At concerts, the audience often stands close together, making pickpocketing less noticeable. Especially with certain music genres, it is common to bump into each other while dancing. Pickpockets exploit these moments of contact to secretly steal valuable items such as phones from visitors.
Arrests
On Saturday, October 18, Ahoy security received twelve reports of stolen phones within 30 minutes. They immediately involved the police, and the number of reports rose to 23. After the officers arrived, a man tried to discreetly discard four phones. Both an alert visitor and one of the officers noticed this. The man, a 37-year-old Romanian, was immediately arrested. By tracking one of the stolen phones, a second suspect was arrested in Pijnacker. Due to lack of evidence, the police had to release him the same evening. The Romanian was tried under expedited proceedings on Thursday, October 23. He received a 19-day prison sentence, 14 days of which were suspended.
How to prevent being pickpocketed
- Take as few valuable items as possible with you.
- Keep valuables well hidden and out of sight.
- Carry your bag in front of you and close it securely, with the closure facing your body.
- Do not carry your mobile phone or wallet in your back pocket. They are visible there and easily stolen.
- Use an app on your phone that can share your location in case of theft or loss (Find my iPhone / Find my device) so the police can search for the perpetrators.
- If you witness or are a victim of (an attempted) pickpocketing and see the perpetrator, call 112 and try to remember a clear description or take a photo of the suspect.
- Be extra alert in crowded places.
- If you have been pickpocketed, report it to the police and provide the unique numbers such as the IMEI number.
