Aussie ravers mugged at Melbourne event
A number of rave-goers were robbed on 10 June in Yarraville, Melbourne.
The party was situated in an abandoned building on Fogarty Avenue. Around 2am, those exiting found themselves assaulted by five unknown assailants who stole wallets, bags, passports and mobile phones.
The offenders were described as 20-old males and females, wearing dark clothing. Detectives have released digital images of a man and woman that may be able to help with enquiries (pictured).
Victoria Police have appealed for information about the suspects.
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Swimsuit-wearing Royal Blood thief was ‘human deposit box’
The man arrested after stealing 53 mobile phones at a Royal Blood show in Birmingham last month did so by turning himself into a ‘human deposit box’, police have said, concealing the victims’ phones inside a full-length swimming costume worn under his clothes.
Twenty two-year-old Alin Marin, a Romanian of no fixed address, “secreted” the phones “inside a compression suit he was wearing beneath his clothing”, according to West Midlands police. He was arrested shortly after leaving the concert at NEC Group’s Arena Birmingham on 18 November.
“This was organised pickpocketing,” says police sergeant Julia Slater. “Marin went equipped to steal phones and took advantage of revellers enjoying themselves in the standing area.
“Due to the jostling in the moshpit people simply didn’t realise they’d been targeted”
“Many of the phones were taken from front jeans pockets, which people believe is a safer place to carry valuables, but due to the jostling in the moshpit they simply didn’t realise they’d been targeted.
“He slipped phones inside the swimsuit and effectively turned himself into a deposit box for the phones, allowing him to carry tens of phones concealed around his body.”
Marin (pictured) was jailed for three years yesterday after pleading guilty to theft.
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53 mobile phones stolen at Royal Blood Birmingham show
A man has been arrested after 53 mobile phones were stolen at a Royal Blood show at Arena Birmingham on Saturday night.
The phones were recovered by police – who had set up a “proactive” operation at the arena after learning concertgoers had been targeted at previous shows by the band – following the 22-year-old’s arrest.
“It’s unfortunately a reality that large crowds at concerts such as this make rich pickings for career criminals,” says det sgt Jeff Clifford of West Midlands police. “We’re hot on the heels of these offenders, but you can also reduce your chances of falling victim to such crimes by remaining extra vigilant when attending busy events.
“It’s unfortunately a reality that large crowds at concerts make rich pickings for career criminals”
“If you think you had your phone taken, please get in touch with us and we can check whether or not we have been able to recover it.”
A spokesperson for Arena Birmingham, formerly Barclaycard Arena, tells IQ: “We’ve been working closely with West Midlands police regarding the incident on Saturday night, and join them in urging any customers who think they may have had their phone stolen to contact them via 101.”
Police in Germany last August broke up a crime ring responsible for a spate of phone thefts at European festivals.
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