http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/market-vendors-lagos-nigeria/

Third Hand Field Guide
Section 2.B
Operations in a Crowd

Crowds offer a variety of advantages to the savvy Third Hand operative. When engaging in the entry-level operations of a secret criminal syndicate, stealth is an extremely valuable commodity. Crowded spaces (e.g. markets, fairs, religious/political gatherings, particularly popular executions, etc.) are excellent places to pickpocket, the track or identify potential burglary targets, to make first contact on longer con jobs, and the like. As a full initiate of the Third Hand, your tattoo grants you certain perks that the everyday criminal lacks. For crowd work, the most important perk is the simple fact that no one can see you if they are not looking for you. Please keep that in mind when operating in among the masses. Further notes below will give some guidance as to what we consider best practices for working in crowded spaces.

– BE INCONSPICUOUS: Your tattoo grants a level of stealth beyond the normal “out of sight, out of mind” adage upon which most pickpockets rely. You, quite literally, cannot be seen if you are not sought.

– AVOID THE PARANOID: The parameters of the tattoo’s invisibility effect are loose. A paranoid man, one worried about his wallet being stolen, for example, will easily spot your grubby hand diving into his jacket or pants or shoulder bag. Best to avoid those who anticipate trouble.

– COLORS & ACTIVITY: The Field Guide provides a handy reference photo here. In most situations, a crowded space is a polychromatic space. The more colors in the crowd, the easier it is to blend. Once again, following the norm is the key. If people are dressed in bright colors & dancing on one foot, do that. If they’re in black and moving slowly, follow suit. Generally speaking, crowds with more activity (markets, block parties, political rallies, etc.) are better suited for theft operations. Crowds with less activity (religious gatherings, spectator sporting events) are better for tracking/eavesdropping.

– AT CROWD SPEED: The key to a successful operation in a crowd is blending in. Moving too fast or too slow causes notice, notice causes attention, and the last thing an aspiring criminal wants is attention. It’s best to move with the flow of the crowd, to stop in places a shopper might stop, to be a part of the crowd. Those who get caught when operating in a crowd are almost always those who lose their head and run. People do not run through crowds unless they are running FROM something. For the Third Hand, that something is the law, and running from the law often leads to getting caught by the law. Avoid that.

– PRACTICE: As with many other sections of this Field Guide, the Third Hand cannot stress enough the importance of practice. For crowd work, it’s best to practice with a target of little or no value. Practice following someone without being spotted for 10 minutes. Practice stealing trinkets from a market stall owner and, once you’ve determined you were not spotted, replace it again undetected. For more seasoned professionals, hits can be practiced affixing to targets small pieces of tape or dabs of paint to mark a successful effort. Whatever the endeavor, practice and prepare in advance. Performance without practice is an invitation to disaster.

– THE CALL: Third Hand initiates are pupils on the path to financial and professional independence. Initiates do not enjoy the full complement of perks available to members, but they do retain the right to ask for assistance when things go awry. If your operation is properly documented with the administration staff, if your execution has been completed in the spirit of prudence and respectable daring, you may issue The Call (its response depends on a variety of factors. More can be found on The Call in Appendix 1).