Helsinki police warn of international groups of pickpockets operating in the capital

Romanian couple stole EUR 40,000 from wallets

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Police are warning of highly skilled foreign pickpockets operating in the Helsinki region. Wallets have been lost at the Helsinki Railway Station, on the Helsinki Metro, on the Esplanade, at tram stops and on the trams themselves.
      "The pickpockets’ operating season seems to have grown. The season used to be in the summer, but now thieves have been noticed in April and May as well”, says Petri Juvonen of the police precinct of the centre of Helsinki.
      In May there were 325 reported cases of pickpocketing reported. In May last year there were just 179.
     
Police have been holding three suspected pickpockets since May, two of whom are from Romania and one from Poland. Indictments against the suspects are expected soon.
      The fairly young couple from Romania could face charges in 40 separate incidents. Police say that the two have spied on people at cash machines to get their PIN codes, after which they steal the victim’s wallet and empty the bank account, Juvonen says.
      An estimated EUR 40,000 has been stolen from the victims.
     
Police say that a 17-year-old boy was part of the group, operating largely on his own. Police have also arrested a Romanian believed to have sent about EUR 10,000 back to Romania. A few thousand euros of the stolen money has been recovered.
      Those arrested are of the Roma minority, but they have nothing to do with the groups of Romanian Roma beggars on the streets.
     
Police have also detained a Polish man suspected of stealing a large number of wallets.
      “The man has usually just used the money in the wallets, but he has also made use of the ATM cards if the PIN code is in the wallet”, Juvonen says.
      Needless to say, the wisdom of keeping card and PIN number in the same place is questionable at best.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Romanian gang of pickpockets faces dozens of charges (24.10.2001)

Helsingin Sanomat