In the last two weeks, forty suspects in a ring of thieves operating throughout Europe were arrested in Ireland, an investigation by the Irish Sun revealed.
Gardai [police] nabbed two suspects in Dublin city centre last week, with more arrests in Mullingar and Galway. Gardai say the suspects dress as tourists to hone in on their prey, and include teenagers and couples in their gang to better blend in with the crowds.
The gang targets iPhones, purses and wallets belonging to tourists, with 400 items under their belts stolen in Dublin alone. Part of their strategy was to employ ‘spotters’ to ensure the coast was clear of gardai before they struck.
The Garda’s “Operation Aughrim” to catch the thieves required at least six plainclothes officers a day to stake out locations.
The last two arrested suspects spent two and a half hours planning their final strike, unaware they were observed the whole time by undercover officers, the Irish Sun reported.
Fingerprints sent to Interpol by the gardai show that the Romanian thieves arrested in Ireland have also been employing their light fingers in Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, England and the Netherlands.
According to the Irish Sun, criminals have been using pickpocketing in Dublin as training for the Olympics later this summer.
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.timbobdennehy | Jun 30, 2012, 10:06 PM EDT
just don't be naive,when travelling.
merefalow | Jun 30, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT
deport after severe punishment,no human rights nonsense,some hopes of that,probably be given a crash course in how to pick pockets without being caught.
WoundedKnee | Jun 30, 2012, 01:21 PM EDT
Ah, the Joys of Mass Immigration. Don't have enough local pickpockets and muggers? Why, import extra from abroad.
LisaJHD | Jun 30, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT
When I was in Dublin a two weeks ago, I was warned about pickpockets and purse snatchers. I had a small wallet on a strap that was across my body and under my jacket. The strap could not be cut (not visible/accessible), and I kept my hand on my wallet at all times. Everyone should be aware of surroundings and be proactive with respect to safety.