【轻松英文阅读】小心扒手

 It can happen in the blink of an eye. You turn your back for just a moment and when you turn back around your bag or wallet is gone.

 

Pickpockets² 1

 

The summer travel season is coming soon–the time when pickpockets are most active. The best pickpockets analyze³ their targets very carefully. They are like a lion watching its prey⁴ and travelers are often their favorite targets. When you are in an unfamiliar⁵ place it is easy to get distracted. That moment of distraction⁶ is what the pickpocket¹ is waiting for.

 

10 Worst Cities for Pickpockets

 

Pickpockets have some very sophisticated techniques. Many work in pairs. While one pickpocket distracts the victim the other does the stealing. Some play on your good will. For example, one drops change on the ground so that you will help them pick it up. While you’re kneeling on the ground the second pickpocket steals your bag. The pros⁷ often use a prop⁸ like a coat or a shopping bag to hide their activity from you. They are coming up with new techniques all the time.

 

Here are some simple tips to protect yourself. No matter how trustworthy a stranger may seem, don’t be distracted by friendly talk, etc. Keep everything in your view. Never hang your bag behind you; hold it under your arm. You should never keep your wallet in your back pocket. Better yet, use a money belt. If something is easy for you to reach, it’s easy for the crook⁹ to reach, too. That’s why you need to place your valuable items in hard to reach spots like the bottom of your bag. In particularly dangerous areas try carrying a decoy wallet.

 

None of these techniques are perfect, but if you are prepared, the pickpocket most likely will move on to an easier target.

 

 

1 pickpocket   

n.扒手；v.扒窃

参考例句：

• The pickpocket pinched her purse and ran away.扒手偷了她的皮夹子跑了。
• He had his purse stolen by a pickpocket.他的钱包被掏了。

2 pickpockets   

n.扒手( pickpocket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Crowded markets are a happy hunting ground for pickpockets. 拥挤的市场是扒手大展身手的好地方。
• He warned me against pickpockets. 他让我提防小偷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

4 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

5 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

6 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

7 pros   

abbr.prosecuting 起诉；prosecutor 起诉人；professionals 自由职业者；proscenium （舞台）前部n.赞成的意见( pro的名词复数 )；赞成的理由；抵偿物；交换物

参考例句：

• The pros and cons cancel out. 正反两种意见抵消。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We should hear all the pros and cons of the matter before we make a decision. 我们在对这事做出决定之前，应该先听取正反两方面的意见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

9 crook   

v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处)

参考例句：

• He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子，他要我向他认错。
• She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。