The City of London Police has told fans to be wary of ‘foul play’
Football fans caught up in the excitement of World Cup celebrations at pubs and bars are being targeted by thieves known to police as “bagsmen”, detectives have warned. These opportunistic criminals are frequenting pubs, bars and other venues to snatch fans’ rucksacks and handbags, according to the City of London Police.
The alert follows the arrest of two Algerian men, aged 26 and 27, by officers on Wednesday as they left a pub on Great Tower Street in central London – which was screening the Portugal v DR Congo World Cup match – carrying a bag containing an £800 laptop.
When plain clothes officers apprehended the men – who remain in custody – and returned the laptop to its owner, the victim was completely unaware their bag had been stolen in the first place, police confirmed.
Detective Superintendent Jonathan Ball, from the City of London Police, said: “These thieves don’t need many opportunities. A momentary distraction when celebrating a goal, ordering a drink or discussing the match can be all it takes for a bag to disappear.”
He added: “The last thing you want to do is to give them an easy assist. VAR will be in use throughout the City and our control officers will be operating CCTV cameras from their very own Stockley Park, looking out for any foul play. On the ground, plain clothes police officers will be defending people from crime and tackling criminals.”
Detective Superintendent Ball added: “While fans are focused on the football, bag thieves are looking for chances to score on and off the pitch. Keep bags close to you, secure them where possible, and never leave valuables unattended. By taking a few simple precautions, you can make sure the only thing you’re talking about after the final whistle is the football.”
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
