Pickpockets, 23 and 48, are jailed after being caught on camera

Bulgarian pickpockets, 23 and 48, are jailed after being caught on camera targeting shoppers and using T-shirts to hide their thieving

  • Sofiya Ivanova, 23, and Totka Dimitrova, 48, targeted four people in ten minutes
  • They hid their hands under t-shirts and bags but were spotted by police
  • British Transport Police plain-clothes officers followed them in Covent Garden
  • They were handed 18-week prison sentences for seven counts of attempted theft

A pair of scheming pickpockets were jailed after being caught on camera targeting shoppers by hiding their pilfering antics under t-shirts.

Bulgarians Sofiya Ivanova, 23, and Totka Dimitrova, 48, used t-shirts and bags to conceal their suspicious behaviour.

The duo attempted to pickpocket items from their bags, and even targeted a mother with a pram on 29 July in Covent Garden, central London.

Earlier that day, both women were seen by British Transport Police plain-clothes officers who began to follow them.

Sofiya Ivanova, 23

Totka Dimitrova, 48, left, and Sofiya Ivanova, 23, right, were followed by undercover police and caught on CCTV

In the space of ten minutes, the duo attempted to steal items from four different customers in a shop.

Officers observed this behaviour and arrested them both.

Detective Inspector Tim Weeks, of British Transport Police, said: ‘This was a great example of how our plain-clothed teams catch offenders and secure custodial prison sentences, often within 24 hours.

The CCTV of the women’s illegal activity clinched the case for the prosecution. The pair were each jailed for 18 weeks for seven counts of attempt theft

‘Both defendants attempted to mask their tricks, however they were clearly unaware they were being trailed by our skilled team of officers.

‘The CCTV footage shows just how brazen this pair of pickpockets are.’

Ivanova and Dimitrova, both of Edmonton, were both handed 18-week prison sentences for a combined admitted seven counts of attempted theft.

They were each ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122.

 

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