Campaign targets pickpockets in The Hague

The Hague has launched a campaign to combat pickpocketing during the busy 2008 holiday season. The Municipality of The Hague, Mondriaan students and the Jongeren Toezicht Team (Youth Surveillance Team) are working together to increase awareness of the threat among shoppers.

The campaign ‘Ben jij zakkenrolproof?’ (Are you pickpocket proof?) comes in follow-up to last year’s campaign. Figures show that the campaign in 2007 had a beneficial effect. The number of reported pickpocketings decreased from about 100 per month to 35. Unfortunately the decline was only temporary. Once the campaign was over, the number of reported crimes increased again.

This year the campaign will focus on the city centre, the Haagse Markt and the Leyweg, where pickpocketing is also a big problem. Teams of students from Mondriaan and the JTT will be handing out prevention tips to shoppers. Trams and banners will also focus attention on the campaign.

A special police team will ask shopkeepers to stay extra alert for pickpockets during the holidays.