RESEARCH
Bag theft and pickpocketing are crimes common to many European cities not just London. But according to the British Crime Survey it is on the increase, e.g. pickpocketing in England and Wales was reported to have risen by 25% during 2007-8. To combat such high levels of bag theft and pickpocketing in restaurants, cafes and pubs DACRC has devised a range of anti-theft chairs licensed to Dan-Form, that work by incorporating a bag-holding slot in the seat.
The user completes the ‘lock’ by physically sitting on the bag straps affixed to the chair, to keep the bag off the floor and also clear from damage or from creating an obstruction to floor space. Researchers indicate that the use of the ‘Stop Thief’ chair activates the body’s innate sense of ‘defensible space’. This is because the bag holding slot of the chair is located near the genital region. Therefore the Stop Thief Chair user has immediate awareness if this defensible space is infringed by a thief trying to dip purses or wallets.