Hypnotist Robbers
Status: Scam
A New Hampshire convenience store clerk claims that he was robbed. However, the thieves didn't use any weapons or threats. Instead, they used hypnosis and mind control to make the clerk not notice that they were taking more than $1000. First coast news reports:It started with a simple mind game. Think of a wild animal, they say, and we'll write down what's in your mind. but it escalates quickly to very personal information about a former girlfriend, and finally, says Patel, mind control. Even investigators are persuaded.
Patel says that the actual moment of hypnosis occurred when the thieves gave him a piece of paper and asked him to cut it into eleven smaller pieces. The clerk has also said that he'll pay back what was robbed.Apparently this method of robbery has been used before in India (the thieves were Indian, as was the clerk), but I've never heard of it being used before this in America.
Posted By: Alex | Date: Tue Oct 02, 2007 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 10
Category: Con Artists, Law/Police/Crime, Psychology
Category: Con Artists, Law/Police/Crime, Psychology
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Page 1 of 1 pages
Sounds to me like old-fashioned "divert his attention" rather than hypnosis: keep the attention of the victim occupied while an accomplice does the job with the cash register.
Posted by LaMa in Europe on Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 12:51 AM
The great Derren Brown shows us how to do it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_-QcW4Q4I
Posted by Dave Rattigan in Liverpool, England on Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 01:09 AM
I have actually heard of this in America before, I think. I have a vague memory of this happening around the end of the 19th century, some stage magician used it (to demonstrate his powers of course, not for nefarious ends), but he didn't do it onstage, he went into shops and did it, and even did it to the police once. Unfortuntely I can't remember more than that.
Posted by Nona in London on Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 04:19 AM
The news stories about the incident don't provide too many details. At first I thought the robbers got the clerk to actually hand over $1000 to them, but the myfoxkc version of the incident made it sound like the clerk was simply standing by as the robbers took the money.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 08:20 AM
If they really claim to use hypnosis, this is complete bullshit. Hypnosis doesn't work that way.
Posted by Ozymandias on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 01:16 PM
Ozymandias, I agree with you. Granted I haven't studied hypnosis for over thirty years (I keep meaning to get back to it but I get sidetracked), but what I rmember is that hypnosis is a form of concentration. And it can't be done quickly except by a couple of well-known tricks. Of course, the number of quick tricks could be larger now than the early 70's but I still doubt cutting paper is one of them.
Posted by Christopher Cole in Tucson, AZ on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 07:47 PM
Obviously, then, the trick is:
Don't cut up the piece of paper.
I'd like to see them try this at a liquor store in my neighborhood.
(Shoot this paper eleven times!)
Posted by Longstreet63 in Indiana on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Don't cut up the piece of paper.
I'd like to see them try this at a liquor store in my neighborhood.
(Shoot this paper eleven times!)
Nah this stuff really happened, go to a specific website (search on google, im lazy)
and you can watch the security tape.
I've studied hypnosis, this is definetly possible.
Posted by Slin on Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 10:41 PM
and you can watch the security tape.
I've studied hypnosis, this is definetly possible.
This supposedly happened here in Greece just this week. TV reported that a Gypsy woman entered asking to break a large note, and footage showed her leaning over and just taking money from the till. The victim claimed he was hypnotised.
More likely just astounded.
Posted by Vassili in Greece on Thu Oct 25, 2007 at 03:01 AM
More likely just astounded.
Really, this just makes hypnosis look bad. it is an obvious scam.
Posted by Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in CA on Wed Dec 10, 2008 at 10:18 AM
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