Cartalk Pickpocket Puzzler

[albionmoonlight]

Once again, I find myself perplexed by the CarTalk Puzzler. This is starting to annoy me; these are not Grey Labrynith level brainteasers. I should not have problems with them. But, alas, I do. So here is this week's puzzler--hopefully you can get what I'm missing.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/puzzler/transcripts/200610/index.html
<CENTER> </CENTER><CENTER> </CENTER><CENTER>The Perils of Pickpocketing Postings</CENTER>
RAY: This is from my 'Travel and Leisure' Series. Here it is:

Not long ago, I spent some time vacationing in a well known place. It was also well known for pickpockets and other unsavory characters. And no, it wasn't Car Talk Plaza.

When I checked into the hotel, the folks at the desk were quick to warn me of the dangers of certain areas. They insisted that I would be much safer not leaving the hotel grounds, and I could spend all of my money right there.

TOM: Sure! Why not?

RAY: I chose to disregard them, of course, and when I visited some of these areas, I saw signs all over the place warning people to be on their guard for pickpockets.

By the end of my visit, I found out that the percentage of people who had filed reports with the police claiming to have had their pockets picked had gone up dramatically since the signs were put up.

And that's the question: can you explain why pickpocketing rates increased after the signs went up?

[QuikSand]

I meant to post this... I had a couple ideas, but none was completely satisfying.

My best thoufght revolves around the use of the phrase "well known place." If I'm right about the well known place, then I think I have a pretty good contender. I'll wait before posting it.

[stevew]

My preliminary guesses would either be that people actually were aware that they had been pickpocketed at that moment due to the increase in signs. Previously they may have thought that they just misplaced something

Or that because people were "on guard" about being pickpocketed, that they became more predictable about where they kept their valuables and were then more easily pickpocketed.

[Maple Leafs]

I know that if my wallet disappeared one afternoon, I'd probably assume I just lost it somewhere. I wouldn't think I'd been pick pocketed unless someone had warned me in advance.

[albionmoonlight]

See--the whole "people were more aware of it so they reported it more" thing may make some sense. But it seems kind of mushy and unsatisfying. If I am on vacation and I lose my wallet, then I am probably going to report it to someone--even if I think that it may just be lost.

I also note that the description indicates that "reports" of pickpocketing went up, but that the question states that "pickpocketing rates increased," which would indicate that there was an actual increase in pickpocketing--not just a perception of an increase.

The idea of people putting their valuables in a certain place seems to have potential--though I am not sure where to go with that.

[Mustang]

I know that if my wallet disappeared one afternoon, I'd probably assume I just lost it somewhere. I wouldn't think I'd been pick pocketed unless someone had warned me in advance.

I was thinking the reverse. Someone may have just lost an item and upon losing it, had it in their head that it just had to be a pickpocket because how in the world else could I have lost it.

Same affect when you misplace something and go.. "Hey, who stole my banana?!?!"

[QuikSand]

I also note that the description indicates that "reports" of pickpocketing went up, but that the question states that "pickpocketing rates increased," which would indicate that there was an actual increase in pickpocketing--not just a perception of an increase.

I am letting that distinction slide, though it's the only reason I see any weakness in my theory. I'm thinking the wording is just loose there, and what's really happening is that reported pickpocketings are up.

[albionmoonlight]

I am letting that distinction slide, though it's the only reason I see any weakness in my theory. I'm thinking the wording is just loose there, and what's really happening is that reported pickpocketings are up.

Your theory interests me. Is it a language thing?

[Mustang]

Unless of course he is in Vegas (or Atlantic City) and people claiming pickpockets are just losing their money on gambling and trying to find a way out. :D

After all.. not uncommon so, who would think twice about them reporting.

[QuikSand]

Mustang, that's basically my thinking, too.

[cartman]

This reminds me of a sign I saw on my trip to South Africa back in November. It was on the side of the road and said "Warning: Carjacking hotspot"

[gstelmack]

If it's not the Vegas angle, what about the possibility that people kept stopping to read the signs, making it easier for their pockets to get picked?

