Peter in Your Pocket by Peter Heylands

The Ultimate Art of Stage Pickpocketing

Prepare to delve into the captivating world of stage pickpocketing with Peter in Your Pocket. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill magic book; it’s a treasure trove of secrets from Peter Heylands, who has spent over three decades dazzling audiences globally—from grand stages to cruise ships and fancy soirées. His no-nonsense approach fuses psychology, slick techniques, impeccable timing, a dash of humour, and a sprinkle of showmanship, all served with a side of elegance.

In this brilliantly crafted tome, Peter strips down the mechanics, psychology, and theatrical flair that make pickpocketing a truly mesmerising art form. Expect clarity and generosity in his explanations, as he lays bare one of the most comprehensive guides ever to grace the shelves on this subject.

A Unique Look at Pickpocketing in the World of Magic

Get ready to explore the roots and evolution of pickpocketing, as well as the reasons it continues to captivate audiences today. Peter illustrates how attention, distraction, and the quirks of human psychology can be wielded like magic wands in the hands of a performer.

You’ll also glean insights on crafting an irresistible stage presence: picking the right spectator, nailing your attitude, harnessing music and lighting to your favour, and setting a tempo that makes each steal feel as natural as breathing (no pressure).

Mechanics & Techniques: A Professional's Goldmine

Peter doesn’t just regurgitate the classic techniques of the pros; for the first time, he lets you in on his own closely guarded methods, meticulously honed over decades. You’ll learn to approach, engage, and execute with a smoothness that would make a butter thief envious:

• watch steals (think leather straps, smartwatches, the works)
• inside and outside jacket pockets
• front and back trouser pockets
• grabbing glasses, ties, belts, and even suspenders
• and a myriad of subtleties that you won’t find anywhere else

Every tip comes straight from his stage experiences, packed with practical advice that you can put to work immediately.

The Pickpocket's Playbook

Peter spills the beans on secrets that most magicians would keep under lock and key:

• how to pick and manage your on-stage volunteers
• the vital role of music, sound, and lighting
• how to adapt your act for close-up, stage, cruise ships, or even TV
• how your attitude, style, and appearance can make or break a steal

A solid guide where every detail matters (even the colour of your socks).
A Complete Collection of Professional Routines

Don’t expect a few half-baked tricks here; this book is packed with a full repertoire of stage pieces, all tested before thousands of spectators and polished over more than thirty years of performance. Each routine has been crafted to enhance character, bolster narrative, and maximise audience impact.

The Lucky Chip

A hilarious, interactive routine centred on a signed casino chip that combines humour, tricky choices, a ball of wool, and multiple watch steals, all building to a spectacular theatrical finale.

Ring in Yarn of Wool

Peter takes a classic approach, identifies its pitfalls—predictability and pacing—and offers a fresh twist based on psychology and surprise. His method, featuring a signed chip, enhances misdirection and brings new zest to the routine.

Illegal Business

A narrative twist on Easy Money, laced with humour about "dirty money," dramatic logic, and a Robin Hood vibe. The grand finale features a transformation that fits the character like a glove.

The Robbery Trick - A Complete Reinvention

Peter’s reimagining of this classic is fresh, coherent, theatrical, and genuinely jaw-dropping. Not just a crowd-pleaser, it consistently leaves spectators scratching their heads.

Miser's Dream - A Completely New Method

A version of the Miser's Dream that’s:

• perfect for introducing pickpocketing early in your show
• built on an original method
• supported by a smoothly crafted stage structure

The Egg Bag - An Explosive and Original Finale

The Underwear Gag

Ah, the classic trick of producing a piece of underwear from two knotted scarves. Traditionally a bit of a damp squib, Peter’s approach guarantees a genuine and spontaneous reaction from the assistant, leading to belly laughs from the audience.

All these routines are bona fide professional pieces, honed through thousands of live performances.

Pete's Complete Act, Laid Bare

For the first time, Peter lays out his entire act in meticulous detail. This part alone makes the book a steal (pun intended).

A Book for Those Who Want to Shine

Peter in Your Pocket is for magicians and performers looking to:

• add character and impact to their magic
• weave elegant and surprising moments of pickpocketing into their acts
• grasp spectator psychology and audience management
• elevate raw technique into true theatrical art
• craft a strong, comedic, and unforgettable stage persona

Whether you’re just starting out or are already a seasoned pro, you’ll find a solid framework and a rare dose of inspiration within these pages.

Table of Contents

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - p.9

I - GETTING STARTED
Introduction by Carlos Vaquera - p.12
About the cover and title of the book - p.15
Why another book on pickpocketing? - p.19
George Barrington, the legendary pickpocket - p.21
Pickpocketing as entertainment, a brief history - p.25
Who can do a pickpocket act? - p.29

II - THE MECHANICS - WATCH STEALS
How to learn and practice a watch steal - p.53
Stealing a leather strap watch - p.55
Trouble watches - p.61
The Apple or Smart watch - p.67
Repetitive watch steals - p.71
The metal clasp watch - p.73
The expansion metal band - p.77
The Z fold band - p.79

III - THE MECHANICS - PICKING POCKETS
Picking pockets - p.85
The inside jacket or coat pockets - p.87
The drop steal - p.93
The back steal - p.99
The patchwork - p.101
The outside jacket or coat pockets - p.105
The outside breast or shirt pocket - p.109
The front pants or trousers pockets - p.111
The hip or back pockets - p.113
The pickpocket setup - p.117

IV - THE MECHANICS - MORE ACCESSORIES
Stealing a necktie - p.123
Stealing eyeglasses or reading glasses - p.133
Stealing suspenders or braces - p.135
Stealing a belt - p.137

V - THE MECHANICS - YOUR HELPERS
How to choose your helpers - p.145
The first secret to success - p.147
Choosing the wrong helper - p.149
Disarming your helper - p.153
Flashing the stolen goods or not? - p.155
Call backs - p.157
Your first performance - p.159
Getting caught - p.161
The helper who felt everything - p.163

VI - YOUR STAGE ACT
Creating your stage act - p.169
The opening, middle and end for a stage act - p.175
Writing your script - p.179
Creating a full show in character - p.181
Adapting magic to fit your character - p.185
My version of the trick - p.189
More examples of my bag of tricks - p.197
The egg bag - p.203
The robbery trick - p.231
Many ideas for my show came thanks to the audience - p.241
Other tricks used by pickpockets in the past - p.245