時尚雙語:倫敦小偷往遊客兜裏"扔錢"
"Putpockets" give a little extra cash
原來去倫敦的遊客都要提防被人“掏兜”，而現在，儘可以把衣兜都張開了，沒準會有人往裏放錢呢。這個“扔錢”活動主要由20名前“扒手”實施，他們每天遊走於特拉法加廣場、倫敦中心區廣場等遊客密集的景點，然後在遊客不注意的時候將面值5英鎊到20英鎊不等的紙幣偷偷放進他們的口袋。爲該活動提供資金支持的是倫敦一家寬帶提供商，他們表示這樣做是想用特別的方式讓人們在經濟不景氣的時候感受到生活的美好。據悉，此次倫敦“扔錢”活動會持續到八月底，至少會有10萬英鎊被偷偷放進遊客的口袋，之後可能會在英國全國範圍內推行。
Visitors to London always have to be on the look out for pickpockets, but now there's another, more positive phenomenon on the loose -- putpockets.
Aware that people are suffering in the economic crisis, 20 former pickpockets have turned over a new leaf and are now trawling London's tourist sites slipping money back into unsuspecting pockets.
Anything from 5 pounds ($8) to 20 pound notes is being surreptitiously deposited in unguarded pockets or open handbags in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and other busy spots.
The initiative, which runs until the end of August in London before being rolled out countrywide, is being funded by a broadbrand provider, which says it wants to brighten up people's lives in unusual ways.
"It feels good to give something back for a change -- and Britons certainly need it in the current economic climate," said Chris Fitch, a former pickpocket who now heads TalkTalk's putpocketing initiative.
"Every time I put money back in someone's pocket, I feel less guilty about the fact I spent many years taking it out."
London's police have been briefed about the plan, which will see at least 100,000 pounds given away.
