«Stop pickpocketing and exploitation of minors», appeal of the associations for Venice
With a letter to the Prosecutor, the Prefect, the police, the Municipality, the Region, the Municipal police and the Patriarch, ten committees and associations launch an appeal. “Stop pickpockets.”
«Also this year Venice is invaded by pickpockets and pickpockets dedicated to the theft of wallets and personal effects, which ruin the stay of thousands of visitors. These people, arrested in the act of crime also with the help of “Citizens Not Distracted”, after a few hours go free and steal ». On Wednesday morning, the associations announced a meeting in Piazza San Marco where the problems that the city faces every day will be presented. “To date, the daspo bans issued are not valid and do not constitute a valid deterrent for well-structured criminal organizations that have established themselves in the territory – continue the associations signing the appeal – The exploitation of minors, trained together with young pregnant women, who, because of their status, avoid prison in the event of a crime ». The committees denounce the use of infants. “They are put on display during pickpocketing actions for human compassion.”
The situation, for these citizens, has degenerated. “Those who denounce and report become victims of threats and attacks by these criminals”, they say, and in addition to pickpockets they indicate “harassing begging, extortion of tourists by illegal grain sellers in Piazza San Marco, scams by fake associations for disabled person. To cope with this emergency, we are not asking: strengthening of the anti-pickpocketing squads in plain clothes, an intervention by the social services for the protection of minors, an information campaign on the danger of pickpocketing on public transport, piers and areas with the greatest tourist influx “, and they conclude, «if there is no resolute intervention, the” Non Distracted Citizens “will be forced to raise the white flag. The ten-year collaboration with the police forces would cease, and tourists and Venetians would be left at the mercy of the criminals ”.