Lisbon's 'King of Trams' nabbed in pickpocket crackdown
The Portuguese police have apprehended the 62-year-old King of Trams, a notorious pickpocket operating within Lisbon's public transport system. For years, he has been stealing from passengers on popular tram lines.
As announced by the police headquarters in Lisbon, this man was well-known to law enforcement, including the local police. His activities were concentrated on tram lines number 28, 12, and 15, which are particularly popular among tourists visiting the capital of Portugal.
The King of Trams and his past
The King of Trams is one of the nicknames for the elderly man who has specialized in theft on Lisbon trams for decades. The police have identified him as Ziutek from Porto.
This man has been convicted multiple times for tram thefts and was considered a member of the so-called pensioners' gang.
Despite previously receiving a four-year prison sentence for 20 thefts, the King of Trams continued to operate on popular tram lines. The police have not clarified why this man could continue his activities despite the sentence.
The Portuguese pensioners' gang
In May 2023, the police arrested 86-year-old Anibal, who was also associated with the pensioners' gang. Anibal was caught red-handed during a tram theft. Earlier, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he attempted to steal a phone from a bus passenger, but his clumsy attempt led to his capture.
The arrest of the King of Trams marks another step in the fight against pickpocketing in Lisbon. The police emphasize that "pickpockets are increasingly caught due to their aggressiveness and because their thefts are too visible to witnesses." They also stress that tourists, in particular, should be cautious with their personal belongings - purses, wallets, documents, phones, and other electronic devices.
