Lisbon police crack down on tourist-targeting pickpockets
Lisbon is facing a significant issue. In several popular areas, tourists are being targeted by pickpockets. However, the local police are not remaining inactive. In 2024, they successfully arrested as many as 149 pickpockets, thanks to a special group of officers who posed as tourists. This represents a 43% increase compared to the previous year.
In Lisbon, in 2024, the police effectively tackled pickpocketing by arresting 149 individuals in the act. A specialised unit of officers was crucial to these efforts, as they pretended to be tourists to lure thieves and capture them red-handed.
Special unit FC3
According to information provided by CM television, this unit, known as FC3, was established to combat pickpocket gangs, which are prevalent in the Portuguese capital. Due to their efforts, the number of arrests increased by 43% compared to 2023.
Deputy Commissioner of the Portuguese police, Sergio Soares, explained that the unit operates in a manner that deliberately attracts the attention of pickpockets, enabling their effective arrest. Among the criminals, so-called "travelling gangs" dominate, operating in numerous European cities, with members mainly from Romania. They have no scruples and rob anyone who appears to be an easy target.
The "Tram King" gang
Soares added that the average daily "earnings" of a pickpocket in Lisbon can exceed €3,000.
In January, one of the most notorious pickpockets, a 62-year-old man known as the "Tram King," was apprehended. He specialised in thefts on the popular trams numbers 28, 12, and 15, which are often packed with tourists.
The "Tram King" had been convicted multiple times for his crimes and was considered a member of the so-called pensioners' gang. This group also included other criminals known to the police, such as "Fatty," "Coach," "Tramp," "Santana," and "Dog Face."
