Qualification of pickpocketing: when things are on the victim or in close proximity to them

The judicial practice concerning the qualification of pickpocketing is examined in the article. The author comes to the conclusion that courts apply Section «г», Part 2, Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation differently. Some courts, for the purposes of qualifying the actions of the perpetrator as pickpocketing, do not take into account whether the victim could control their property which was among things located in close proximity to the victim. The criteria are proposed which according to the author, will contribute to the correct application of the criminal law standards.