Latest news with #pickpockets
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Criminal gangs are recruiting children to prey on vulnerable tourists in Venice
Criminal gangs in Venice, Italy, are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned. The city, as one of Italy 's top tourist attractions, has long been a hotspot for criminal activity targeting unsuspecting vacationers. A series of videos published on social media shows alleged pickpockets - often teenage girls and in some cases pregnant women - attempting to cover their faces as enraged citizens yell to draw attention to them. The scourge has led furious residents to form their own associations to publicize the identities of those caught in the act and work as volunteer informants for police. But even amid an increased police presence and efforts by citizen activists to catch opportunists, those under the age of 14 cannot bear criminal responsibility. Gangs are therefore stepping up efforts to recruit 'baby borseggiatori' - or baby pickpockets - into their ranks. The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has called for the existing legal framework to be adapted to give police and courts more powers to prosecute pickpockets. 'We cannot resign ourselves to the normalization of crimes that damage people's lives and the city's image on a daily basis. 'We need urgent corrective measures. The government has to listen to local communities and guarantee urban security.' Meanwhile, Monica Poli, spokesperson for the association Cittadini Non Distratti (Undistracted Citizens), denounced the involvement of children in criminal activities. 'The problem is that there are many minors under 13, including girls (who are pickpockets). 'What drives us forward is above all to defend the most vulnerable groups, namely the elderly and disabled, who are the preferred victims of these increasingly violent pickpockets, and we do so out of civic duty.' Poli has garnered significant notoriety on social media, particularly on TikTok, where she and her fellow citizen activists routinely post videos of suspected pickpockets. Her catchphrase 'Attenzione, borseggiatori!' (Attention, pickpockets!) went viral in 2023 and has been remixed into dance tracks and used to mock everyday scenarios, like animals trying to nibble their owners' food. The newfound social media fame helped to shine a light on the work Poli and her fellow volunteers, who first began combing the streets for pickpockets some three decades ago, have done. Poli says that her group aims to protect tourists and raise awareness about pickpocketing in Venice, claiming her group protects U.S. and UK tourists from being targeted. 'I have been part of a group of disturbance against pickpockets for 30 years - together with 40 other people,' she told Newsweek shortly after erupting to social media stardom. 'People are pickpocketed for their American or English passport, then to return to their country they have to go to the embassy in [...] Rome.' 'This incurs additional expenses for them, so it is better to prevent this by warning tourists of the problem.' Poli claims she has never been asked to stop by police, but runs a physical risk for her actions, adding she was once attacked by a group of women who fell foul of her vigilantism. In the meantime, deputy police chief Ganni Franzoi laments that the rate of pickpocketing - which skyrocketed after the return of tourists following the lifting of pandemic restrictions - looks set to continue on its upward trajectory. 'This year we've intercepted 100 pickpockets, including several minors,' he told Italian media. 'Another interesting statistic is the number of wallets found in St Mark's Square: we'll reach 900 in 2025.' Officials point out that without a change in legislation, citizen activist groups and individual victims will continue to carry out vigilante justice. In some cases, such situations have led to violent assaults, some of which are perpetrated against innocent bystanders mistaken for thieves. Last week, a 60-year-old German tourist was beaten by a group of angry citizens and holidaymakers who had reacted to warnings that a Spanish family had just fallen foul of pickpocketing. The Spaniard in question grabbed hold of the ageing German and pushed him against the wall, before others rushed in to surround him. He was ultimately pushed and struck several times as the crowd forced him to empty his pockets and open his bag before police arrived. 'I arrived on vacation in Venice three days ago,' he told police officers, according to Venezia Today. 'I never expected something like this. I was attacked, beaten, and called a thief. Now I want to file a complaint against those who attacked me.'
