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May 27, 2012
‘Hugging’ thieves baffle Stockholm police
Published: 8 Feb 12 14:50 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/38994/20120208/
A gang of tactile thieves in central Stockholm has embraced a new pickpocketing technique, leaving police baffled and dozens of victims stunned and phoneless.
“But in those cases it’s more of an embrace or a pat on the back.”
According to Stockholm police, one of the thieves usually approaches the victim, and without any words of greeting or warning, hugs the victim - sometimes even lifting them off the ground.
Meanwhile, an accomplice who is aware of the location of the victim’s valuables, takes the chance to pinch things from his or her pockets.
More than 20 people have so far been robbed by the gang, which have occurred over the past two weeks, mostly in the central districts of Södermalm and Gamla Stan, according to the Metro newspaper.
Police say that the victims are usually young girls and the missing valuables are mostly wallets and iPhones.
According to police, the attacks have mostly happened at night and the offenders’ details are sketchy.
They are now issuing warnings to residents and visitors to Stockholm to be wary of tactile strangers.
The descriptions of the offenders are varying, and police have concluded that there could be as many as four members in the gang, according to the paper.
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More sad news for normal foriegners that are open and interested in getting to know Swedes, or befriend the 'hard to get people'...
I hope it won't be driven to a scare campaign to further demonise innocent friendly foreigners in Sweden, because that will be an evil wind that blows no one any good.
Ironic though that all the CCTV, every meter around Stockholm, the supposed huggers of guld..
Now to the hugger mafias, why not go hug the moving train instead? Sure there's more to grab that way..
To Swedes, a lesson: Such things can easily happen in a society like Sweden, where people don't think it's their business to look after one another! It is heart breaking to watch people walk pass by fellow human being in trouble, because to them it is the job of the 'police' or 'ambulance folk' to take care of them..