Two weeks ago Italian police announced they are hunting a man who is suspected of hypnotising a supermarket cashier and making her to hand over money from cash register. Several newspapers reported this, and there’s also CCTV footage on BBC News website.

Now, how is this possible? Can you really hypnotize someone just like that, and make him/her hand over some money? Could you do this to a bank clerk and make him wire you some six figure sums?

Famous british magician and mentalist Derren Brown has performed similiar tricks in his tv show, where he pays for diamond ring with blank paper bills, collects cash for a losing ticket in dog track and even persuades a group of business to commit an armed robbery.

I always thought Derren Brown is full of shit, and his mentalism tricks are nothing but a tv-show, but now i am not sure anymore.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and write your opinions and thoughts, especially if you know something about hypnotism and/or mind control :)