Through history, people have been the victims of pickpockets(扒手)．Today, 1 is one of the most rapidly increasing 2 ．Pickpockets are increasing 3 and developing better methods to practise their skill．About one million Americans 4 money to pickpockets every year．No one is really safe 5 a skilled pickpocket．His victims, or“marks” 6 they are called, can be rich or poor, young or old．
7 the 18th century, pickpockets 8 in England．Large crowds of people would gather to watch the hanging 9 was supposed to be a warning to other pickpockets． 10 , in time the practice was discontinued．
Police officials say the most 11 pickpockets come from south America． 12 these expert pickpockets 13 in special schools called Jingle Bell School．A pickpocket graduates from a J．B．S． 14 he is able to steal a dressed dummy(假人)that has 15 inside its pockets!
Some of the 16 places of pickpocketing are banks, airports, supermarkets, trains and bus stations． 17 a pickpocket will work with another pickpocket 18 his partner． 19 being the victim of a pickpocket, it is 20 to be very careful when in the middle of large gatherings of people．