Before open borders, such phenomenon was unheard of here.
Well well well, the Finnish state broadcaster recently reported that Roma panhandlers were not involved in crime, while in Paris it was being reported that in fact Roma gangs were deeply involved in a wave of pickpocket crimes. YLE now reports that ‘Baltic and East European gangs’ are involved.
There is a major disconnect going on here.
We’re led to believe that the same criminality occurring elsewhere in Europe by Roma gangs magically disappears once they cross into Finland. Nothing to see or hear, move along please.
Nothing like being proven right,
Niskanen says that most of the thieves are foreigners working in groups – often from the Baltic and Eastern European countries.
Pickpocketing up in Helsinki as other crimes decline
Common sense measures can help protect valuables — yet an increasing number of people fall victim, typically at restaurants or on mass transit. Pricey mobile devices are prime targets.
Cases of pickpocketing continue to rise sharply. Last year authorities in Helsinki heard of 8462 such cases. Police say that by the end of June this year, the pace was up by nearly 10 percent. If that rate keeps up, there will be 800-900 more recorded incidences of pickpocketing this year than last.
Detective Inspector Jouni Niskanen of the Helsinki Police estimates that such thievery adds up to damages worth at least two million euros annually in the capital.
“This is a growing phenomenon in Helsinki. In recent years pickpocketing figures have risen while other types of crimes have declined,” he told Yle.
The same trend has been seen elsewhere in Europe. According to a recent report by the regional police authority, Europol, pickpocketing is one of the main focuses of mobile criminal groups.
Smartphones eagerly snapped up
In Helsinki there is now an average of one recorded case of pickpocketing an hour. Nimble-fingered crooks reap large amounts of ill-gotten gains by targeting high-end smartphones. Nearly 10 of these are reported stolen daily in the capital, each worth between 400 and 1000 euros. This alone represents annual losses to the tune of a million euros.
Contrary to popular belief, pickpocketing is a year-round phenomenon, with no major fluctuations in different seasons. More than half of cases in Helsinki take place in the city centre, with public transport a common setting.
