Four people were arrested by the police red-handed. One senior citizen was robbed by two young women on a bus, and the other was robbed by a 70-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman in a market. – They use a piston. They mask their actions with various objects. During this time, they unnoticedly open the zipper of the purse or backpack and steal it – warns the police.
One of the thefts occurred in the very center of Warsaw on a city bus. Two young women entered the bus behind the 93-year-old woman.
“While crossing the bus, one of them started to put her hand into the purse of an elderly woman, who after a while sat down on the seat. A young woman sat down next to her and, covering her hands with her coat, took out cash from her purse. Meanwhile, the other woman was still observed the surroundings,” the Warsaw Police Headquarters described in a statement. When the bus stopped, they both got out of it and went to the stop and then ran into the next bus.
The police approached the elderly lady and informed her that she had just been robbed. “The woman only then realized that cash was missing from her purse,” they emphasized.
The thieves didn't get very far. At the next stop they were stopped by officers. They are Bulgarian citizens, aged 23 and 24. The women were taken to police custody. The 24-year-old was charged at the Warsaw District Police Headquarters with the first charge of particularly audacious theft.
He stole, she covered
A similar theft occurred at one of the bazaars in Warsaw's Wola district. The police's attention was caught by a man and a woman who were closely observing people shopping at the stalls. The officers, sensing that they might be thieves, started observing the couple.
“At one point, the observers approached an elderly lady shopping. The man took out her wallet from her shopping cart. He managed to do it because the woman with him covered the whole situation,” the officers described.
After the “action” ended, the pair of thieves started to leave the place, and the elderly woman did not even realize that she had just been robbed. The police followed the woman and the man to arrest them. “When the man found out that he was dealing with policemen, he threw away the wallet he had just stolen,” added the Warsaw Police Headquarters. At the same time, another policeman approached the senior woman and informed her that she had just been robbed. The couple stole a wallet containing cash and an ATM card.
The detained 70-year-old and a 19-year-old were taken to police custody. The detainees were charged at the Warsaw District Police Headquarters IV with particularly daring theft by acting jointly and in concert. Pickpockets are punishable by up to 8 years in prison for their crimes.
Suspects arrested by police Metropolitan Police Headquarters
Where to be more vigilant?
The police warn that particularly crowded places, such as bazaars, railway stations, shopping malls and public transport, are favorable to pickpockets. “They use a crowd of people to commit theft. Criminals mask their actions with various items, e.g. shopping bags, items of clothing, scarves, scarves. During this time, they unnoticedly open the zipper of a purse or backpack and steal items from inside,” they point out.
So what can you do to protect yourself against theft? It is worth carrying a bag with a closure on the body side, which makes it almost impossible to open it unnoticed. When carrying a bag, it is also a good idea to shorten its strap or have it on the front rather than on the side, so that you can see its entire surface. By holding the bag close to the body, below the shoulder, which blocks access to it, we make it more difficult to steal. You should also not keep valuables in your back pocket. “This is the most common place from which thieves take our things: wallets and phones. When in a crowd, if we are carrying a backpack, it is worth taking it off our back and holding it in front of us,” the police advise.
The risk of theft increases when pushing through crowds. “Then it is easiest for a thief to steal from his victim unnoticed,” the officers emphasized. As they added, you should also be sensitive to the so-called artificial piston. “Most often, pickpockets use this technique to confuse the person they want to rob,” they noted.
You should also avoid looking through your wallet and counting cash when shopping. In turn, after withdrawing a significant amount of money from an ATM, it is a good idea to hide it in a previously prepared place. You should also not leave your money, credit cards or mobile phone freely in a public place.
Main photo source: Metropolitan Police Headquarters