Two women who lived on a quiet street in north London were part of a pickpocket gang that stole a handbag worth £1,000 from a woman on Oxford Street in August. Elena Venkova, 34, and Elena Mitkova, 26, along with Malinka Georgieva, were arrested near Selfridges and later jailed for a combined total of 51 weeks.
The trio used an umbrella to obstruct the view of passers-by while Georgieva grabbed the purse, police said. Georgieva had previously pleaded guilty to theft in 2021 and received a nine-month suspended sentence.
Neighbours in Edmonton expressed shock at the women's criminal activities, describing them as 'hiding in plain sight'. A local shopkeeper said they bought a Red Bull every morning before heading into central London, and had once tried to steal from him but were caught.
Sergeant Dominic Corcoran of the Met Police said the arrests were part of a wider operation that has led to over 100 theft-related arrests this year, with prison terms totalling more than seven-and-a-half years. 'Our hard work continues and we remain committed to removing thieves from our streets,' he added.
The gang's capture was filmed by a member of the public, who told Metro: 'A group of police officers rushed towards three women near the entrance of Selfridges, and within moments, it became clear they were being arrested for suspected pickpocketing.'
