Beware: Pickpocket at Itakeskus

thangio118 · Post by **thangio118** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:49 am

I have been living in Helsinki for 4 years, and finally I got pick-pocketed for the first time. I was at the shopping center at Itakeskus, and there's a crutched man, about twenty or thirty-something, looking like an European but not quite a Finn. He's walking toward the main door so I kept it opened for him. When he was near me he suddenly tripped against me. I even asked if he's ok. Then I continued walking but that man stopped. It took about twenty steps for me to realize that my wallet and phone on the side of my backpack were gone. The man vanished, quite quickly for a crutched I suppose.

I was quite careless to put my stuff just on the side of my backpack, but maybe the peaceful years here have made me more naive. If any of you encounter similar situation, please be aware. Apparently anyone push/touch/trip against you, even if he carries crutches, seem suspicious. Hopefully no one will be tricked like me, and those stealing scumbags will get what they deserve.

BTW, if any find a black wallet with cards and paper named Trung Manh Pham near Itakeskus shopping center, please let me know thangio118@gmail.com. Much appreciated. Slim chance, but better than nothing I guess.

P.s: Do you feel Helsinki has been less safe than 3-5 years ago? It certainly feels so to me.

**Sponsor:**

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 9:51 am

Roma from Romania, the most likely group. Best to be kept at least at arms length. By force if necessary.

Shopping center's own info number for inquiring lost property is given here as +358 40 554 9101
http://itis.fi/fi/info

You may also esquire if it and some of the contents would have been found at Pasila police station, if you decide to officially report a crime.
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/helsinki/ ... endocument

By now though you probably should canceled (maybe some cases temporary freeze is also possible) the valuable plastics.

If you have a home insurance, it is possible you might something from your insurance company (details obviously vary). I guess they want to see an official report of the crime.

thangio118 · Post by **thangio118** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:10 pm

Thanks Rip. Luckily I didnt lose much money, it just takes times to redo all the card. Inform the police and lost and found already.

Comparing to other EU cities i.e Roma, Paris etc, I think Helsinki is quite safe from petty crimes. Though being careful never hurts.

I notice that most petty crime here is done by foreigners. What a shame.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:46 pm

Just the one?

Zipper half open and a rat trap inside.

ajdias · Post by **ajdias** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:57 pm

Some guy tried to sell me binoculars yesterday, at Pasila station. Had them in a bag and asked for 40 eur... Could be Romanian; spoke decent Finnish, judging by his accent.

I read somewhere that these pickpockets are usually from eastern Europe. They enter the country and leave rather soon. Is it true that Finnish law make is harsher with these crimes than other countries? If they get caught, that is.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:48 pm

ajdias wrote: I read somewhere that these pickpockets are usually from eastern Europe. They enter the country and leave rather soon. Is it true that Finnish law make is harsher with these crimes than other countries? If they get caught, that is.

Hardly. First of all it is questionable even if caught that they actually show up in court, if they are, fines probably are never paid and "ehdollinen" non-prison sentence is probably not a huge deterrent, and even in the cases where for various reasons an actual prison sentence would be given, there have been reports that the criminals actually find the local prisons rather cozy beating the conditions back home outside them.

Getting rid of the stolen goods soon, or getting them out of the country makes of course sense.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:55 pm

ajdias wrote: Is it true that Finnish law make is harsher with these crimes than other countries? If they get caught, that is.

Mwahahahah... *snif*
http://imgur.com/gallery/4UViP

ajdias · Post by **ajdias** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:03 am

Upphew wrote:
ajdias wrote: Is it true that Finnish law make is harsher with these crimes than other countries? If they get caught, that is.
Mwahahahah... *snif*
http://imgur.com/gallery/4UViP

If jail time was that good, there would be people queuing to get into those places.

Rip wrote:Hardly. First of all it is questionable even if caught that they actually show up in court, if they are, fines probably are never paid and "ehdollinen" non-prison sentence is probably not a huge deterrent, and even in the cases where for various reasons an actual prison sentence would be given, there have been reports that the criminals actually find the local prisons rather cozy beating the conditions back home outside them.

Aren't they kept in jail, given the risk that they may just cross the board, and that these cases can be taken to court rather quickly?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:03 am

Just ask any Romanian, its the RRomanians!

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:04 am

Its the "freedom of movement" in Europe, it reads "workers" but its your wallet also

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:10 am

anna.g wrote: I also wanted to add that stereotypes like "Romanians are thieves" are sad, racist and generally despicable.

But they keep your wallet safe. And maybe tarring with the same brush will make Romanians actually care of the gypsies.

BTW I know many Romanians, and what they say of the rroma is unpublishable.

The only sad and despicable person here is you denying wo are these thieves and something should be done about their "culture"

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:09 am

anna.g wrote: I also wanted to add that stereotypes like "Romanians are thieves" are sad, racist and generally despicable. The Romanians I have met are perfectly respectable, friendly and work their way in hard blue-collar jobs. Don't stigmatize them because of one gang.

You know Romanian Roma in Finland that does honest paid work? I'm surprised they haven't made him yet a poster boy and election candidate.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:12 am

ajdias wrote:[
Aren't they kept in jail, given the risk that they may just cross the board, and that these cases can be taken to court rather quickly?

And compensate them afterwards for undue imprisonment, when they aren't sentenced to actual jail time?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:56 am

anna.g wrote:Well, since you people embrace every possible stereotype, all crime is solved and all questions are answered.

I notice you did not want to answer my question.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:58 am

anna.g wrote:Well, since you people embrace every possible stereotype, all crime is solved and all questions are answered.

Way to go!

(I need to look up who said that traveling is the cure to racism and explain to them how insufficient it is.)

Carry on bashing on the ethnic group of your choice.

Ignoring a problem because of "political correctness" doesn't solve it but strengthens the the feeling against the group. When people get the feeling that their problems and observations are ignored they become bitter and indeed start tending to racism. I see now in my native country respect and tolerance change in segregation and open racism. The result of many years of "correct" behavior.

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