PICK-POCKET STUNTS

by U. F. Grant

New, unusual and highly effective methods of performing apparent pick-pocket stunts. Startling
effects requiring no skill.

In this manuscript you will find a number of excellent suggestions for pickpocket stunts. No great
pickpocket skill is required to execute them, rather, they are of the stunt type. They will convince the
watching spectator that you are an accomplished pickpocket.

No. 1 – Wallet Steal

For this effect you will need one of the cheap wallet type card cases sold in most dime stores. They open like a book
and have a compartment on each side with a celluloid window. A card is inserted into one of the compartments
bearing the following message. “Please pretend this is yours and put it into your pocket.” The message is visible
through the window. When a spectator is up helping you and is about to return to his seat, remove the wallet from
your pocket, flip it open, and hand it to him saying, “Don’t forget your wallet.” He will see the message and follow
through.

No. 2 – Wrist Watch Steal

Here is the wrist watch steal, as used very successfully by Harry Blackstone. When a spectator is assisting you, stand
facing him with your back to the audience and say to him in a whisper. “ Slip off your watch and put it in my hand when
I turn around.” Later, you return the watch to him, having apparently taken it when he was unaware of it. If you do the
Kellar Tie, as Blackstone does, you can whisper to him as he is tieing your wrist.

No. 3 – Stealing Suspenders

Get a pair of cheap suspenders from the dime store. When you have a spectator up, palm the suspenders and
apparently pull them from inside his coat. This should be done fast, so the audience will think you have actually taken
off his suspenders.

No. 4 – Pen/Pencil Steal

When you borrow a pen or pencil during your act, pretend to place it back in the spectator’s pocket, actually palming
it out. Later return it to him.

No. 5 – Stealing Misc. Objects

In certain tricks where a spectator’s pocket is used he will have to empty his pocket. If you help him you can easily palm
away some small object. Before he returns to his seat, hand him the article you have stolen.

No. 6 – Stealing Pen, Pencils, Cigars, etc.

In doing a trick where a card or coin is reproduced from the spectator’s inside coat pocket it is an easy thing to
palm out a pen, pencil, cigar or whatever you may find there. The card effect where a selected card is brought to
the top of the deck and the deck placed in the inside coat pocket for the spectator to locate the card gives you an
opportunity to use this stunt.

No. 7 – Stealing Bills

Have a dollar bill crumpled up in your hand. Borrow a five or a ten. Crumple it up, pretend to place it in the other hand
and thus vanish it. Reach in the air and apparently reproduce the bill actually producing the crumpled one dollar bill.
Tuck the crumpled bill in the spectator’s pocket. He will think it is the five or ten. Later hand him the ten dollar bill
and ask him if he will return your one.

No. 8 – Stealing Coins

The same idea as used in No. 7 can be used by switching a half dollar for a palming coin, returning the palming
coin to the spectator.
No. 9 – Big Bill Steal
Have a double envelope with a blank piece of paper the size of a dollar bill in the secret compartment. Tell the
spectator you would like to reward him for his help. Place a fifty or hundred dollar bill in the open part of the double
envelope, seal it and place it in his pocket. Reach out and apparently pluck a fifty (or hundred) dollar bill out of the air.
Remove the envelope from the spectator’s pocket, open it and remove the blank paper from the secret side. Pocket the
envelope with the bill concealed in the secret compartment.

No.10 – Sucker Bit

This stunt employs a change bag. Put two one dollar bills in the bag then switch compartments. Tell the spectator
you would like to make a bet with him. (Make some ridiculous bet he is sure to win). Each of you will put ten dollars
in the bag. Then switch compartments. When he wins the bet and goes into the bag to collect his winnings he gets
the two one dollar bills.

No. 11 – Coin Steal

Have a coin envelope with the bottom slit open. Borrow a half dollar, drop it in the envelope and seal the envelope. The
half actually slides through the envelope into your palm. Place the envelope in the spectator’s pocket and ask him to
guard it carefully, for sometime during the act you are going to “pick his pocket”. Later, tell him to remove the envelope
from his pocket and tear it up. He does so and the half is gone. You then hand him the half dollar.

No. 12 – Stealing Socks

Before the show get a spectator to remove his socks and give them to you. Get the same spectator up to help you
in the act. As he is about to return to his seat hand him the socks. He pulls up his trouser legs and the socks are
seen to be missing.

No. 13 – Borrowed Pen in Spectator’s Pocket

When you borrow a pen or pencil, tell the spectator you will place it in your pocket temporarily. Actually, slip it into
your coat sleeve by the arm pit. It will slide down the sleeve and into the hand un-noticed. A few minutes later ask to
borrow the pen. The spectator will say that you have it in your pocket. Tell him that you returned it to him and reach in
his pocket with the pen palmed and apparently remove it from his pocket.

No. 14 – Your Hotel Key in Woman’s Purse

Here is an excellent gag to work at a convention. Do a trick where you reproduce a card or coin from a ladies purse. As
you reach in to remove the object, palm in your hotel room key and leave it there, unknown to the lady. Later, say that
you think you will go up to your room and ask the lady for the key to your room. She will insist that she doesn’t have it.
Finally have her open her purse and THERE IT IS.

No. 15 – Misc. Steal

When reproducing an object like a card or coin from a spectator’s pocket it is an easy matter to palm a cigar try it.

This manuscript re-published courtesy of Trickshop.com Inc. , publishers of “Pickpocketing

for Magicians,” the ebook edition of Eddie Joseph’s classic, “How to Pick Pockets.”