[stevew]

If it's not the Vegas angle, what about the possibility that people kept stopping to read the signs, making it easier for their pockets to get picked?

Yeah, thats a very good point.

[Celeval]

Thieves who might otherwise break in or carjack: "Picking pockets? Great idea!"

[cartman]

There is also the thought that the pickpockets themselves put the signs up in safe places, to steer the people to places where it was easier to pick their pockets.

[QuikSand]

I spent some time vacationing in a well known place.

Honestly, a savvy puzzle-solver should immediately have an alarm sound when you hear this kind of awkward phrasing... it's just so unnatural, it just seems like it has to be there for a reason. And the obvious reason would be that if they revealed the location, you'd solve the puzzle too easily. However, this retains the suggestion that the location itself is important. If you are stumped by the puzzle in general... this is the sort of small thing that gives you your biggest foothold toward an aswer. It's a sort of meta-thinking, but it's a very effective way to resolve puzzles, especially one that are in the form of a story, like this one. Carefully crafted wording is usually that way for a specific reason.

Here, I think any answer to this puzzle that doesn't connect to a specific, well-known location just can't satisfy my strong instinct here. I like the idea that it's Vegas (or some other gambling locale) and that the alleged pickpoketings are really coverup stories for people who lost money gambling.

It also occurred to me that it could be people spending money on unseemly activities (prostitution?) and then covering that up with a pickpocketing story... and oddly enough, that keeps me right in Sin City as the best location as well.

[Mustang]

Depends on how big the sign is. If it was just a 'Danger - Pickpockets!' then I think 99% of the people would just read it on the fly.

Now, if it was a list of 20 dos and don'ts.. then someone would have to stop to read it.

[GreenMonster]

Pickpockets now knew where they could go an get away with it easily.. Crimes would be reported less because people would feel bad getting jobbed after being told numerous times it would happen.. Like people being embarassed about turning in a rapist.. The area became a target to the unsavory..

[Mustang]

Pickpockets now knew where they could go an get away with it easily.. Crimes would be reported less because people would feel bad getting jobbed after being told numerous times it would happen.. Like people being embarassed about turning in a rapist.. The area became a target to the unsavory..

?

Crimes weren't reported less, it was the opposite.

[moriarty]

Honestly, a savvy puzzle-solver should immediately have an alarm sound when you hear this kind of awkward phrasing... it's just so unnatural, it just seems like it has to be there for a reason. And the obvious reason would be that if they revealed the location, you'd solve the puzzle too easily. However, this retains the suggestion that the location itself is important. If you are stumped by the puzzle in general... this is the sort of small thing that gives you your biggest foothold toward an aswer. It's a sort of meta-thinking, but it's a very effective way to resolve puzzles, especially one that are in the form of a story, like this one. Carefully crafted wording is usually that way for a specific reason.

Here, I think any answer to this puzzle that doesn't connect to a specific, well-known location just can't satisfy my strong instinct here. I like the idea that it's Vegas (or some other gambling locale) and that the alleged pickpoketings are really coverup stories for people who lost money gambling.

It also occurred to me that it could be people spending money on unseemly activities (prostitution?) and then covering that up with a pickpocketing story... and oddly enough, that keeps me right in Sin City as the best location as well.


I was thinking Amsterdam or Vegas. But the statement, "They insisted that I would be much safer not leaving the hotel grounds, and I could spend all of my money right there." just doesn't ring true about either of those places. Yeah, in Vegas they want you to spend money in their casino, but I can't imagine them telling anyone it was too unsafe to leave. Edit - of course, I may be trying to put too much 'real world' in a fictional story.

Is it possible that we're thinking of pickpockets in the wrong sense? Could the place be somewhere in Africa and the "pickpockets" in question be monkeys or something? Not sure how that helps solve the question though.

[Pyser]

the beach?

[Surtt]

Maybe when the signs went up, the pickpockets left the area and concentrated on the hotel grounds. The tourists also avoided the area and staye on the hotel grounds. So the were all together.