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment vigilante Italian councillor catches female pickpocket in the act in Venice before alerting crowds of tourists
This is the dramatic moment a gang of would-be pickpockets targeting unsuspecting tourists in Venice are caught by a crime fighting councillor. Monica Poli, known as Lady Pickpocket, spends her time touring the piazzas and ferry jetties of the famous lagoon city while keeping an eye out for the crooks. The modern-day Artful Dodgers – made famous in the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist – are the scourge of Venice, which sees more than 30 million tourists a year. Although the majority of visitors leave with no issue, so far 900 have been victims to pickpockets. Armed with just her phone Mrs Poli - who is a Northern League councillor - tours Venice and knows the majority of the 'dippers' by sight. When she sees them, she screams out in Italian and English 'Attention Pickpockets', usually sending the would-be thieves running. In one of her most recent videos, Mrs Poli caught a female pickpocket red handed as she targeted an unsuspecting tourist in Venice. Dressed smartly, the young woman easily blends in with other travellers as she follows her target over the famous Rialto Bridge. Using a map as cover the girl manages to unfasten her victim's handbag but is thwarted as the woman quickens her pace. At that moment Mrs Poli confronts her and asks in Italian:'What are you doing ?' before the clip ends with the pickpocket scowling as she tries to hide her face. In another video which Mrs Poli shared with MailOnline, three young girls, who are known pickpockets, can be seen in a square in the centre of Venice, but when they see they are being filmed, they disappear. Another video shows Mrs Poli confronting three men on a jetty while they try to board a crowded boat carrying tourists. One is dressed in a yellow T shirt, bucket hat and carrying a rucksack and as he spots that he is being filmed he darts off into the street as Mrs Poli alerts tourists: 'Pickpocket, watch out thieves.' An accomplice of the man is also seen leaving the jetty after being pointed out and a third tries to blend into the crowd before deciding that he too will make good his escape and run up the street. Shouting at him in Italian she says: 'Off the jetty, thief, get off the jetty,' as he waves his arms in frustration at her while tourists look on and some even applaud her for her quick thinking. Mrs Poli's crime fighting exploits caome as Venice's deputy police chief Gianni Franzoi revealed 900 wallets and purses had been recovered since the start of the year – enough to fill 15 black bin bags. Officials said that 100 pickpockets and bag snatchers had been arrested but they were also fighting a losing battle as gangs were now using children as young as 12 and 13 and so therefore under the age of criminal responsibility. Favoured spots for pickpockets in Venice include crowd boarding ferries, the streets leading to St Mark's Square and the Rialto bridge which are tiny and cramped and so when a pickpocket brushes past the victim and helps themselves, they know nothing. But it's not just tourists who have fallen victim, Diplomats based in the city and an Arab sheikh have also fallen foul of the young pickpockets who even if they are caught are usually released without charge because of their age. Mrs Poli said: 'This is a real problem for us in the city, the age of these criminals because they are so young the police can do nothing but let them go. 'They should be at school or playing with their friends not out stealing wallets and purses for Mr Bigs – it really is like something from Oliver Twist and the bad guys are just like Mafias.' Mrs Poli – who also runs a campaign group called Non Distratti (don't get distracted) – has been fighting for years to tackle the problem and regularly posts on social media clips of herself confronting pickpockets. One video has amassed an amazing two million clicks as she confronted one pickpocket who took flight – but not before spitting at her as he fled the pontoon jetty. Both Mrs Poli and Mr Franzoi highlighted how a law change in 2022 has also made it more difficult for pickpockets to be convicted even if they are caught and charged. Known as the Cartabia reform after former Italian MP and justice minister Marta Cartabia introduced it, the measure changed the way in how minor crimes were handled by the country's justice system in an attempt to speed up cases and clear backlogs. With regard to pickpockets it meant the victim had to make a formal complaint and then also turn up at trial and if they didn't the charge was annulled – but as both Mr Franzoi and Mrs Poli pointed out many victims are 'overseas tourists' and simply don't bother. Mr Franzoi added: 'We have been tasked with tackling pickpockets since the 1990s and we have a dedicated squad but over the years the number of incidents has increased considerably. 'In the early 2000s it was mainly Romani men and women but in recent years it's younger people and especially girls, mainly children who live in camps outside Venice and they are all part of organised gangs. 'They are very accomplished and know that they can act with impunity because of their age and all we can do is give then a sheet of paper telling them to leave the city limits which they do but then they just come back. 'The Cartabia reform has really made it difficult for us to secure prosecutions because it needs the victim to make a complaint and turn up for the trial but a foreign tourist is not coming back for a trial over a stolen wallet or purse.' Mrs Poli added:' The city of Venice is a labyrinth of alleys and side-streets and by the time you call the police and they arrive the pickpockets have gone but they all know me, and I know have to be very careful. 'I've been threatened and spat at but I am not going to back down and will carry on, what really upsets me is when I see old people and disabled people being pick-pocketed, that makes me so angry and makes me want to fight on.' Mrs Poli also shared her tips for not being pick-pocketed in Venice and did say the chances were small but advised: 'Keep your bag in front of you with the zip shut and put your hands over it if you can. 'Be careful in crowds especially in the streets and if someone brushes past you double check to make sure you have your wallet or purse – the problem is pickpockets dress just like you and me in Venice. 'A lot of it is common sense, don't keep important documents with your credit cards, keep them separate and if you have a bag make sure it has an inside zip pocket.'
