Police crack down on city centre pickpocketers

CCTV showed Abderahmen Berouaken pulling a phone out of a woman's pocket before she slapped it out of his hand and he walked off

Police have been cracking down on pickpocketers in Birmingham city centre

One man, Abderahmen Berouaken, 24, was recently sent to prison for 14 months after he was caught on CCTV stealing people's phones.

PC Mat Evans, from the Op Willowvale team, said pickpocketers were "the worst type in my opinion". Operation Willowvale, which was started last year by the West Midlands force hopes to stop large international criminal gangs who work across the UK.

Pickpocketing offences have gone down across Birmingham by 38% so far in 2023/24 and in the entire West Midlands Police area by 31%.

"[Pickpocketers] are going after the elderly, they're going after disabled people, particularly in wheelchairs, and young mothers out with babies and pushchairs," PC Evans said.

He added the force first noticed a rise in pick pocketing about 12 to 14 years ago in Birmingham city centre with the crime being led by international gangs.

Abderahmen Berouaken was jailed for 14 months

Berouaken, of no fixed address, had admitted eight theft offences and had been visiting the city on and off to steal since last year, the force said.

He was sentenced after pleading guilty at Birmingham Crown Court.

Operation Willowvale is a dedicated team which covers Birmingham and works with city centre partners and store security teams to help them spot tell-tale signs of professional pickpocketers at work.

Advice includes look who is around you, try to keep valuables out of sight, secure your bag properly, never leave your bag unattended and avoid carrying your wallet or phone in your back pocket.

PC Mat Evans, from West Midlands Police, said the impact of knowing you were "targeted in the way pickpockets do can really shake people’s confidence"