nothing aproposes like serendipity. (Nothing seredips like apropos-sity?)
Just foiled a pair of thieves on the bus today. I was coming home from work on a crowded cross-towner and my hands were full. I had one hand on my daughter, who was falling over asleep on the seat in front of me, another on my bag full of books, papers and laptop, another on the rail to keep me from falling over, and another on my phone as I texted my wife a short "we're fine,going home now" message. Must have looked an easy mark, espescially because right beside me was a tall, broad young man with a particilarly vacant expression. The kind that makes you understand how "niubi" has come to mean brilliant, because he looked dumber than a cow's c**t. The kind of billboard who blocks lines of sight without seeing anything himself. I felt the familiar push, just above the centre of gravity, and instinctively shifted balance and pushed back, just a bit. Dropped my hand to my hip and began the twist just as the second push came, and brushed a hand off my butt. Eyeballed the two (yes, they often work in pairs) for a moment, then they moved down the bus to fish another hole.
If you're aware of your surroundings, you can often defeat these guys. Not always, but sometimes. At least make it a challenge for them.