Police detain pickpockets on a Riga bus after they steal a woman's wallet
State Police in Riga detained a man and a woman suspected of pickpocketing on a No. 22 bus. The stolen 104 euros were recovered and a criminal case has been opened.
A passenger on a public bus in Riga was robbed, but State Police officers detained the suspects right after the theft and recovered both the wallet and the cash.
How the theft happened
The incident took place on 29 September this year on a No. 22 bus travelling from the airport towards the centre of Riga. A man and a woman boarded and picked out a passenger who sat down with her handbag resting on her shoulder. To distract her, the female pickpocket bumped into her and, at that moment, pulled a wallet out of the bag.
The two got off at the next stop. They took all the cash from the wallet – 104 euros – and threw the wallet itself into a rubbish bin.
The police response
The thieves' actions were observed by officers from the 2nd Division of the 2nd Bureau of the Criminal Police Department of the State Police Riga Region Directorate, who specialise in preventing pickpocketing. The officers followed the suspects, detained them and recovered the stolen money.
The detained woman was born in 1954, and her alleged accomplice in 1974. The man has previously been convicted of pickpocketing.
Criminal proceedings
The Riga Pārdaugava Directorate has launched criminal proceedings under Section 180 of the Criminal Law, covering theft of a minor amount. The law provides for a penalty of up to one year of imprisonment, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service or a fine.
For the duration of the investigation, both suspects have been placed under police supervision as a preventive measure.
The State Police reminds the public that no one is considered guilty until their guilt in committing a criminal offence has been proven in accordance with the procedure established by law.
