Bagger surrounded and blocked by a group of tourists on the Rialto Bridge in Venice

A man suspected of pickpocketing was surrounded and blocked by a group of tourists on the Rialto Bridge in Venice during the evening of Thursday. The incident unfolded after the tourists noticed one of their belongings had been stolen. As they encircled the suspect, he was found lying motionless on the ground, restrained by the crowd. Monica Poli, known locally as lady pickpocket and now serving as a city council member, arrived on the scene after hearing the commotion. She described how she saw the man, who had previously been reported for assaults and indecent behavior, immobilized on the bridge. According to her account, the tourists appeared to view him as responsible for the theft and were considering taking matters into their own hands. Poli, who had been approached by the suspect seeking assistance, urged the group to remain calm and avoid using force. She noted that several individuals had filmed the situation without offering help or alerting authorities. In response, she called emergency services. “I couldn’t just walk away and pretend I hadn’t seen anything,” she explained. Communication with the tourists proved challenging, as they spoke little English, likely being from South Korea. Poli emphasized the need for restraint while waiting for police, describing the moment as one requiring both courage and patience. Local police responded but did so minimally, initiating investigations from their central station. The suspect, identified as a Romanian man already familiar to local authorities, has since been reported to authorities. However, his wallet was not recovered. Poli expressed disappointment over the lack of progress despite repeated reports. She referenced an article from a decade ago that named the man among those under investigation in a prosecutor’s inquiry. “Today, I find him back on Rialto, as if nothing has changed,” she remarked. Recent weeks have seen new groups of pickpockets operating in the area, with some shifting operations to Florence. These groups include young women, some of whom were recently released after involvement in a carabinieri-led anti-pickpocketing operation, and adults characterized as aggressive and violent. This trend suggests a persistent challenge for law enforcement in combating petty crime in tourist-heavy areas. The incident on the Rialto Bridge highlights ongoing concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of current measures against such activities. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, though the broader issue of organized theft remains unresolved.