A vigilante pickpocket hunter, Jaime van Gastel, 52, claims to have identified 16 thieves in one afternoon while targeting popular tourist spots in London. During a brief visit to the UK in August, he reported apprehending a total of 23 pickpockets over two days—16 on August 10 and another seven on August 11—around landmarks including Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
Mr. van Gastel, who has been pursuing pickpockets since 1995, also disclosed that Asian tourists are often the primary targets of these thieves.
This revelation coincides with reports of a “pick-pocketing crisis” in London, where data from last year indicated that thefts on the London Underground more than doubled between 2021 and 2022.
Pickpocket vigilante Jaime van Gastel, from the Netherlands, traveled to London after learning about the high number of smartphone thefts in the city.
He operates a YouTube channel, Boevenspotter, where he documents his efforts to track down pickpockets across Europe. Since beginning his work in Amsterdam in 1995, he has alerted Dutch police to over 100 suspects. Van Gastel emphasized that pickpocket spotting is his “hobby” and not a professional role with law enforcement.
In his latest video, filmed in London, van Gastel visits popular landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. He confronts individuals he suspects of pick-pocketing and warns tourists about potential thieves. Suspected pickpockets are often seen walking away or covering their faces to avoid the camera.
