In a statement, the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP indicated that, on September 5, they detained three men aged between 35 and 37, who were “under surveillance by the police”. As they were suspected of travelling to Portugal “with the intention of committing theft”.

According to the PSP statement, “the group acted in a concerted way, which consisted of selecting the victims, who strolled around Lisbon, following them and then cunningly stealing their goods”.

The suspects were arrested in Largo da Madalena, after having stolen a wallet, with money and documents, from the pocket of a man's shorts.

The police found that one of the pickpockets had already been arrested in 2020 by the same PSP team, and was prohibited from visiting the Rossio and Baixa Chiado area and obliged to report daily to the authorities in his area of ​​residence.

The PSP also reveals in the statement that on September 6, they detained two other men, both 51 years old, on suspicion of “theft from four men, in the Martim Moniz area, in Lisbon”.

According to the authorities, the suspects were “old acquaintances of the police, known for stealing objects on terraces” and were “detected and detained on Rua de São Mamede, in Lisbon, still in possession of all the victims’ belongings”.

The belongings, valued at more than five thousand euros, were recovered and handed over to the legitimate owners.