# Pissed-off tourists beating up pickpockets in Europe **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546 "2026-04-25T13:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/41 "2026-04-26T16:37:41Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > . Victim grabs him by the shirt, pickpocket goes for knife, bim bam boom, pickpocket is on the ground and his gang homie is nowhere to be seen So perp approached someone on the street and accuses them of stealing their wallet. Grabs his shirt and then proceeds to beat them unconscious. The whole thing is caught on camera (except for the alleged theft of the wallet, which we only have the perp’s word for). Open and shut assault case. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/42 "2026-04-26T16:38:50Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Now I wish I could find the video. But basically, guy gets pickpocketed off-camera. Guy and his homie find the pickpocket and start trying to get his attention. Seeing that he’s been made, he signals for his fellow gang member and approaches the victim. Victim grabs him by the shirt, pickpocket goes for knife, bim bam boom, pickpocket is on the ground and his gang homie is nowhere to be seen. I don’t see where the victim did anything wrong in this scenario. (Other than the arguable error of taking unnecessary risk to retrieve a wallet) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/43 "2026-04-26T16:40:17Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > So perp approached someone on the street and accuses them of stealing their wallet. Why do you keep doing this? Why do you assume that the victim did not see the guy take his stuff and then approach him. You’re going out of your way now to spin this in a light most favorable to your initial misconceptions. ---
**Author:** ![doomtastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/44 "2026-04-26T16:41:14Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Okay, what does “didn’t cotton” mean, then? Folksy way of saying he did not appreciate or approve of having his property stolen. > **[cotton to - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cotton_to)** ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/45 "2026-04-26T16:43:55Z")
> [@doomtastic](#): > > Folsky way of saying he did not appreciate or approve of having his property stolen. In the sentence, he “didn’t cotton to” having a knife pulled. So, that’s the part he didn’t approve of. I don’t blame him. Nobody likes getting a knife pulled on them. I just looked up the phrase as well. Gemini tells me that there is a regional difference. In British and Australian English, “cottoned to” means “realized”. So, I understand why there was confusion on this. ---
**Author:** ![doomtastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/46 "2026-04-26T16:45:21Z")
I think realized is usually “cottoned on” and not “cottoned to” (in the US at least). I agree it’s not an idiom that lends itself well to easy understanding. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/47 "2026-04-26T16:46:04Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Why do you assume that the victim did not see the guy take his stuff and then approach him Why does that make any difference? The sequence of events that was caught on camera was… - Perp approaches victim on street and accusing them of stealing their wallet - Perp physically accosts victim, grabbing their shirt - Perp proceeds to punch and kick victim until they are unconscious That’s assault, whether the accusation was correct or not has no bearing on it. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/48 "2026-04-26T16:48:49Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > So perp approached someone on the street and accuses them of stealing their wallet. Grabs his shirt and then proceeds to beat them unconscious. The whole thing is caught on camera (except for the alleged theft of the wallet, which we only have the perp’s word for). Open and shut assault case. Here, I’ll fix this for you: So perp approached the known thief immediately after seeing the thief make off with his wallet. He grabs the shirt of the thief, a reasonable amount of force to stop the thief from escaping. At that point, the thief pulls out a knife. The victim is now outnumbered, two to one, and one of the criminals has just pulled a knife. The victim uses force to defend himself from an attack and prevent a forcible felony. I’d also argue that in that situation, he had no ability to escape. Turning to run once that close could have resulted in getting stabbed in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/49 "2026-04-26T16:51:05Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Why does that make any difference? The sequence of events that was caught on camera was… > > - Perp approaches victim on street and accusing them of stealing their wallet > - Perp physically accosts victim, grabbing their shirt > - Perp proceeds to punch and kick victim until they are unconscious > > That’s assault, whether the accusation was correct or not has no bearing on it. You’re still missing a key element. Between lines two and three should be the part where a knife was pulled. Why do you keep ignoring that? - Victim approaches Thief on street and accusing them of stealing their wallet - Victim physically stops theif, grabbing their shirt - Thief pulls a knife - Victim proceeds to punch and kick robber until they are unconscious ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/50 "2026-04-26T16:51:12Z")
