The City of London Police has issued a warning to football fans enjoying World Cup matches in pubs and bars, alerting them to thieves known as 'bagsmen' who target distracted supporters. These opportunistic criminals frequent venues showing the tournament, snatching rucksacks and handbags when fans are preoccupied with the excitement of the game.
Arrest Made After Laptop Theft
The alert follows the arrest of two Algerian men, aged 26 and 27, by plain-clothes officers on Wednesday as they left a pub on Great Tower Street in central London. The pub had been screening the Portugal versus DR Congo World Cup match. The suspects were carrying a bag containing an £800 laptop, which was returned to its owner. The victim was completely unaware that their bag had been stolen, police confirmed. The two men remain in custody.
Police Urge Vigilance
Detective Superintendent Jonathan Ball from the City of London Police said: 'These thieves don't need many opportunities. A momentary distraction when celebrating a goal, ordering a drink or discussing the match can be all it takes for a bag to disappear.' He added: 'The last thing you want to do is to give them an easy assist. VAR will be in use throughout the City and our control officers will be operating CCTV cameras from their very own Stockley Park, looking out for any foul play. On the ground, plain clothes police officers will be defending people from crime and tackling criminals.'
Detective Superintendent Ball further emphasized: 'While fans are focused on the football, bag thieves are looking for chances to score on and off the pitch. Keep bags close to you, secure them where possible, and never leave valuables unattended. By taking a few simple precautions, you can make sure the only thing you're talking about after the final whistle is the football.'
Police advise fans to remain vigilant, keep their belongings secure, and report any suspicious activity to staff or officers. The operation includes increased CCTV monitoring and plain-clothes patrols across the City of London.
