Updated at 3.22pm
COMMUTERS USING THE Luas in the Dublin City Centre are being urged to take extra precautions to conceal valuables, following reports that a pick-pocket gang has been operating in the area.
The gang were seen operating on the Red Line this morning, and were seen targeting two women.
One Luas user said there were three men in the gang, all of whom were wearing “suits with shirts open at the neck”.
“I thought they were getting out at Busáras, but instead they formed a line in front of me,” the passenger said.
I tried to get out past them but they pushed back against me to stop me.
The woman’s friend then noticed one of the men had a hand in her bag, but managed to get away before they grabbed her purse.
The gang were also seen trying the same move on a different group of tram passengers.
The passenger who spoke to TheJournal.ie described the man who reached into her friend’s bag as being “tanned, small and chubby”.
Independent councillor Christy Burke, who represents the area, said foreign gangs had operated in the area before.
He said anyone using the Luas should take extra care, and keep wallets and purses out of view at all times.
“I would say to avoid carrying wallets or purses and other valuables if possible and not to carry cash,” Burke said.
He said that in the past, pickpocket gangs had flown in from the continent, targeted the area for a brief time, and then flown home with their takings.
“It’s not acceptable and they should be clamped down on. That goes for anyone who breaks the law, though — be they from Dublin, Cork or where-ever.”
Burke said there had also been reports of thieves on bikes stealing mobile phones and tablets in recent days, particularly during the run of One Direction concerts at Croke Park.
The issue was raised at a meeting of the inner city community policing forum last night.
“It was one individual on a bike in particular who was out stealing iPads around Croke Park,” Burke said, adding that local gardaí were investigating the issue.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say