Why do you keep leaving out the part about the pickpocket pulling a knife? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/51 "2026-04-26T16:57:06Z")
Ok… 1. Perp accuses victim of stealing wallet 2. Perp attacks victim 3. While being assaulted (but before being punched and kicked unconscious) the victim attempted to pull a knife Still assault every day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/52 "2026-04-26T16:59:23Z")
Okay. I guess we’re just in disagreement. I don’t think the law, any prosecutor or any jury would agree with you, but you’re welcome to that interpretation, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/53 "2026-04-26T16:59:47Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > The sequence of events that was caught on camera was… why do you think only what was caught on camera is legally relevant? If the guy did in fact steal his wallet (a fact that could easily be proven by, you know, finding the wallet in his possession), then the wallet owner’s actions are probably legal. If this is case of mistaken identify, welp, probably not! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/54 "2026-04-26T20:38:00Z")
My wife and I just passed our CCW class. Conceled Carry. It was stressed again, and again, that if you can, and it’s safe, just walk away. Take yourself out of the situation. Neither of us intend to carry. But we can if we want to. Frankly, it’s a pain in the ass to carry for lots of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/55 "2026-04-26T21:17:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Frankly, it’s a pain in the ass to carry for lots of reasons. Alright, I’ll bite. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/56 "2026-04-26T21:40:13Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > - Victim approaches Thief on street and accusing them of stealing their wallet > - Victim physically stops thief, grabbing their shirt > - Thief pulls a knife > - Victim proceeds to punch and kick robber until they are unconscious - Camera stops recording and victim, thief, cameraman, and thief’s friend go out for a beer together having successfully created another Youtube teledrama. (Just saying. Yes, this possibility was acknowledged in the OP, and yes the discussion to this point has been entirely legit.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/57 "2026-04-26T21:56:12Z")
Guns are heavy. Even my .380. They are cumbersumb. I have yet to find a comfortable/concealaable holster. (I’ve got a .22 the .380 a 38spl, a .45 and a .357) And, perhaps compare it to driving a car. You need to give it special attention. If my wife and I are at a busy intersection we know to stop talking. If you are not always aware and paying attention while a gun is on your person, you are doing it wrong. It’s sort of exhausting. I’ve trained my wife how to shoot. If we have a weapon to look at, I check to see that it is not loaded. Give it to my wife for her to check that it is not loaded. And then of course treat it as it’s loaded. It’s what you do. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/58 "2026-04-26T22:15:46Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Guns are heavy. Even my .380. They are cumbersumb. I have yet to find a comfortable/concealaable holster For a .380? Get a pocket holster or a wallet holster. You get used to it . My off duty/back up piece is a Glock 30. Much larger than most 380’s. I carry it in a pocket holster. Either in my front pants pocket or the inside pocket of a coat or sports jacket. Do it enough and you get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/59 "2026-04-26T22:32:38Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Do it enough and you get used to it. Ok, I’m sure. But that is the problem. I don’t want to get used to it. “Here be dragons” It stunned me that my Wife wanted to learn to shoot. But, thinking back she was recently surrounded by a pack of coyotes on a trail walk. And a woman was recently killed by a Cougar about 30 miles west of here A round into the ground is the way to solve all of that. I was glad that my Wife wanted to learn how to shoot. Her next class is defensive pistol. So she will use my .380, not her 38spl (class requires a semi-auto, I sort of bought it for her). And she has to have a holster for that class, so I’m looking. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546/60 "2026-04-27T01:44:40Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Okay, what does “didn’t cotton” mean, then Didn’t cotton on to, as in didn’t understand that he’d pulled a knife. What other interpretation is there? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissed-off-tourists-beating-up-pickpockets-in-europe/1029546.md?page=4)