Combating Pickpocketing: Number of Police Officers on Sarajevo Streets to Be Increased During Tourist Season

(Patria) - Minister of Interior of Sarajevo Canton Admir Katica and Police Commissioner of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior Fatmir Hajdarević held a meeting with the President of the Tourist Association of Sarajevo Canton Haris Fazlagić and the Head of the Planning, Economic and Financial Affairs Service of the Tourist Association and representative in the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton Mersiha Mehmedagić. The meeting was held on the occasion of the start of the tourist season in Sarajevo and the improvement of cooperation with the aim of achieving the best possible sense of security and trust among domestic and foreign tourists, who are expected in large numbers this season as well.

During the meeting, the issues of pickpocketing, begging, illegal sales on public surfaces, and illegal apartment rentals, especially in parts of the city such as Stari Grad and Centar, and the engagement of the police in preventing them, were discussed.

As Police Commissioner Fatmir Hajdarević explained, the police actively operate in all segments where they have jurisdiction, but for greater efficiency on the ground, the involvement of competent inspectorates is necessary, especially in the part related to illegal sales on public surfaces. The police will, as before, provide assistance to municipal and cantonal inspection bodies in all actions they undertake with the aim of preventing illegal sales. For a more effective fight against illegal accommodation rentals to tourists, along with the engagement of competent inspectorates, adequate legal solutions are needed, especially in the part that will prescribe fines for providing these types of services without approval.

Particularly highlighted were the good results in combating so-called pickpocketing in Sarajevo. According to Minister Katica, this issue has been approached in a much more intensive manner in the last two years.

„I must point out that in the last two years, Police Commissioner Fatmir Hajdarević has maximally intensified efforts to reduce pickpocketing, and the operation 'Pocket' is being successfully implemented, involving teams of plainclothes police officers who have excellent results," said Minister Katica.

„The Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton conducts this operation throughout the year, especially during the tourist season when we increase the number of plainclothes police officers on the ground. Citizens and tourists do not see them, but the results they achieve are evident. Very often, tourists from other cities and countries contact me via email, thanking the police for a quick reaction, prompt detection of perpetrators, and return of wallets, documents, and the like," stated Minister Katica, adding that he recently received a thank-you note from a woman from Gradiška whose mobile phone was stolen ten days ago while she was attending a concert on Baščaršija. That woman wrote that, thanks to plainclothes police officers who were on the scene, the perpetrators were caught in the act, and her mobile phone was immediately returned, and she expressed words of gratitude.

Police Commissioner Fatmir Hajdarević confirmed that the operation 'Pocket' continues, and that during the tourist season, the number of plainclothes police officers will be increased, especially in the part of the city from Baščaršija to Aria mall.