This is the moment an irate US tourist grabbed a teenage ‘pickpocket’ by the ponytail and vowed not to let her get away – before police arrested the young thief in Italy.
Footage of the incident, which took place on Thursday in the Santa Maria del Giglio area of Venice, shows the furious American tourist gripping the 14-year-old’s hair before leading her out of a crowd of onlookers.
Local reports said the unnamed holidaymaker had spotted the teen sneaking her purse, which contained her money and passport, into her bag before she instinctively grabbed her ponytail.
But as the young girl struggles and screams at the angry tourist, she holds on tight telling her: ‘You stole my purse with my passport in it.
‘You are not getting away. I’m not stopping kid. You are not getting away.’
When her alleged accomplice threatens to call the police, the tourist says: ‘Let’s get the police and maybe I’ll get my passport back.’
Passersby then called the police, but when the ‘pickpocket’ saw them heading towards her, she grabbed her mobile phone and began using it as a weapon.
Local media claims she battered her way free by repeatedly striking the head of the older tourist with the device.
Footage of the incident, which took place on Thursday in the Santa Maria del Giglio area of Venice, shows the furious American tourist gripping the 14-year-old’s hair before leading her out of a crowd of onlookers
Local reports said the unnamed holidaymaker had spotted the teen sneaking her purse, which contained her money and passport, into her bag before she instinctively grabbed her ponytail
Local media claims the teen battered her way free by repeatedly striking the head of the older tourist with her mobile phone before she was arrested
One blow to the tourist’s temple opened up a heavily bleeding wound which required medical attention from paramedics.
The two young suspects, who were both minors, resisted arrest but were quickly overpowered and taken to the local station.
It was here the pair were charged with theft before being released on bail.
The duo were reportedly spotted back on the streets among swathes of tourists just two days later, on Saturday.
After the clip of the US tourist and teenager went viral on social media, several users cheered the holidaymaker’s fightback.
One said: ‘Super good job lady. Hold the ponytail tight until the police come. And make them empty their bags and pants.’
Venetian gangs are increasingly grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned.
Venice, as one of Italy’s top tourist attractions, has long been a hotspot for criminal activity targeting unsuspecting holidaymakers.
The scourge has led furious residents to form their own associations to publicise the identities of those caught in the act and work as volunteer informants for police.
A slew of videos published on social media shows alleged pickpockets – often teenage girls and in some cases pregnant women – attempting to cover their faces as enraged citizens yell to draw attention to them.
Officials warn that legal loopholes already allow adult pickpockets, particularly women, to operate with little concern for law enforcement.
Deputy Chief of the local police, Gianni Franzoi, told Secolo d’Italia: ‘There are now more female pickpockets, drawn to the city by a bubble of legal impunity…
‘(The law) stipulates, in addition to a formal complaint, the injured parties’ presence at the hearing,’ he said, explaining that in order for a pickpocket to be convicted, the victim must also attend the court date.
‘The victims are mostly foreigners, and they hardly ever come to the hearing. So, there are no trials and no convictions.’
But even amid an increased police presence and efforts by citizen activists to catch opportunists, those under the age of 14 cannot bear criminal responsibility. Gangs are therefore stepping up efforts to recruit ‘baby borseggiatori’ – or baby pickpockets – into their ranks.
Venetian gangs are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned
The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has called for the existing legal framework to be adapted to give police and courts more powers to prosecute pickpockets.
‘We cannot resign ourselves to the normalisation of crimes that damage people’s lives and the city’s image on a daily basis,’ Brugnaro declared last week.
‘We need urgent corrective measures. The government has to listen to local communities and guarantee urban security.’
Meanwhile, Monica Poli, spokesperson for the association Cittadini Non Distratti (Undistracted Citizens), denounced the involvement of children in criminal activities.
‘The problem is that there are many minors under 13, including girls (who are pickpockets).
‘What drives us forward is above all to defend the most vulnerable groups, namely the elderly and disabled, who are the preferred victims of these increasingly violent pickpockets, and we do so out of civic duty.’
