What is a mustard bandit?
To start with, they don't always use Mustard. Anything else will do. We just like to call them "the mustard bandits!"
Example: a mature female was victim of the mustard bandit at the El Torito market in Ajijic - in front of the meat counter. Someone was put on her clothes. Yes, her wallet was stolen. Another example is a woman at WalMart was asked to help an elderly woman get something off a high shelf. Yes, her wallet was then stolen from her purse in the cart.
Not familiar with the mustard bandits? They work in teams of 2 or more. Something lands on your clothes - mustard or something else - and a second person draws your attention to it. So you usually shift your focus from (hopefully) being watchful - to looking at whatever is now on your clothes. The second person then takes possession of available personal belongings - such as a wallet. They may also offer to assist you to the rest rooms to clean it off your clothes. Happens to men and women!
Another variation is that someone may just ask for your help - maybe getting something on a high shelf. No mustard or similar substance is involved.
Happens all over - in the Plaza, at WalMart.