Real Hustle

Yesterday, I went shopping in a mall near Mira Road in suburban Bombay.

My daughter had purchased a garment which she wanted exchanged. Once that was done, we entered Archie's a gift shop located on the ground floor. Here we selected a photo frame and as we were about to pay our way out we noticed a sudden commotion near the payment and packets counter.

On inquiry we learnt that someone had absconded with a bag belonging to another customer. Normally this would be a mistake and the customer would come back and take his right bag but this turned out to be a con job. Here is how it was committed.

The con artist was tailing the group of women who had made a purchase from Croma (an electronics store on the first floor). These women had purchased two mobile phones. The thief had made a purchase of a cheap headphone from the same store at the same time. He ensured that their packing bags were of the same size and type. Once this was done he started tailing his target. The target entered Archie's and handed over their bag for safekeeping and security purpose, the thief did the same. The shop provided both the people with tokens to claim their parcels on the way out.

This is where the con artist used his skills. As soon as he saw that the target group was exiting the store he rushed over to the parcel counter and presented the guard with his token at the same time as the target group did. He then confused the gurard by pointing to the wrong bag and claiming it as his own. As the guard was holding both the tokens and as was being badgered by the con artist to do his job quickly, he handed the bag containing the mobile phones to the con artist.

He disappeared in a jiffy leaving the target with a bag containing the cheap headphone.

You could be target of such a real hustle and may lose your belongings. Be aware and beware.