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The 'baby pickpockets' of Venice: How gangs have recruited an army of children to prey on tourists in packed streets of Italian holiday hotspot
Venetian gangs are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned. Venice, as one of Italy 's top tourist attractions, has long been a hotspot for criminal activity targeting unsuspecting holidaymakers. The scourge has led furious residents to form their own associations to publicise the identities of those caught in the act and work as volunteer informants for police. A slew of videos published on social media shows alleged pickpockets - often teenage girls and in some cases pregnant women - attempting to cover their faces as enraged citizens yell to draw attention to them. Officials warn that legal loopholes already allow adult pickpockets, particularly women, to operate with little concern for law enforcement. Deputy Chief of the local police, Gianni Franzoi, told Secolo d'Italia: 'There are now more female pickpockets, drawn to the city by a bubble of legal impunity... '(The law) stipulates, in addition to a formal complaint, the injured parties' presence at the hearing,' he said, explaining that in order for a pickpocket to be convicted, the victim must also attend the court date. 'The victims are mostly foreigners, and they hardly ever come to the hearing. So, there are no trials and no convictions.' But even amid an increased police presence and efforts by citizen activists to catch opportunists, those under the age of 14 cannot bear criminal responsibility. Gangs are therefore stepping up efforts to recruit 'baby borseggiatori' - or baby pickpockets - into their ranks. Venetian gangs are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has called for the existing legal framework to be adapted to give police and courts more powers to prosecute pickpockets. 'We cannot resign ourselves to the normalisation of crimes that damage people's lives and the city's image on a daily basis,' Brugnaro declared last week. 'We need urgent corrective measures. The government has to listen to local communities and guarantee urban security.' Meanwhile, Monica Poli, spokesperson for the association Cittadini Non Distratti (Undistracted Citizens), denounced the involvement of children in criminal activities. 'The problem is that there are many minors under 13, including girls (who are pickpockets). 'What drives us forward is above all to defend the most vulnerable groups, namely the elderly and disabled, who are the preferred victims of these increasingly violent pickpockets, and we do so out of civic duty.' Poli has garnered significant notoriety on social media, particularly on TikTok, where she and her fellow citizen activists routinely post videos of suspected pickpockets. Her catchphrase 'Attenzione, borseggiatori!' (Attention, pickpockets!) went viral in 2023 and has been remixed into dance tracks and used to mock everyday scenarios, like animals trying to nibble their owners' food. The newfound social media fame helped to shine a light on the work Poli and her fellow volunteers, who first began combing the streets for pickpockets some three decades ago, have done. Poli says that her group aims to protect tourists and raise awareness about pickpocketing in Venice, claiming her group protects US and UK tourists from being targeted. 'I have been part of a group of disturbance against pickpockets for 30 years - together with 40 other people,' she told Newsweek shortly after erupting to social media stardom. 'People are pickpocketed for their American or English passport, then to return to their country they have to go to the embassy in [...] Rome.' 'This incurs additional expenses for them, so it is better to prevent this by warning tourists of the problem.' Poli claims she has never been asked to stop by police, but runs a physical risk for her actions, adding she was once attacked by a group of women who fell foul of her vigilantism. In the meantime, deputy police chief Franzoi laments that the rate of pickpocketing - which skyrocketed after the return of tourists following the lifting of pandemic restrictions - looks set to continue on its upward trajectory. 'This year we've intercepted 100 pickpockets, including several minors,' he told Italian media. 'Another interesting statistic is the number of wallets found in St. Mark's Square: we'll reach 900 in 2025.' Officials point out that without a change in legislation, citizen activist groups and individual victims will continue to carry out vigilante justice. In some cases, such situations have led to violent assaults, some of which are perpetrated against innocent bystanders mistaken for thieves. Last week, a 60-year-old German tourist was beaten by a group of angry citizens and holidaymakers who had reacted to warnings that a Spanish family had just fallen foul of pickpocketing. The Spaniard in question grabbed hold of the ageing German and pushed him against the wall, before others rushed in to surround him. He was ultimately pushed and struck several times as the crowd forced him to empty his pockets and open his bag before police arrived. 'I arrived on vacation in Venice three days ago,' he told police officers, according to Venezia Today. 'I never expected something like this. I was attacked, beaten, and called a thief. Now I want to file a complaint against those who attacked me.'
Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Telegraph
Venice tourists targeted by child pickpockets
They come in all shapes and sizes and have an uncanny ability to blend in with the crowd. As thousands of tourists surge into Venice in the summer months, so do the pickpockets who shadow the holidaymakers cruising down the Grand Canal or winding through the Lagoon City's labyrinth of narrow alleys. But criminal gangs are cleverly exploiting a legal loophole and recruiting thieves as young as 12 or 13. Those under the age of 14 escape criminal prosecution. Police chiefs say gangs have turned away from using pregnant women – who can be prosecuted – and instead turned their attention on children. But even when the youngsters are caught and sent to a community centre for the night, they escape within hours, Marco Agosti, the commander of the Venice local police, said. 'They were invisible' Many of the pickpockets are known to police. Frustrated local activists catch them tailing their victims and later post their images on social media, as well as their names or nicknames such as 'Shakira', 'Mika' or 'Dodu'. 'I didn't feel a thing, they were invisible,' said one 50-year old British victim, who did not want to be named. She was targeted during the city's annual Carnevale festivities in February. 'I didn't realise my wallet was gone until I arrived at the railway station.' Local and national Carabinieri police say they have apprehended more than 150 alleged thieves since the beginning of the year and filled 15 large bags of stolen bags and empty wallets at the town hall. Despite more than 800 police cameras conducting surveillance across the World Heritage listed city, police say they are hamstrung by legal loopholes that allow criminal gangs to exploit the 'baby borseggiatori' (or baby pickpockets) as well as the transient nature of their crimes. 'Pickpocketing is only actionable on a party's complaint and if the robbed person does not show up for trial, the complaint is thrown out,' Gianni Frazoi, the deputy commander of Venice police, told the daily, Corriere della Sera. 'The victims are mostly foreigners and they hardly ever come to the hearing. And so there are no trials and no convictions.' Venice police said 41 people were caught pickpocketing or arrested between January and May this year but there were more arrests in June and July. In the first two weeks of May, police arrested 11 pickpockets. All were minors but five could not be prosecuted under Italian law because they were under the age of 14. Commandant Agostini rejected suggestions Venice was any worse than Italy's other tourist hotspots like Milan, Rome, Florence or Naples. But he did say it was sometimes difficult to get a conviction under Italian law, citing the recent arrest of an alleged Venetian burglar known as 'The Grasshopper' for leaping from one building to another and who has been in and out of jail for his alleged break-ins. In early July, Venetian activists called 'Non Distratti Stop Borseggi' (don't be distracted, stop pickpocketing) at a street march warning tourists and residents to be more attentive in the fight against pickpocketing. One of the leaders of the group, Monica Poli, known as 'Lady Pickpocket', could not be reached by The Telegraph but has been campaigning for years to fight pickpocketing and recruitment of children. She has been known to confront pickpockets on the streets when she finds them. Venice mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, is calling for an immediate change to the law and broader police powers to tackle the problem which police say has surged after the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We cannot resign ourselves to the normalisation of crimes that damage people's lives and the city's image on a daily basis,' Mr Brugnaro said this week. 