London a 'paradise' for pickpockets, says the 'vigilante' exposing them one TikTok at a time

Diego Galdino, known online as Pickpocket London, revealed how he catches thieves across the city and what you can do to protect your belongings when out and about.

Mr Galdino has lived in the city for six years, working as a delivery driver in some of the capital’s busiest areas.

Over the years, he noticed one concerning pattern - the ever-increasing number of pickpockets prowling London’s streets.

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One day, Mr Galdino, who has amassed over 138,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok in a matter of weeks, felt something needed to be done to protect people visiting iconic landmarks across the city.

So three weeks ago, Mr Galdino stepped in, filming an incident where a person had their phone stolen, capturing the alleged theft as it happened.

“I always try to help when I see it, not for media attention, but because I feel I have to,” he told LBC.

“I have worked in the central area as a delivery rider for the last six years and I have realised the increase of the number of pickpockets on the streets and once I noticed that, I began to see it a lot more.”

Mr Galdino shared the incident with his friends via Instagram, who eventually convinced him to make the videos public in a bid to raise awareness of the growing problem facing Londoners and tourists alike.

“I always said to them, ‘I’m not a person to do social media’, like I'm an introverted person, don't talk too much, you know?”

“But the next day, I went to Buckingham Palace and saw the same pickpockets I always see and decided this time to upload the video onto TikTok,” he continued.

“The video exploded.”

Since then, Mr Galdino has taken time off from his delivery work to expose pickpockets across the capital, sharing his footage with the public and the police.

“I always see the same people, you know, or I see the same group in different areas.

“They act freely, they aren’t afraid, for them the city is paradise.”

Despite his continued efforts, Mr Galdino is often left frustrated by how the police deal with pickpockets across the city.

He said: “I think they could do something more, I don't like to criticise the police, but unfortunately, the pickpockets are actually free and don't have much problem with the police.”

Mr Galdino explained that sometimes he catches would-be pickpockets, reports them to the police but the authorities are unable to take action because the thieves failed to actually steal anything.

“Yesterday, I received a message from a girl who said, ‘these people just tried to steal from a woman here. I saw it, I'm a witness.’

“I went there and two women were trying to steal from the tourists around.

“I caught it on my camera again, I called the police immediately.”

The two alleged thieves then tried to make their escape on a bus, but Mr Galdino followed, tracking them on his bike.

However, the police reportedly told him they were unable to take action, “because the thieves didn’t get the goods.”

“Once, a pickpocket was arrested and the next day, I saw her in the exact same location.”

“Hero”

It’s safe to say the public has welcomed Mr Galdino’s attempts to curb pickpocketing across the city.

“The people treat me as a hero,” he said.

“I don't like to be called a hero. I get shy, you know, I get embarrassed.

But the support of the community is one of the things that keeping me going.

“Keeping me motivated to keep doing this. I have another motivation as well. But this kind of answer of society makes me very, very, full of heart.”

Not everyone appreciates his work, though, most noticeably, London’s pickpockets.

Mr Galdino is often met with aggression by those attempting to steal from tourists; one video online shows an alleged pickpocket screaming in his face after being exposed.

“Usually, woman just like to hide their faces.

“The men have more reaction. I think it's natural for them to have some reaction.

“When I've been spotted, they have pushed me on the street from my back, which I didn’t expect.

“I try to avoid the maximum confrontation. I don't want to be aggressive and I don't want a confrontation with them. I just want to shout if, they won’t steal the goods and that’s it.”

How to protect yourself

During his time catching pickpockets across London, Mr Galdino has learned a lot about how Londoners and tourists can protect themselves from thieves.

“Mainly, you should keep things in the hotel, just go with a bit of money. Especially your passport should stay in the hotel ” he said.

“Keep your bag in front of you and, don't keep your bag unnoticed on your back.

Mind your bag, close your bag properly, always hold it front of you, watch out for your pockets, you know, don’t put your phone in your pocket.”

Despite his ongoing battle against pickpockets, Mr Galdino wants people to know that London is a great place to visit and is safe for tourists.

He said: “I don't want to create the perception that London is not safe. London is safe. But unfortunately, these kinds of things happen.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We urge Londoners and tourists to stay alert in crowded places and report any suspicious behaviour or pickpockets to police.

“This summer the capital’s town centres and high streets will see an enhanced police presence as part of our work to build on reductions in theft, robbery and antisocial behaviour.

"We’ll be targeting hotspot areas with both plain and uniformed patrols, building on the progress we’ve already made with a 15.6 per cent reduction in theft from the person in the first six weeks of this financial year.”