Don't Be Fooled: Kuwait Police Will Never Do a Video Call
Authorities stress that the Kuwait Police will never contact individuals through video or voice calls to request personal information. All official notifications and violation records are handled securely through the Sahel app. Expats are urged not to respond to such calls and to report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
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Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Viral vigilante patrols London streets for pickpockets
Police record more than 32,000 thefts from Jan until July 2025 in central Westminster LONDON: On a recent weekday, Diego Galdino was on the hunt for pickpockets in central London, patrolling tourist hotspots for familiar suspects and telltale signs of those about to commit thefts. Galdino, however, is not a policeman. The Brazilian food app delivery rider has become a popular, social media-fuelled vigilante targeting pickpocketing in the British capital. He started filming - and then trying to disrupt - thieves in action after witnessing several incidents. And his videos on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms under the handle 'pickpocketlondon' have proved a hit. One posted late July on TikTok amassed nearly 27 million views - another on Instagram showing a suspect spitting at him garnered more than 12 million. 'I didn't know nothing about TikTok, I didn't know nothing about uploading a video,' Galdino told AFP. 'I catch them stealing, I catch a lot of situations and I upload daily and grow very quickly,' he said. Similar accounts have emerged in other European cities including Venice and Paris, as the era of mass tourism, social media and side hustles collides with crime and vigilantism. Galdino said he was 'completely surprised' by the response. 'My life's changed a lot,' he added. Now, he said, he was inundated with media interview requests and got recognized by supporters and suspects alike. LONDON: Diego Galdino, who hunts and films pickpockets in London and posts the footage on social media, watches for pickpockets in London on August 7, 2025. — AFP photos 'Injustice' Galdino, from a family of police officers in Brazil, said he has become expert at identifying likely thieves. They appear well organized, are often women and work in pairs. They mainly target tourists, dressing like them to blend in, he said. Standing outside Buckingham Palace, the 32-year-old said he could change his 'perception' while patrolling to create a kind of tunnel vision. A network of around 20 other delivery riders helps out, sending tip-offs via WhatsApp when suspects are spotted. Once on the scene, Galdino swoops in filming with an attached camera, shouting a signature 'pickypockets' warning to sound the alert. 'Watch out, pickypockets!' he yells. His presence is not always welcomed though, and Galdino said he had faced violence. But focus, adrenalin and a sense of 'injustice' at the thefts overrode any fear, he said. 'I hate this kind of thing,' Galdino added. 'These people get up in the morning ... (to) steal. They don't pay tax, they don't produce nothing to society.' On the streets, locals as well as visitors seemed to appreciate his efforts. 'Keep doing what you're doing!' said passerby Tom, 37, after recognizing Galdino. 'Hopefully tourists (who) come to London who maybe don't know about the phone-snatchers see your videos.' Sceptics however, have raised concerns about such vigilante content-creators, arguing they are ill-trained to intervene in potentially dangerous situations. Police boost 'We've got a kind of performative form of crime vigilantism for clicks,' criminologist Jennifer Fleetwood told AFP. 'I'm sure the guy is very well-meaning, but honestly this is not an effective form of crime control,' she added. 'He's not going to be out there for the next 10 years, is he?' said Fleetwood, a university lecturer in criminology who wrote the book 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Crime'. London's leaders insist they are tackling pickpocketing. Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan boosted police numbers in the centre to curb theft, robbery and antisocial behaviour. 'We'll be targeting hotspot areas with both plain-clothed and uniformed patrols, building on the progress we've already made,' the Metropolitan Police said. Their statement did not comment directly on Galdino, but it did note a 15.6 percent reduction in 'theft from the person' in the six weeks since their boost began April 6. However, force's statistics show it recorded more than 32,000 'thefts from the person' in the year to July in central Westminster. That is up on the previous 12 months and a considerable increase on the year from July 2022. Fleetwood argued the social media fixation on pickpocketing risked exaggerating the problem. Statistics show such thefts are no more prevalent in the capital than other English cities and regions, she said. 'I've seen so much stuff on social media about London being unfriendly or London being dangerous. 'But ... is it the case that you're more likely to be a victim of personal crime in London? Actually, no.' — AFP
Arab Times
04-08-2025
- Arab Times
Bangladeshi and Pakistani Expats Caught in Kuwait's ATM Scam
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: In a major breakthrough, the Criminal Security Sector, represented by the General Department of Criminal Investigation's Anti-Financial Crimes Department, has dismantled an Asian criminal network that targeted both Kuwaitis and expats using a novel method of financial fraud exploiting the cardless withdrawal feature of local ATMs. Acting swiftly, investigators were able to identify and apprehend the primary suspect in under 24 hours. The accused, identified as MD Raju MD Pentomia, a Bangladeshi national sponsored by Al-Jazeera International General Trading Group, was tracked down after authorities matched CCTV images of the ATM withdrawals with the national biometric fingerprint database. He was arrested in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, and in his possession were approximately KWD 5,000, several SIM cards, bank cards, and remittance receipts from various money exchange offices, allegedly intended for transferring illicit funds abroad. Further investigation revealed that the suspect was part of a larger cross-border criminal syndicate targeting the State of Kuwait. He was reportedly working in coordination with two Pakistani nationals affiliated with Mirza General Trading Company, a business front allegedly used to facilitate illegal "alternative remittance" operations — an unlicensed form of money transfer that circumvents formal banking channels. This scheme was reportedly revived after their previous company, also engaged in unauthorized currency exchange, was shut down by authorities. Both Pakistani suspects were arrested in Khaitan, and tools used in the illicit fund transfers were seized. They were identified as: Dilsharif Shelemi (Pakistani national) Mirza Jaha Mirza (Pakistani national) Authorities have also traced the international arm of the syndicate operating from Pakistan and are currently coordinating with overseas agencies to dismantle the broader network. The Ministry of Interior reiterated its commitment to leveraging advanced technologies — including biometric verification — to detect, prevent, and prosecute financial crimes, reaffirming its dedication to safeguarding national security and the financial integrity of Kuwaiti society.
Arab Times
03-08-2025
- Arab Times
30-Day Warning Issued by Kuwait to 471 Expats Over Address Removal
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has released a list of 471 individuals whose residential addresses have been removed from its records—either based on declarations made by property owners or due to the demolition of the buildings where they were registered. PACI has urged these individuals to update their address information either in person or via the 'Sahel' application, provided they submit the required supporting documents. They have been given a 30-day window to do so, starting from today, Sunday, the date the names were published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyom. Failure to comply within the given timeframe will result in a penalty under Article (33) of Law No. 32 of 1982, which stipulates a fine of up to 100 Kuwaiti Dinars per person.
