Sarajevo police step up activities to combat pickpocketing

SARAJevo, (Patria) - As part of planned activities to combat criminal offenses - theft and aggravated theft in a particularly dangerous or particularly brazen manner, especially in light of the increased influx of tourists in the area, the Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton has been implementing measures to increase the presence of police officers at busy locations since the end of April.

The Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton is simultaneously carrying out operational-tactical measures and actions to prevent the commission of the aforementioned criminal offenses and to apprehend perpetrators at the scene.

Thus, police teams have identified and verified several individuals prone to committing these criminal offenses in the previous period, about whom operational information exists from earlier times.

During searches, several individuals were found to be in possession of items and articles originating from criminal offenses, and legal measures and actions were taken against them.

Given the fact that several individuals who are repeat offenders and are not citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been observed in the field, communication has been established with the Field Office for Foreigners - Sarajevo, for future action against such persons.

Since the beginning of the activities, the Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton has recorded a satisfactory decrease in the number of reported criminal offenses under Article 286, so-called pickpocketing, especially in micro-locations that have proven to be the most frequent for committing these criminal offenses - the narrower area of Stari Grad, public transport stops, and promenades.

"We call on citizens to pay more attention to their personal belongings and valuables in enclosed spaces and shopping malls, especially when there is a large crowd, and not to open their bags and wallets in front of people who are begging," announced the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton.