Pickpocketing: so last season - TheMoveChannel.co.uk

(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 27, 2009 ) London, UK - In a brazen attempt to put Fagin and his Â‘gotta pick a pocket or two' team out of business, London has welcomed a new breed of Â‘putpockets,' who place money into people's pockets and bags to brighten up their lives - free money in the midst of a recession - what will they think of next?!...

Now, if I was visiting a tourist hotspot in London city and spotted someone with their hand in my bag I wouldn't automatically assume that they were putting money into it - but more fool me, for that's exactly what 20 former pickpockets are doing.

In a bid to bring a little joy to people's lives and brighten up the gloom of the financial crisis, these ex-crims have turned over a new leaf and will be touring London's hottest tourist sites to slip money back into people's pockets and handbags.

Turning the old pickpocketing trend on its head, this new breed of Santa's little helpers will be giving away notes ranging from Â£5 to Â£20 in places such as Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

The new scheme is being run and funded by an internet provider and will be in London until the end of August before being rolled out countrywide.

At least Â£100,000 is up for grabs, but there's nothing you can do to make them choose you- other than leaving your handbag open - which could be dangerous if some old - fashioned pickpockets are lurking.

Not only is it brightening up people's lives, the scheme is also helping to ease the conscience of those former pickpockets.

Chris Fitch, a former pickpocket who now heads TalkTalk's putpocketing initiative, said, "It feels good to give something back for a change - and Britons certainly need it in the current economic climate.

"Every time I put money back in someone's pocket, I feel less guilty about the fact I spent many years taking it out," he added.

Note to tourists: If you do happen to see someone reaching into your handbag, please bear in mind that there is a chance it may not be an example of Â‘putpocketing.' (!)

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-ENDS-

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Dan Johnson
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0207 952 7650

TheMoveChannel.com
Dan Johnson
020 7952 7650
dj@themovechannel.com