The group was lead by two men who must have been in their thirties and they were accompanied by their wives and children and an older man. I followed them into a parking and storage area of a warehouse. Luckily I had my camera with me and I asked them to shoot a couple of photos. The two younger men discussed amongst themselves and told me no. Then the older man broke in; I couldn’t understand everything he said, but I understood one thing, “don’t be dumb, let him take some pictures, but charge him for them.” So we came to an agreement. I was glad to have some pictures, and they were happy to have a few dollars in their pocket.

Not all people who ask for money have pure motives. Once a friend and I were approached by a teenager asking for a hand out, my friend had no money on him so he proved it to the kid by pulling his pockets inside out. I had cash in both pockets, so what could I do? I couldn’t pull my pockets inside out and expose everything I had so I pulled out a few soles and handed them over.

It was about ten minutes before I found out what the kid was doing. I had given him money and he had gone somewhere. I was sure he was on something and was probably going back for more so I didn’t worry. Then I felt a heavy jolt at my side and well, before I knew what was happening, the kid was about a hundred yards away. He had picked my pocket. The kid must have been a professional, not just somebody looking for some quick cash to get high. He literally had his hand in and out of my pocket faster than I could do it myself.

Lesson learned. From that point on I was constantly on guard. Don’t let this experience dissuade you from any possible trip to Peru. I was out in a neighborhood and it probably wasn’t one that I should have been in. In two years living in Peru I was only robbed twice and what was taken from me was of almost no value in United States terms. I wasn’t about to get into any trouble over a couple of dollars. Each time I was stolen from I did allow myself to be in a situation where I was an easy target and I was in a part of town that I really should have been on my guard in. Continued...