David Copperfield Outsmarts Armed Thieves With Magic

If someone attempted to rob you at gunpoint, could you get out of the situation simply by performing a magic trick? If you’re master illusionist David Copperfield, of course you could! In fact, the magician did that very thing one night during his 50-state “An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion” tour. Let’s take a look at the details of this magical escape.

Wanting More Than Autographs

One evening in April 2006, Copperfield performed a magic show in West Palm Beach, Florida. After the performance, the magician and his two female assistants, Cathy Daly and Mia Volmut, decided to go grab a bite to eat together.

As the three walked back to their tour bus after dinner, suddenly a black vehicle drove up beside them. Assuming the car contained fans, Copperfield initially expected to be asked for an autograph.

However, when two armed robbers exited the car, Copperfield realized the situation had taken a more serious turn.

The armed individuals pointed guns at the three, demanding money and valuables. Daly and Volmut quickly turned over a purse containing 200 euros, a cell phone, airplane tickets, a passport, and $400 in cash.

Reverse Pickpocketing

As the two women rushed to surrender their belongings, Copperfield had a better idea.

Instead of handing over his wallet, Copperfield performed a magic trick called “reverse pickpocketing.” Turning his pockets inside out, he showed the thieves that they appeared empty.

The robbers seemed convinced and left the scene with only the women’s valuables. They didn’t realize Copperfield had just performed one of his famous illusions - and his pockets actually contained not only a wallet, but also cell phones and a passport.

Justice

While performing the magic trick, Copperfield also had managed to memorize the perpetrators’ license plate number. He notified authorities, and police quickly arrested the suspects and recovered the women’s stolen items.

How’d He Do That?

That, my friend, is a secret known only to magicians.

But we do know that Copperfield’s sleight of hand and quick thinking under pressure certainly changed the outcome of this armed robbery and proved, yet again, that Copperfield is indeed a master illusionist.

References: David Copperfield Robbed at Gunpoint | A little sleight-of-pocket saves Copperfield from theft | David Copperfield Was Robbed At Gunpoint, But Performed An Illusion To Convince The Robbers His Pockets Were Empty | How David Copperfield Used Magic to Avoid Getting Robbed at Gunpoint