NYPD Pickpocket Experts Warn Crime Is Rising
NYPD are asking people to be wary of individuals in the subway, as they may attempt to steal your wallet, iPhone, or other valuable belongings. According to Lieutenant Jonathan Cedeno, a member of the undercover NYPD pickpocket team, pickpockets come in various forms, not just males, but also mothers with children and elderly individuals who can be surprisingly skilled and sophisticated in their techniques.
The new NYPD pickpocket team, equipped with body cams, shields, and cuffs, operates covertly in crowded subway trains and sidewalks to apprehend these crafty criminals. Their vigilance is focused on intercepting potential perpetrators before they can victimize unsuspecting commuters. The Transit Bureau Special Operations Division Citywide Pickpocket Unit, established in the fall, works from a discreet location within Port Authority, tasked with combatting pickpocket activity reminiscent of the characters depicted in Damon Runyon’s “Guys and Dolls.”
Particularly during holidays and major events like the Subway Series and the US Open tennis tournament, the unit is on high alert. It has been noticed that there is a growing connection between pickpockets in South America and those operating in NYC since 2018. International pickpocket rings from countries like Chile and Colombia have been targeting the city, with stolen cell phones being sold in bulk to South American buyers for substantial profits.
As the crime of pickpocketing is underreported, it is very difficult to get a true number on just how common this type of theft actually is. However, with the new pickpocketing taskforce, it looks like NYPD wants to get a lid on this kind of activity once and for all.
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