Whiz Mob A Correlation of the Technical Argot of Pickpockets with Their Behavior Pattern

by Maurer, David W.

• ISBN13: 9780742533516
• ISBN10: 0742533514
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1964-06-01
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Whiz Mob is David W. Maurer's classic study of the world of pickpockets. Similar to his best-known work, The Big Con, in Whiz Mob Maurer explains the colorful expressions and vivid words used by pickpockets and uses them to provide a window into the life and experiences of the professional criminal. Although he is quick to point out that he never had any actual experience on the racket, Maurer spent many years interviewing pickpockets and learning about their way of life. The result is a fascinating look at the work, lives, morals, and dangers of this element of the criminal subculture. Whiz Mob is essential reading for sociologists, linguists, and everyone interested in the mystery and intrigue of the criminal underworld.

Author Biography

David W. Maurer was a well-known linguist and professor at the University of Louisville.

Table of Contents

Introduction	4	(5)
I The Nature of Professional Crime	9	(10)
II The Pickpocket and Legitimate Society	19	(10)
III The Place of the Pickpocket in the Underworld	29	(13)
IV Usage Levels of the Pickpocket	42	(14)
V The Act of Theft	56	(27)
VI Different Types of Mobs	83	(20)
VII The Mark	103	(10)
VIII Money and Valuables	113	(16)
IX The Thief and the Law	129	(24)
X Skills and Training	153	(20)
XI Places to Work	173	(8)
XII Ethics and Morals	181	(19)
The Word-Finder List	200