Police in the capital area arrested three people in Laugardalur yesterday on suspicion of organised shoplifting and pickpocketing. The chief superintendent urges the public to remain vigilant.
mbl.is/Eyþór
Police in the capital area arrested three individuals in an operation last night on suspicion of organised theft, which police believe targeted both members of the public and retail stores across the Reykjavík area. Unnar Már Ástþórsson, chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, described the course of events to mbl.is.
“We have arrested three individuals in this case; the arrests were carried out in Laugardalur yesterday,” the chief superintendent said, adding that the suspects are believed to be linked to thefts and pickpocketing in various parts of the capital region.
Dozens of cases linked to the suspects
“We already have dozens of cases on our desks, and there may well be further cases that shops are still working on or that members of the public have not reported,” Ástþórsson said. He added that police have been working intensively on the investigation this morning, and the next step is to decide whether the suspects will be placed in repeat-offender custody or deported.
Asked what determines such a decision, Ástþórsson replied: “It depends on the scope of the cases and the value involved — in other words, how much has been stolen.” He declined to comment on the nationality of the suspects when asked about an apparent increase in cases involving foreign visitors to Iceland with criminal intent.
Have such cases — organised theft operations — been on the rise?
“Yes, this has been increasing,” Ástþórsson said. “We had a major wave in the autumn and again in the spring, and this has been appearing more frequently and growing.” He added that common shoplifted items include food, which thieves often consume immediately.
Do not stand out
Cash, however, is more often stolen from individuals and is either used to fund the thieves’ stay in Iceland or sent to their home countries through standard money transfer services.
“Jewellery is also stolen from people to some extent, and then it is simply sold — either here or abroad,” UnnarMár said, urging the public to remain vigilant.
“These individuals do not stand out at all. They blend into the crowd and look just like you and me. Those arrested include both men and women, and you would have no idea they are involved in criminal activity — until the operation begins,” he said.
Urges older people to take care
The perpetrators tend to focus particularly on older citizens, Ástþórsson said. “We want to ask that group to take extra care of their valuables — for example, not to carry large sums of cash when out and about, and not to display money. These groups watch over people’s shoulders,” he said.
There is good reason for the public to heed these warnings, as police have not apprehended everyone involved, Ástþórsson confirmed when asked. “Generally, what happens is that we receive tips about groups or individuals, we get onto their trail — and then it may simply end at Keflavík,” chief superintendent Unnar Már Ástþórsson concluded.