A pickpocket who stole over 50 cell phones during a rock concert in England has been sentenced to three years jail.
Romanian national Alin Marin was sentenced on Monday for stealing 53 phones during a concert by the band Royal Blood in the city of Birmingham on Nov. 18.
West Midlands Police said Marin, 22, took the cell phones from people jostling in a mosh pit and then concealed them inside a full-length swimsuit that he wore under his clothes.
Local police officer Julia Slater said the jail term should send out a clear message to traveling thieves.
“This was organised pickpocketing… Marin went equipped to steal phones and took advantage of revelers enjoying themselves in the standing area,” Slater said in a statement.
Waiting for #RoyalBlood at Arena Birmingham. m/ pic.twitter.com/sNmRA8Q67f
— Clea (@cleadavis) November 18, 2017
“Many of the phones were taken from front jeans pockets, which people believe is a safer place to carry valuables. But due to the jostling in the mosh pit, they simply didn’t realize they’d been targeted,” she said.
“He slipped phones inside the swimsuit and effectively turned himself into a deposit box for the phones, allowing him to carry tens of phones concealed around his body.”
Police officers were also mixing with concert goers as part of a covert operation. Pickpockets had targeted fans of the Brighton band during gigs earlier in the year.
Marin was arrested not long after leaving the concert and the stolen phones were recovered from a car park.
Slater urged other gig-goers to be vigilant when attending busy venues.
“It’s an unfortunately reality that large crowds at concerts can make rich pickings for career criminals,” she added.
Watch: 'Pickpocket queen of Birmingham' jailed after 153rd offence https://t.co/y0SH7MXkx0 pic.twitter.com/Y1VVefZg2k
— Evening Express (@EveningExpress) March 14, 2017
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