det. Mitchell. "In addition, the crime leading from pickpocketing is identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission recently issued an alert to the public warning of identity theft. In addition, it is estimated that about 27.3 million people have been victims of this crime in the past five years. Washington, D.C., leads the nation in identity theft occurrences." Officers and investigators from the Amtrak, Fairfax, D.C. Metropolitan, Metro Transit, and Maryland Transportation Authority Police Departments; and security personnel from the World Bank, MCI Center, and the Smithsonian will participate in the day-long seminar. 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. "The crime of identity theft is 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 summer time, the holidays are another period when pickpockets intensify their efforts, especially as people become busier than usual and distracted by holiday activities," Det. Mitchell said. Tips for preventing this crime include some of the following:

  • Men should keep their wallets inside a front coat pocket, not the back pants 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, carrry it with 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, dropping change, or bumping into them.

News release issued on October 24, 2003.