Romanian Gangs Behind Half Of All Pickpocketings

11th January 2014

A shocking dossier has given the first clear indication of the scale of criminal activity undertaken by eastern Europeans.

Last night politicians said they fear crime and social disorder could worsen as organised gangs have been handed an “open invite” to come here since freedom of movement restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria nationals were axed on January 1.

According to the latest British Transport Police files, 52 per cent of convicted pickpockets operating on London Underground routes were Romas.

Analysts said the figures were the tip of the iceberg as not all thefts are reported.

Paul Nuttall, the deputy leader of Ukip, said: “The figures are shocking and actually are from the year before the borders were open to Bulgaria and Romania nationals.

“We are not saying all Bulgarians and Romanians are criminals – far from it.

“But what it does show is that having a system of zero border controls allows professional criminals to come in and exploit us.

“There is an endemic problem of organised crime like pickpocketing in Romania so we should not be surprised if these figures are even worse a few months down the line now such gangs have full access to the UK.


http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/453277/Romanian-gangs-behind-half-of-pickpocketings

Pickpockets on The Tube included Britons, Jamaicans, Slovakians, Algerians, Latvians, Somalians, Bulgarians and Mexicans. Separate Ministry of Justice data showed the number of Romanians jailed in England and Wales has jumped almost 60 per cent in three years. The number in 2010 was 1,508 but leapt to 1,990 in 2012 and 2,530 in 2013.

The Daily Express has been the only national newspaper to crusade to stop a new surge of European immigration. Tory MP Peter Bone said: “Thank goodness for the Daily Express. As usual they are speaking for the British people.”