A specialized PSP team, with the collaboration of Swiss and German police, has arrested 12 suspects from Eastern Europe known for their pickpocketing activities. The gang, familiar to authorities since 2018, recently returned to Portugal, specifically to Lisbon, to target tourists during the Santos Populares festivities.
The arrests were made in two phases. The first group, consisting of four men aged 21, 40, 43, and 45, operated in a coordinated manner, selecting victims among tourists visiting Lisbon. They were caught on June 11th at 1:30 PM on Rua Bernardino Costa in the Baixa Pombalina area after stealing from a German tourist.
A special PSP brigade, reinforced with officers specialized in this type of itinerant crime and including police from Berlin, Munich, and Zurich, was responsible for the operation. The second group of eight was arrested on the eve of Santo António and on June 13th, Lisbon's municipal holiday. One incident involved a 26-year-old man who assaulted another individual to steal a camera and a bag valued at 3,120 euros.
This operation highlights the international cooperation and the PSP's commitment to ensuring the safety of tourists and residents during one of Lisbon's most vibrant periods.
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