Serial pickpockets arrested on suspicion of over 50 crimes

Pickpockets suspected of more than 50 robberies throughout the country, including the cities of Tavira, Faro, VRSA and Olhão, have finally been arrested. 

The two men, 42 years old and without a fixed address in Portugal, have been accused of of stealing wallets since 2016.

The PSP detained the men in Porto, suspecting that they have carried out more than 50 pickpockets in Porto, Gaia, Aveiro, Tavira, Faro, Vila Real de Santo António and Olhão.

In a statement, the Porto Metropolitan Command of the PSP states that the suspects, 42 years old and without a fixed address in Portugal, were arrested in the downtown area of Porto, as part of a campaign aimed at the “dismantling of organised groups” of people who, “dedicate themselves to the practice of crimes of pickpocketing”.

PSP agents witnessed the suspects “subtracting a wallet from a tourist without him realising”, and managed to seize the 550 euros, a wallet, sunglasses and identification documents of the tourist.

The two men are referenced for the practice of “more than 50 crimes of pickpocketing” in the cities of Porto, Gaia, Aveiro, Tavira, Faro, Vila Real de Santo António and Olhão, throughout the past 8 years

The police point out that “citizens often do not take the necessary precautions in order to avoid the practice” of this crime, advising people “to take measures to safeguard their assets, namely always carrying their wallet within their own pocket” or in the front pockets of trousers, and never in a backpack.” Citizens must “take into account that incidents can be created with the aim of distracting victims, do not forget that a pickpocket theft can happen to anyone, not just tourists”.

Source https://postal.pt/