PICKPOCKETS

Friday morning I caught the bus to Riga airport and a white faced drug charged man of about 22 years of age got in behind me. He brushed up against me and I realised immediately what he was up to. I gave him a hard stare and then watched him from the other side of the bus. About 3 stops later the woman next to him gave a shout that her purse was missing. Someone pointed at me because I was closest to her (thanks lady!) I pointed at the lad and said - its him! -he dropped the purse and tried to pretend he wasn't there. Lucky for him the bus stopped then and as he got off I gave him a real face to face earbending in my best pompous military fashion (years of training for that of course!).

What was amazing was that I was watching this pickpocket all the time and he still managed to unzip a large bag and take out the purse without me or anyone else seeing. Reminded me of a good party magician. Two things struck me, the first was that the conductress had stayed overlong at the other end of the bus. I think she knew he was there and was keeping safe. The second was that after he got off I was astounded to see that just two seats away from the woman was a Riga policeman. He had sat through it all and done nothing. What a bunch they are........