• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Police warn residents after beggars turn to theft

Published: 25 Jun 12 08:33 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41628/20120625/

Police have made a public appeal to Gothenburg residents about a group of 30-40 beggars believed to be committing repeated thefts in the metropolitan area in western Sweden.

The brazen thefts have occurred over the past three weeks in the western Sweden town, and police have received the reports especially from young mothers and café guests.

According to the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper (GP), the gang numbers between 30 and 40 people and is believed to stem from people who previously known to be begging in the area.

The police have made an appeal to the public, warning them of the criminal activity and how it occurs.

Typically, the thieves have targeted tables in cafes and restaurants where a mobile phone is visible on the table.

One of the gang approaches, gives a note to one of the café-goers, and while they are trying to interpret the note, another person snatches the phone.

Another common scam is when a gang member approaches a woman with a pram and begs for money, while their accomplice is robbing the mother and the pram from the other side.

The thieves almost always work in pairs, and mostly consist of women, according to GP.

The thieves act quickly, and make fast getaways, making it difficult for police to identify the criminals.

TT/The Local/og
twitter.com/thelocalsweden

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

10:14 June 25, 2012 by Abe L
Typical operating practice of eastern European gypsy gangs.

But this is a good way to get rid of them. If they commit crimes you can lock them up and if they become repeated offenders you can lock them up for longer periods of time.

You can't get rid of these people otherwise, cracking down on them hard is the only way to make them move on and try the same elsewhere.
10:18 June 25, 2012 by JulieLou40
They've been round here lately, knocking on doors with their notes and photographs of their family. I sent them packing!
10:28 June 25, 2012 by johan rebel
I suppose the police have managed to make their appeal in the usual Swedish style, without any reference to ethnicity or nationality, thereby depriving the public of essential information.
10:53 June 25, 2012 by HenryPollard
It will be hard to find the culprits, as going by the information given by the police, these thieves were of transparent complexion....
11:08 June 25, 2012 by johnny1939
I see the same beggars every day on the avenue they are males and females young and old some of them are crippled and pitiful. The women ask for money for pampers etc w/ sorrowful voices and they do not speak Swedish. Never give them a penny!!!!
11:53 June 25, 2012 by delfinita
This was SOOO COMMON in Spain in the early 2000's. Not as common now, but it still happens. Girl approaches you asking you for directions while another girl snatches your phone/wallet, etc.

They are romanian gypsys. This is how they work, everywhere they go so just beware.
10:17 June 26, 2012 by CJ from Sunshine Desserts
Gippos..nough said !
07:16 June 27, 2012 by ericrufinosiah
Hopefully,the Swedish Authorities would find a permanent place for these beggers instead of leaving them to roam all over Sweden,afterall,I believe they are only begging to save them from hunger and some petty crimes which can be prevented

if the Authorities could place them in a Centre,whereby they are taught a trade and

welfare taken care of instead of spending vast sum of money to accommodate

on hollier than thou types of " economic and ungrateful immigrants " and I am sure

that these beggers are not a security threat to Sweden as awhole unlike '
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'

Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'

The white-collar union Saco has lambasted Sweden's Employment Agency for its failure to help well-educated, foreign-born job seekers, whose unemployment rate is more than three times the average for people born in Sweden. READ () »

Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push

Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push

Fifteen percent of refugees in Sweden who enrolled in the new establishment system the past two years have gone on to find jobs, new figures show, leading some observers to worry that the low success rate will place a burden on the benefits system. READ () »

Riksbank unveils new board members

Riksbank unveils new board members

Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »

350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory

350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory

Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has buckled under the pressure of European competition and will turn off the switch on a cable production plant in Sweden, leaving 350 employees without jobs. READ () »

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
23/05 Account Executive/Office Manager
Toolbox Marketing
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Application Owner AX
Net Entertainment
Stockholm
23/05 Area sales Manager
Gemalto
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 E.ON are looking for a Regional Category Manager Elnät
Experis Sverige
SKÅ
23/05 Integration Engineer at Aditro
Aditro
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Java Developer (Turku, Finland)
Academic Work
Turku
23/05 Manager Service Management Center
Telenor Sverige AB
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Platform Engineer
TeliaSonera
Farsta
23/05 Product Manager
Safemind AB
Stockholm
23/05 Produktionsplanerare, Coca-Cola Enterprises Sverige
Coca-Cola Enterprises Sverige AB
Stockholm, STHM

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com