Bulgarian, Romanian Pickpockets Terrorize London Commuters

A pickpocket gang of Bulgarian citizens busted in London: Crime gang: clockwise from top left; Nedka Stanova, Elene Filipova, Georgi Nikolov, Georgi Petkov, Zlatko Nikolov and Silviya Filipova. Photo by The Evening Standard

Gangs from Bulgaria and Romania are behind a new pickpocketing wave on the London subway, according to UK police records cited by The Evening Standard.

The paper points out overall offending on the Tube decreased by 4% in 2009, while the number of thefts increased by 11%.

It cites police sources as saying there has been a resurgence in pickpocketing gangs from Bulgaria and Romania.

The UK police have even launched a special operation codenamed “Silence” in order to deal with the issue.

The Evening Standard reminds a case reported earlier in May of a family of pickpockets from Bulgaria who stole GBP 100 000 from public transport passengers in London, and was then sent back to Bulgaria at the expense of the UK taxpayers.

Nicolay Filipov led the gang, who operated from his rented home in Manor House. Up to 10 thieves pooled their plunder and transferred it back to Bulgaria to fund property ventures.

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