The growing trend of content creators targeting pickpockets

The Rise of “Pickpocket Hunters” and the Dangerous Drift into Vigilantism

Across several European cities, a growing trend has emerged involving content creators who describe themselves as “pickpocket hunters.” These individuals claim to deter theft by confronting suspected pickpockets in busy tourist areas and publishing the encounters online.

Their methods vary. Some shout warnings to alert the public, others use whistles, and many closely follow individuals they believe to be involved in pickpocketing. While pickpockets are often described as “easy to spot,” catching someone in the act of theft is far more difficult. Those targeted are frequently women, raising further concerns about vulnerability and proportionality.

In the UK, citizens are permitted to arrest someone caught committing an indictable offence, such as theft, and hand them over to the police. However, this legal power is narrow and does not justify intimidation, humiliation, or the use of unnecessary force.

Escalation Across Europe

In some European cities, this behaviour has escalated significantly. There are documented incidents of suspected pickpockets being sprayed with paint from large aerosol cans or subjected to pepper spray. These confrontations have at times resulted in violence and injury, including attacks on those engaging in this activity themselves.

What began as purported crime prevention has, in many cases, crossed the line into vigilantism.

The Trend Reaches London

This phenomenon has now extended to London. Individuals from outside the UK have begun operating in the capital, producing content for their own social media platforms and competing for views, clicks, and online donations. The financial incentives appear substantial, with income generated through platform monetisation and direct public contributions.

Operating in a foreign city also reduces the likelihood of being recognised repeatedly by the same individuals, lowering the personal risk to those involved.

One such individual, a Brazilian national working as a food delivery cyclist in London, has built a sizeable following. His content appears driven by an audience appetite for videos in which suspected pickpockets are publicly sprayed with dye and humiliated. Through donations and social media revenue, he has reportedly earned enough to leave his primary employment and, at the time of writing, was approaching a £35,000 fundraising target on GoFundMe.

Claims of Police Inaction

The individual has publicly criticised the Metropolitan Police, alleging a lack of meaningful action and the closure of reported cases within 48 hours without investigation. While dissatisfaction with policing is not uncommon, it does not legitimise unlawful conduct.

Despite the apparent illegality of his actions, he has continued to spray multiple individuals. Even if he did not initially appreciate that his conduct was unlawful, ignorance of the law is not a defence under UK legislation.

Concerns regarding police inaction concerning the vigilante were raised at senior levels within Charing Cross Police Station. Nevertheless, during this period, the vigilante activity continued and further offences were committed.

Media Exposure and Police Silence

The individual has since received significant media exposure, including appearances on national television and radio outlets such as LBC. A two-page article in the Daily Mail even featured a journalist and photographer accompanying him on patrol.

Throughout this coverage, the Metropolitan Police remained publicly silent.

This silence has contributed to a perception that the police were tacitly condoning vigilante behaviour — a deeply concerning precedent that risks undermining public trust and the rule of law.

Potential Criminal Offences

Visual evidence speaks for itself. Several YouTube videos show individuals being sprayed with red dye. These videos are published here for educational purposes only, to illustrate conduct that should not be replicated.

The footage appears to disclose multiple potential criminal offences, including:

• Assault
• Criminal damage
• Harassment under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• Possession of an offensive weapon
• Public order offences

Based on the available evidence, it is difficult to identify what viable defence might be available should the individual appear before a court.

A Wider Failure of Confidence

The Metropolitan Police were informed in advance that this blog post would be published. Our interactions with the police were disappointing and reflect concerns frequently raised by victims of crime more broadly.

There is a clear need for improved customer service, transparency, and confidence in crime reporting.

In one of the later video clips, published after the individual spoke with police, he refers to having been given “friendly advice.” Such an approach is unlikely to deter determined content creators who are committing criminal offences.

Instead, it risks reinforcing the perception of silent approval.

This raises an uncomfortable question: would other vulnerable groups — such as sex workers who are assaulted — receive the same apparent lack of protection? And how does this align with the government’s stated commitment to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)?

We will continue to monitor the situation and report any updates, if anyone has any further information regarding vigilantes and there conduct, in the first instance let the police know and then let us know so we can keep an eye on what is going on and where.

The police do the best they can with the resources they have, and it is important to highlight that police officers even off duty tackle pickpockets and get injured.

An off duty Detective Constable Jim Morrison chased a handbag thief and was stabbed to death n the West End, the murderer has never been found.

More recently an off duty police officer Ned Donovan caught a pickpocket on Westminster Bridge and was then attacked by what appeared to be other members of the gang and was injured.

Be vigilant, stay safe