More Victorian Criminals-Pickpockets

Continuing our look at criminals described by Henry Mayhew, here is another lawbreaker useful for adventures in Victoriana.  

"Mobsmen, or those who plunder by manual dexterity”

Technique and subtlety are the essential allies of all thieves, but for those working in the daylight right under the noses of their victims, they are everything. Mobsmen (more commonly called pickpockets) steal valuables hidden on their owner, preferably without their victim’s knowledge of the crime.

Pickpockets rarely work alone, preferring to work in groups of two or three. Their accomplices minimize risk by providing distractions, watching for trouble, and adding muscle to a dangerous enterprise. As soon as a pocket is picked, the thief is in danger, but a handoff to one of his associates ensures that he is never caught with the goods on his person.

Many young children from uncaring homes become pickpockets out of necessity, learning by trial and error or by joining a gang of older delinquents. There are stories of thief schools where experienced thieves and fences teach pick-pocketing to their apprentices by hanging up a coat with bells sown into it. The students pass their examination when they can silently empty the coat’s pockets.

Although many pickpockets are vagrant children, some pickpockets excel at their trade, and are able to afford fine clothes and a comfortable lifestyle. Their respectable appearance opens new opportunities for them to practice their skill. Any man or woman could be a pickpocket.

The sentence of a pickpocket caught and brought to trial varies in length and severity depending on the value of the stolen items. A small theft could mean weeks or months in jail. A larger theft (more than a pound) could be years or transportation.

Joseph Bonner (Respectable looking Dogfolk pickpocket)

Initiative: 8

Physical: 5

Mental: 4

Social: 6

Health: 8

Traits: Well mannered +2, Dexterous fingers+3,

 Combat: Run away, Fists (3),

Young ladies walking in the street fall for Joseph’s friendly black and white speckled face. He specializes in stealing pocketbooks while engaging in friendly conversation. His eyes often unconsciously search new acquaintances for valuables.

Kinds of Pickpockets

In “London Labour and the London Poor”, Mayhew’s criminal taxonomy breaks Mobsmen into further categories:

Buzzers, who steal from a gentleman’s person, Wires, who steal from a ladies’ person, Prop nailers, who steal pins and brooches, and Thimble-Screwers, who break watches from the claps attached to a pocket.

Methods

Pick-pockets know hundreds of devious tricks to penetrate their target’s personal space without trouble, using misdirection, teamwork, and manual dexterity. To steal accessories from the front of a man’s suit (like a scarf or tie pin, or pocket handkerchief), a thief walks next to their target while wiping their nose or face with a cloth in their right hand. This movement covers the movement of the left as it reaches over and takes exposed valuables.

Stealing a pocket watch from a vest requires strong fingers. The thief approaches his target with his arms crossed so the hand closest to the watch is tucked under an elbow. Meanwhile an accomplice stands close to block the view of passersby. The thief pulls the watch out of the pocket with his obscured hand and works to bend the ring connecting the watch to the watch chain.  If he can break it, he pockets the watch and walks away.

In a cruder more thuggish style, a thief approaches his victim attracting his attention, as his accomplice sneak up behind. The accomplice pulls the victim’s coat down around his elbows trapping his arms, as another thief quickly searches his person from the side. All three flee as the victim recovers.

Adventure Ideas

An ambassadorial aid lost his watch to a pickpocket. A very important paper was folded up behind the watch face. Was it a simple snatch or did someone know exactly what to lift from his vest?

The underworld is full of gossip about a pickpocket who stole a pocketbook. On closer examination he found the pocket book was made of freshly cured skin and had blood magic tattoos all over it.

A tailor skilled in Sigil magic claims to have made a suite of clothes that will stymie even the most skilled mobsman. It needs a thorough test.

If player characters are the ones doing the pick-pocketing, this random chart may be helpful:
Pick-Pocketing Odds and Ends .pdf