The scene is all too familiar; the ripple of a pocket watch back and forth, followed by mutterings of "Yes, Master!" So it was popularized by Hollywood and comics, this representation bears little resemblance to actual hypnotism achieved by practitioners today. The use of hypnotism was mainly for good purposes such as to stop smoking, reduce depression, stress management, motivation and improved self-confidence. However, modern criminals rely too much on hypnotism as an alternative to guns and knives to rob their victims. This has led to the misconception that the general public often links hypnotism with theft, cheating, rape and other crimes.
For this article, I consulted my cousin, Joyce, a professional hypnotherapist (not the criminal type). She mentioned that some authors scramble to give you the "shock" (which is when your level of alertness freezes for a while). They then apologized and you suddenly develop confidence ... Do not! Just walk. If they try to start a conversation, answer their question with a question, it would "shock" them, thus breaking their concentration procession. Joyce added that we should avoid eye contact and divert attention elsewhere; look at their forehead (or if it is a beautiful lady, focus your eyes on other parts instead). Some authors use the element of smell, using special perfume to make their victims more attracted to them.
Throughout the archipelago, local newspapers regularly carry reports of hypnotism crimes that take place in convenience stores, banks, jewelry stores, antique shops and even bus stops . A look at CCTV images often show the victim in a daze and willingly giving away their valuables to the authors. If you are 'lucky', you lose a watch or iPhone, but there have been cases of victims lost their savings of a lifetime.
Experts say the key is for criminals to distract the thoughts of their victims so they lose control of everything, which makes them "voluntarily" and willing to do anything asked by criminals . Police believe that many cases remain unsolved and unreported because many victims were either ashamed to admit that they were duped or they simply could not tell the test.
This is my story of my ex-pilot, David. He was a company trusted employee and was often invited to go shopping, including the deposit money at the bank; a race he finished fail over the years. As our confidence in him grew, the monetary amount.
One fateful day, he was informed by the secretary on his shopping list and supplies for the day, which, one was to make a cash deposit in the bank. He left at 10 and never returned. Calls to his mobile phone were unsuccessful. We made a trip to the bank and other places he was supposed to go, but nobody recalled seeing the countless text messages and calls later, we assumed the worst. Has it been removed? Murdered?
That night, we went to the house of David to break the bad news to his family. David's wife and two children burst into tears and cries echoed through the narrow streets of their housing complex, which results in neighboring care to come on the console.
The next morning the office was abuzz with speculation about what happened to our dear colleague. And then the phone rang, it was David sounds a little scared and shaken. He said he was in a convenience store about 80 km and asked us to get him.
David seemed stunned and stammered recounting his ordeal. He said he was approached by a man outside the bank. He remembers strongly the man calling him by name and after that everything was blurry. The next thing he knew he woke up the next morning in an alley in Bogor. Everything was gone :. His motorcycle, wallet, mobile phone and wedding ring
We headed to the police station to file a police report, the officer was not buying the story that David was mesmerized and insisted that David had to take the money. We were told to wait outside while several officers interviewed David. He was later released due to lack of evidence.
David never showed up for work the next day and was never seen again (at least not by us at the office). We first thought it was because he needed a day or two to recover from the trauma, however, when we tried to visit him, we were told by neighbors that he had moved without further comment. His disappearance caused doubt - he had already planned to abscond with the money? After all, it was in June 2010, in the middle of the World Cup. Is it betting debts or simply pure temptation to wait for the right time and amount? My guess is as good as yours. Two years later, I still hope to bump into him one day and ask him.