'We need urgent corrective measures. The government has to listen to local communities and guarantee urban security.' Italy's national justice undersecretary, Andrea Ostellari, and interior undersecretary, Nicola Molteni, both from the far-right League Party, say they are looking at changes to the law. Meanwhile, other Italian mayors including Daniele Silvetti from the city of Ancona, and Nicola Fiorita from the southern city of Catanzaro in Calabria, have also called for wider police powers to stop pickpocketing and street robberies. The pickpocket victims reflect the global reach of Venice's allure. They include an 80-year-old British tourist, an Emirati sheikh fleeced by robbers near the Rialto Bridge, and a Chinese tourist targeted in St Mark's Square. In the past week there have been a number of targeted attacks on well-heeled tourists in Italy, including British peer and eminent surgeon, Lord Darzi. Lord Darzi was robbed of his £175,000 watch by thieves while he was on holiday on the Italian island of Capri this week. Turkish tourist, Nevzat Kaya, had his €300,000 (£224,000) Richard Mille watch wrenched from his arm by three thieves as he returned to his hotel in Milan on Tuesday. On the same day a 60-year old Milan man had his luxury Patek Philippe Aquanaut watch stolen on the street.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
6 Places You Should Never Keep Your Money When Traveling This Summer
Though paper money has gone the way of the dodo in many respects, sometimes when you travel you just want some cold hard cash at hand to make life easier. While many people don't carry cash at all, others have go-to methods of storing their money. Read Next: For You: Whether you're a frequent or casual traveler, it's important to know where to keep your money so that it doesn't get lost or stolen while you're on your trip. Here are six places you should never keep your cash when traveling. You should be aware that when it comes to specific areas of storage on your bag or luggage, some are safer than others. For example, the back or outer pockets of your backpacks or luggage compartments are not the best place to keep your money while traveling. Not only do these places lack security, but they're also easily accessible to pickpockets. Check Out: Your hotel room might not be as secure as you think. Even if it's highly rated and in a safe area, you still shouldn't leave your money out in the open in your room. For instance, try not to leave your card on the side table of your hotel room when you go sightseeing or out for the day. You never want to leave your information or money vulnerable to being easily stolen. Alternatively, if you want to leave something in your room, opt for hotel room safes, as they are the best go-to choice for locking away passports, cash and valuables. One of the best investments you can make when traveling is in your peace of mind. Unfortunately, savvy thieves know how to spot tourists who can become targets if they know they have money and are ready to use any opportunity to steal it. Be careful when travelling abroad and try to distribute your money across several locations rather than keeping it all in one place. For example, instead of putting it all in your purse or wallet, try separating it to several safe spots so you don't have all your cash in one basket. Not only should you never keep money in your backpack's outer pockets, but also avoid the loose pockets of your clothing. Pants and coat pockets are places where money can easily fall out, or a thief can slip a hand in without being noticed. You can hide your money in more secure places or also try using zippered pockets and RFID-blocking pouches to deter thieves. Traveling with cash isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be more problematic if lost or stolen. With that in mind, carrying large bills might not be the best — or safest — option. Instead, try carrying around small bills and only having enough cash for wherever you are heading, and leave the rest back in the hotel safe. Some lesser-known or smaller travel destinations might not accept cards, so be prepared for this before taking your trip. More popular destinations, on the other hand, often have alternative payment options available if you don't want to have to worry about having cash on you. A person's wallet is one of the most common places to keep cash, making it a prime target for pickpockets. This doesn't mean you can't keep your money in your wallet at all — it just means you need to be smart about it as thieves are more prevalent in tourist-heavy cities. Don't make where you keep your money or wallet easy for them. Instead, keep your wallet in an interior pocket in your backpack or purse so that there are a few layers anyone would have to get through to reach it. Angela Mae contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing This article originally appeared on 6 Places You Should Never Keep Your Money When Traveling This Summer
