Last year, there were more than 14,000 reports of pickpocketing in the Brussels-Capital Region, making it the most registered form of theft. Within the local police force of the
Brussels-Capital/Elsene zone, a specialized unit is dedicated to tracking down pickpockets. Bruzz asked them about the most common techniques used and what to do if you become a victim.
In 2022, pickpocketing topped the list with 14,080 reports of theft in the Brussels-Capital Region. Theft from or of a vehicle came in second place with 13,203 reports, including theft of documents from cars or sudden disappearance of tires. The third place went to theft without the use of weapons, with 4,489 reports made last year.
Remarkably, pickpockets often get away with their crimes, with a suspect identified in only four percent of cases. Among the identified suspects, almost a third (27.5 percent) were minors, and the majority (94.4 percent) were men.
Due to the successive lockdowns, it is challenging to make a year-on-year comparison, but it appears that pickpockets are gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels of operation. According to safe.brussels, the Brussels government service for prevention and security, the official numbers greatly underestimate the real problem, suspecting that the actual number of victims is twice as high.
Safe.brussels acknowledges that pickpockets feel at home in a metropolis like Brussels. They take advantage of busy train stations and shopping streets to carry out their acts, often operating in groups.
Within the Brussels-Capital/Elsene police zone, a specialized unit called "De Trekkers" focuses on tracking down and intercepting these pickpockets. Operating in plain clothes and equipped with police identification cards and armbands, they aim to catch the perpetrators in the act.
Common Techniques According to the police, the techniques used by pickpockets are often the same. "The intention of the pickpocket is to act as inconspicuously as possible and perform their 'work' discreetly," says the police zone. One of the techniques is the "football technique." The thief pretends to play football with the victim, pretending to kick an imaginary ball between the victim's feet. This distracts the victim, allowing the thief or an accomplice to steal their belongings.
Another common scenario is when one person asks for information while a second person takes advantage of the victim's inattention to commit the theft. If someone suddenly spills coffee on you and eagerly tries to wipe off the stain, an alarm bell should go off. There is a real possibility that the person is simultaneously reaching for your phone or wallet or engaging in a distraction maneuver while their accomplice steals from you.
The website of safe.brussels lists a few other well-known techniques.
The "blocker" tries to create a congestion at the end of an escalator. While everyone is focused on the obstruction, an accomplice reaches into the victim's pockets from behind. This technique is also employed at the gates in metro stations. Photo by Zip5344, Wikimedia commons.