A friend of mine used to work for a company in CA that had its offices on one side of the street and its parking lot on the other. Both were just a block or so away from the rescue mission/homeless shelter.

When my friend had to leave work late (after dark) and alone occasionally, she would leave the building in the mode of someone seriously p***ed off, talking to herself (cussing), walking stiff and angry. A couple of times, a guy or two would start heading in her direction, read her body language, and they would ease off in some other direction.

Body language is probably quite universal, and many troublesome sorts may think that attacking someone who is already angry and upset may not be a smart move.

When I last lived in Las Vegas (14 yrs ago), there was an article in the newspaper that mentioned in one weekend, plainclothes police caught 116 pickpockets working the airport. They didn't catch the good ones. Nor did they catch the pickpockets working the buses, casinos, malls and sidewalks.

One guy I met had his wife sew a velcro closure inside his favorite jacket pocket. It made so much noise when he opened it, that he knew no one was stupid enough to try to get into it.

Sue