This is Love Ava and the Pickpocket
Nov 5, 2025
Ava Do, a former pickpocket turned mentalist, and Apollo Robbins, a theatrical pickpocket, share their intriguing love story rooted in deception. They discuss Ava's unique journey from postwar Vietnam to mastering sleight-of-hand under Apollo’s guidance. Their playful relationship is marked by trust tests involving magic and surprise jewelry thefts. Together, they formed a brain trust of deception experts, exploring the ethics of their craft. They also emphasize the importance of critical thinking in raising their daughter, Maya, blending magic with life lessons.
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How They Met In Las Vegas
- Ava met Apollo at a Las Vegas bachelorette party where he stole and returned a friend's engagement ring as a stunt.
- She asked him to steal a chocolate-covered strawberry and he did it from a VIP table, which started their long conversations.
Ring Box Surprise And Daily Tricks
- Apollo surprised Ava by presenting a ring box that actually contained a blindfold and asking, "Do you trust me?"
- He stole her watch and jewelry frequently while they were together, so she stopped wearing jewelry to see what he'd take next.
Magic Techniques Rooted In Theft
- Apollo traces many sleight-of-hand techniques back to criminal roots and studies their provenance.
- Understanding origins of moves helps him and others improve performance and security awareness.