Call me bubba Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 The US Embassy in Manila has issued an “emergency message” that warns Americans to watch out for juvenile pickpocket gangs which operate in areas frequented by tourists. “Several [American] citizens have recently been victims of juvenile gangs operating in the neighborhood near the US Embassy [on Roxas Boulevard in Manila],” it said in an advisory. According to the embassy, the groups are “comprised of street children between the ages of six and 12, usually accompanied by an elderly man who acts as the ringleader.” “Appearing to be homeless, they begin their attack by demanding money from non-Filipino tourists. They aggressively follow the tourists and eventually swarm around them, surreptitiously stealing personal items such as wallets and cellular phones. When the victims begin to protest, the children leave and continue walking down the street,” it added. The embassy noted that there had been reports about similar groups which victimized tourists in Cebu City. It urged Americans visiting the country to practice the following “commonsense security measures:” Pay attention to [your] surroundings, realizing that crime can occur anywhere, anytime. If you notice a group of children approaching you, try to cross the street or avoid them. If they continue to follow or harass you, seek assistance from a local establishment’s security guard or door escort. The gangs usually leave once they encounter authority figures. Do not wear a lot of jewelry [or] display large amounts of cash. If possible, do not carry a purse or backpack and carry only the items you need. Consider not carrying a wallet and [keeping] your cash, IDs and credit cards in [your] pockets instead. Avoid public transport. Jeepneys, the Light Rail Transit and [Metro] Railway Transit are “prime venues for pickpockets.” Do not drink alcoholic beverages excessively, which could make you an easy target. Whenever possible, do not venture into public venues, unknown or dimly-lit areas alone.http://newsinfo.inqu...gangs-in-manila Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omnivorism Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 im curious on what exactly is the law as far as confronting harassment and thievery.if children walk up to me and start touching me feeling at my pockets they are going to find a verbally hostile response.What does one do in this situations? can you just grab a pick pocket and carry him to the nearest policeman? Will they run in fear if your eyes light up with the look of murder in them?I am aware the children often have someone nearby, but I am not one to take being victimized lightly. If i lived there, I would want to train in knife and hand to hand fighting. Both because those things interest me, and because it would be practical. Not that im advocating the beating or stabbing of children of course, but if a child tries to harass me or pick my pockets i wouldn't be passive about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omnivorism Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 also before anyone responds i would like to make some things clear.1. I have no ambitions of living in Manilla. And not really any of doing anything there other than perhaps passing through2. I do not think violence would be the solution to any situation including mugging. I wouldnt be likely to keep all my money on me, or even on me in one location. Id be happy to hand over a wallet with no more than several hundred pesos and nothing else in it.but i would give children reason to think twice about thinking i am an easy mark for harassment. I would respond verbally without hesitation if i felt their intentions were criminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyAway Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Best thing to do is just ignore children coming up to you asking for handouts. Do not even acknowledge them, just keep firmly walking. Once you acknowledge their presence, they will mark you as a target. Next you will find more of them coming out of all the cracks and holes. I have seen children gang up on people. You would think it is all in fun but when the foreigner is down on the ground and they are going through his pockets....... Then they all scatter, poor guy is sitting there with turned out pockets wondering what happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Best thing to do is just ignore children coming up to you asking for handouts. Do not even acknowledge them, just keep firmly walking. Once you acknowledge their presence, they will mark you as a target. Next you will find more of them coming out of all the cracks and holes. I have seen children gang up on people. You would think it is all in fun but when the foreigner is down on the ground and they are going through his pockets....... Then they all scatter, poor guy is sitting there with turned out pockets wondering what happened.I think that's good advice, I put my hands on or in my pockets to protect whatever I have whenever I'm approached like that and keep walking. I have sympathy for their situation but I also know that, given the opportunity, most will take anything they can by whatever means available, so my sympathy is tempered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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