AS READERS FAMILIAR to Matador know, no matter how savvy a globetrotter you are or how in-tune with the local culture you try to be, international travel is not without its risks. The fact is, there are people out there who make a living preying on folks who have the means to move about the globe.
Frequent travelers have heard all the warnings before: “Don’t leave your bags unattended! Always stick to well-traveled streets! Don’t carry too much cash!”
But what about some deeper insight? How can travelers get inside the mind of the international petty thief or pickpocket, understand what makes them tick, and think creatively to keep themselves from being victimized?
Dr. Barbara Oakley is an associate professor at Oakland University in Michigan, and is the author of Evil Genes, a nonfiction thriller that explores themes of morality, genetics, and brain research. The book was partially inspired by Oakley’s travel adventures, which include rubbing elbows with KGB agents as a translator on Soviet ships.
Recently I was able to connect with Dr. Oakley via email to gain some insight into the workings of the international criminal.
Petty criminals are often regarded as folks who have suffered from a rough upbringing and, therefore, have almost been forced to turn to a life of crime in order to get by. However, Oakley contends that this passive attitude can be dangerous.
“Our schools and universities indoctrinate students with the idea that a poor environment is the sole cause of criminal behavior,” says Oakley. “This conditioning is used by criminals to their advantage.”
If a criminal has been caught in the act, says Dr. Oakley, they will try to appeal to your sense of altruism and empathy for you to let them go. They could accomplish this through crying, saying they’ve never stolen before, or telling a sad story about their life or family.
If you’re a reasonably nice person, you can completely let your guard down.
“Some thieves have been trained since they were children to think about robbing ‘rich Westerners’ as something that’s a fully justified activity,” says Oakley. “Knowing this kind of information can help you to be more alert to the kind of physical cues that can alert you in situations of possible immediate harm.”
So you think that scruffy looking teenager with a staring problem in the seat opposite yours is eyeing up your iPod? Maybe you should pay closer attention to the little old lady whose bags you helped load into the overhead compartment. According to Dr. Oakley, these two fit into two thief sub-categories: eagles and chameleons.
“Eagles are thieves in great shape, who swoop in to grab their loot,” says Oakley. “Poor countries generally don’t have expensive forensic luxuries like fingerprinting, so if caught, a teenager can give a false name, be released, and go right back to a train or bus station to steal again. (An example of an eagle in action in Chile can be found on YouTube – here)
The chameleon’s approach is more subtle. These are the con artists or masters of disguise, and they may victimize you without you even realizing it.
“The chameleon may be a very good-looking man in a nice suit that gently slips his hand in your pocket as he moves past you in the aisle, or a nice-looking young woman who trips and falls against you,” says Oakley.
Their methods are no less insidious. When caught, the chameleon will often try to employ psychological techniques to get themselves off the hook. They’ll appeal to your sympathy through any means available to them.
“They’ll even cry, which can get your mirror neurons going–you feel sorry for the thief because you actually feel the feeling that the thief is simulating,” says Oakley.
Here are some expert tips straight from Dr. Oakley to keep in mind in your travels.
For more on preventing dodgy travel situations, please reference How to Survive Dangerous Border Crossings, and for an emotional look at one traveler’s experience with tragedy on the road, read Jon Brandt’s The Great Bus Heist.