Since the beginning of this year, the so-called specialists of the local police in the City Brussels, known as Trekkers, have caught 377 pickpockets.
The figures were was announced on Monday by Mayor Philippe Close (PS) during the last city council meeting before the installation of a new administration. They were at the request of Aline Godfrin (MR), who herself was a recent victim of pickpocketing.
Combining both violent thefts and pickpocketing, there are about eleven incidents per day in the City of Brussels pentagon area. On average, there are roughly eight pickpocketing incidents per month in the Louise neighbourhood.
The number of apprehended offenders includes those who have been arrested multiple times. Twenty-nine individuals were handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and twelve people were charged. The vast majority of the offenders are in the country irregularly.
