[WalterBlack]

Shopkeeper 'placed in trance by hypnotist' during theft in north London

You can see the video on the page.

Quote:

A “hypnotist thief” apparently put the owner of an upmarket off-licence in a trance before rifling through his trouser pockets and stealing the day’s takings.

Friends today said Aftab Haider, 56, the owner of independent wine merchants Hops and Pops in Highgate, north London, was “stunned” by the theft of hundreds of pounds in cash.

The raid mirrors techniques used as entertainment by street magicians and is the first time its use in crime has been captured on CCTV in the UK.

The suspect, an Eastern European man wearing a black bomber jacket, brushed past Mr Haider as he placed a bottle on a shelf, and gently tapped him on the arm.

A few seconds later, the suspect made a stabbing gesture with his right hand at eye-level which appeared to leave Mr Haider, known as Aziz, mesmerised.

He reached inside the motionless shop owner’s trouser pocket, and pulled out his wallet before briefly squeezing his shoulder.
The thief, who kept up a quietly-spoken patter throughout, then mimed the gesture of a pregnant woman’s belly as Mr Haider turned to face him.

He reached into his other pocket and pulled out the day’s takings, hundreds of pounds in a bundle of notes, before tapping him once more on the shoulder and quickly walking out.

Mr Haider snapped out of the trance a few seconds later, and shouted “Oi, oi, excuse me...” as the suspect pushed past another customer and hurried off into Archway Road.

Quote:

Detective Sergeant Dave Bullock said: “The victim remained motionless and unable to stop the robbery taking place. He said that he was momentarily unaware of what had happened to him.

“The suspect’s distraction tactics appeared to have worked as he robbed the victim of cash from his pocket.“

Have you guys ever heard of anything like this?

[Troll King]

Nope, never heard anything like this. Seems strange and unlikely, but what do I know.

[getdownonit]

What a G.

Quote:

Hypnotherapist Jack Raymond, who has 20 years experience and works out of practices in Harley Street and Covent Garden, said: “There no [sic] doubt he is a very slick, competent and practiced hypnotist.

He said it was the first time he had heard of such techniques being used to steal in London. He said: “It obviously degrades my profession and hypnotism when it is used for crime.”

Hypnotism is the real loser here.

[Marmite]

There was a video a few years ago with a guy in a turban hypnotising a check out girl in a supermarket to give him all the money out of the till. I'll see if I can find the video later.

[RexImperator]

I thought hypnotism required the subject to want/volunteer to be hypnotised?

[monster]

I want to learn how to do that!

[Blobert]

(12-05-2014 10:28 PM)RexImperator Wrote:  

I thought hypnotism required the subject to want/volunteer to be hypnotised?

Clearly people don't always know what they want.