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P.S.: While relatively rare in most of our daily lives, scam artists and pickpockets are out there. They tend to operate more in big cities and at outdoor events where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic.

Typically one partner who seems harmless and possibly not playing with a full deck—sometimes a woman or child—distracts you while another actor picks your pocket or snatches your purse or bag.

Sometimes these scams involve spilling a drink or food on you or claiming to find money that you supposedly dropped (a pigeon drop).

Though they are as old as time, they still work every day. The practiced operators are so good that you won't know what happened until you reach for your wallet.

- Jim

• Usually with potential violent assailants or robbers we are looking for younger men. Women lag in this area (fortunately).
• People trying to disguise themselves: sunglasses indoors or at night, hoodies, especially when inappropriate for the weather, bogus wigs or beards. Some male robbers now dress in very bad drag, which presumably they discard immediately while getting away.
• Bandanas or masks call for going to condition red without delay.
• Obvious attempts to conceal or carry a weapon, including heavy clothing inappropriate for the weather, holding up the pants waist, or walking oddly (indicative of a long gun, machete, or club under clothing).
• Skulking behavior, sticking to walls, looking around nervously, entering and leaving an establishment without conducting business.
• Multiple actors as above, whispering to one other, talking behind their hands, etc.
• Apparent drunk, otherwise intoxicated, or mentally deranged behavior. (This may be genuine or an intended distraction.)
• Overly quick or friendly approaches, asking for a light, cigarette, spare change, directions, etc.
• Gang colors or insignia (hard to keep track of if you don't make it a full-time occupation, which I don't).
• Blatant prison or gang tattoos, such as the teardrop under the eye.
• Looking into vehicles and/or trying doors.

I'm sure I missed a few.

- Jim