In public places, thieves may use a variety of strategies to distract their targets and successfully steal their belongings. Here are some common tactics: 1. **Physical collision**: A thief may deliberately bump into a target in a crowd, using physical contact to distract the target's attention, and then an accomplice may take advantage of the opportunity to steal. 2. **Group cooperation**: Usually a group of people work together to commit theft, with one person responsible for attracting attention while others take the opportunity to steal. For example, one person may deliberately fall down or make a noise in front of the target, and the other accomplices take the opportunity to steal the items. 3. **Asking passers-by**: A thief may pretend to be lost or looking for a place, and ask the target for directions or other questions to distract the target. 4. **Dropping objects**: Deliberately drop some objects, such as money or handkerchiefs, near the target to attract the target's attention. When the target bends down to pick up the object, the thief may take the opportunity to steal the target's items. 5. **Creating unexpected events**: A thief may create some minor chaos in a public place, such as starting an argument or making noise, to take advantage of the surrounding chaos. 6. **Blocking the target’s sight**: Using newspapers, maps or large cloth bags to block the target’s sight and conceal their hand movements, in order to steal the target’s property. 7. **Impersonating a waiter**: Usually in a restaurant or cafe, pretending to be a waiter to chat with the target, distracting their attention, and taking the opportunity to steal the bag hanging on the back of the chair or the mobile phone on the table. 8. **Diverting attention**: Being near the target, deliberately attracting attention, such as pretending to have cute animals, children or interesting performances, etc., to distract the target. These strategies are usually based on diverting the target’s attention, so staying vigilant in public and being alert to suspicious behavior can reduce the risk of being stolen.