[QuikSand]

I was thinking Amsterdam or Vegas. But the statement, "They insisted that I would be much safer not leaving the hotel grounds, and I could spend all of my money right there." just doesn't ring true about either of those places. Yeah, in Vegas they want you to spend money in their casino, but I can't imagine them telling anyone it was too unsafe to leave. Edit - of course, I may be trying to put too much 'real world' in a fictional story.

Hmm... the "we'd prefer you to stay here on the hotel grounds" sounds very much in line with the Vegas I know.

[stevew]

so when is the answer revealed to this?

[moriarty]

Hmm... the "we'd prefer you to stay here on the hotel grounds" sounds very much in line with the Vegas I know.

I agree the way you wrote it, but the quote was "They insisted that I would be much safer not leaving the hotel grounds" ... and it's the safer part that threw me.

I mean maybe this is an old story, but I feel pretty safe outside of Ceaser's Palace, etc.. when I'm in Vegas.

[QuikSand]

so when is the answer revealed to this?

This weekend, presumably.

[QuikSand]

I agree the way you wrote it, but the quote was "They insisted that I would be much safer not leaving the hotel grounds" ... and it's the safer part that threw me.

I follow... I just think that phrasing is consistent with the soft touch you'd be likely to receive in such a circumstance.

[moriarty]

I follow... I just think that phrasing is consistent with the soft touch you'd be likely to receive in such a circumstance.

Ok, I'll buy that.

Let's try another one. Say you are in Vegas (or elsewhere) and you see a sign that says "beware of pickpockets". What's the first thing you do? Check you valuables right (whether they're in your purse, pocket, etc..)? Now, let's say there are crafty pickpockets around. You're basically tipping them off as to where you valuables are located. So maybe the signs are actually helping the thieves by pinpointing your goods, which makes their job easier, and crime/reports increases.

[lurker]

I also note that the description indicates that "reports" of pickpocketing went up, but that the question states that "pickpocketing rates increased," which would indicate that there was an actual increase in pickpocketing--not just a perception of an increase.


Your note is not actually true; it does not simply say that "reports" went up, it specifically said "percentage of people who had filed reports."

This makes me think that the denominator decreased -- the number of people who ventured outside hotel grounds decreased, making the overall percentage of victims increase.

Or it could be that the warning signs that were put up were brightly lit, making life easier for the pickpocketers.

[gstelmack]

I think this is one of those puzzles where they'll reveal the answer and we'll all go "okay, that makes sense, but no more sense than all of these OTHER answers we came up with." I hate puzzles like that.

[saldana]

i am in agreement with gstelmack...as people are distracted by the signs, the dont notice that their wallet just walked out of their pocket....even better, a great technique for the pickpockets would be to pretend to be reading the warning signs and bump into someone while reading it and make their lift.

[Marc Vaughan]

I'd go for most peoples natural reaction to worrying about pick pockets being that they check their wallet is there - this tells pickpockets where the wallet is and makes them easier targets ....

[Glengoyne]

i am in agreement with gstelmack...as people are distracted by the signs, the dont notice that their wallet just walked out of their pocket....even better, a great technique for the pickpockets would be to pretend to be reading the warning signs and bump into someone while reading it and make their lift.

We have a freaking criminal mastermind in our midst.

[albionmoonlight]

Let's try another one. Say you are in Vegas (or elsewhere) and you see a sign that says "beware of pickpockets". What's the first thing you do? Check you valuables right (whether they're in your purse, pocket, etc..)? Now, let's say there are crafty pickpockets around. You're basically tipping them off as to where you valuables are located. So maybe the signs are actually helping the thieves by pinpointing your goods, which makes their job easier, and crime/reports increases.It is not posted yet, but I heard the answer driving to church this Sunday. moriarty is correct.



I think this is one of those puzzles where they'll reveal the answer and we'll all go "okay, that makes sense, but no more sense than all of these OTHER answers we came up with."I agree.

[moriarty]

moriarty is correct.
.

Well, there's something you don't hear everyday.