The exchange rate of pocket thieves inheritance on tourists
The exchange rate of pocket thieves is in force on tourists at popular tourist destinations in the South. Police have about a ten -person group of foreign individuals on suspicion of the theft and believe it is clear that it is an organized crime.
Dagur Jónsson, the guardian of the Nature Conservation Agency, says the group is « disguised » as tourists and that he chooses the moments before taking action. He says that the victims are surrounded by the thieves as they admire natural wonders.
« When Strokkur erupts maybe 300-500 people around him and when everyone is looking at him, the thieves heap into the group and go to the backpacks, in waist bags and other things. Then there are others who take the thief, so the one who steals comes to another after one to two minutes, ”says Dagur.
According to him, they are mainly on the lookout for euros, dollars, pounds and kroner, which are used to shop for things in Iceland. However they leave credit cards and money from Asian countries Tam
« People who encounter this are quite angry, as this is a major attack on private life, » says Dagur.
Come annually
He says the arrival of the thieves have been regularly in February, March and July in recent years. He wants to encourage all the guides to let it know when someone from their group is hit by the thieves. Otherwise, it is difficult to keep track of the extent of the theft.
The thief gang has not only been working at Gullfoss and Geysir. The same problem has been in the Thingvalla area.
Consisting of men and women
A post that appeared on the Facebook page of Thingvalla says a little more about the methodology of the thieves that seem to start the days there before moving to the Geysis and Gullfoss area.
« A closer examination has shown that the group has come to Thingvalla at the same time in the morning for five days in a row and then kept east on Geysir and Gullfoss to steal from tourists. The group consists of both women and men, is trained and with organized methodology. Two to three are wary, check if there is any surveillance in the area and give the other signal. Two to three choose victims. Stolen from backpacks or bags of guests by walking firmly with them or by distributing their attention. More often than not, this is done by offering assistance with shooting. In the meantime, another thief is out of the victim's pockets. «
Have pictures of individuals
Garðar Már Garðarsson, chief of police at the South Iceland police, says the police are aware of the problem and that work is being done to respond.
« We are thinking of having stiff monitoring. We have received a lot of announcements and this seems to be the exchange rate that is doing this, ”says Gardar.
According to him, police have photos of several individuals who have been reported in connection with the theft.
« This is very well organized by them and is clearly part of organized crime. We suspect this is about a ten -person group that is active in this theft, ”says Gardar.
