Three Bulgarian pickpockets were caught red-handed by undercover police officers after they stole a £1,000 designer purse from a woman outside Selfridges last week.
The girl gang, made up of Elena Venkova, 33, Malinka Georgieva, 20, and Elena Mitkova, 26, were intercepted as they targeted shoppers in London‘s West End on August 27.
The shameless trio had stolen a handbag and a £6,000 Cartier watch, and all had previous convictions for theft.
Footage released on social media showed more than a dozen police officers arresting the thieves before they are driven away in vans.
At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the thieves all admitted theft and were given prison sentences.
The pickpockets were descended upon by multiple officers, handcuffed, and taken away after they were suspected of reaching in to unsuspecting shoppers bags and snatching valuable possessions.
Videos shared on social media show Mitkova in handcuffs as a plain-clothed officer relays details of the arrests on his police radio.
Georgieva appears to be lying on the pavement suffering a seizure following her arrest while Venokova is shown being led into a police van.
Elena Venkova, 33, Malinka Georgieva, 20, and Elena Mitkova, 26, were intercepted as they targeted shoppers in London’s West End (Venokova being led into a police van)
At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the thieves all admitted theft and were given prison sentences
Three Bulgarian pickpockets were caught red-handed by undercover police officers after they stole a £1,000 designer purse from a woman outside Selfridges on August 27
Paul Brown, who captured the footage, told Metro: ‘There was a sudden commotion which caught everyone’s attention.
‘A group of police officers rushed towards three women near the entrance of Selfridges, and within moments, it became clear they were being arrested for suspected pickpocketing.
‘People stopped in their tracks and there was a noticeable tension in the air, and the area quickly filled with more police.’
During their sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Prosecutor Frances McCormack said: ‘The offence took place at 5.45pm last week outside the Selfridges store on Oxford Street.
‘Miss Georgieva was in the middle, with Miss Mitkova and Miss Venkova on either side. Miss Georgieva then put her hand in the complainant’s handbag and snatched her purse.’
The Tom Ford designer purse was valued at £1,000, City of London Magistrates’ Court heard.
‘Although one person placed their hand in the bag, all three were involved.
‘Police then immediately detained all defendants and found the purse located on the floor nearby. The purse was recovered and returned.’
Plain-clothed officers held the three women until more Met Police officers could arrive to arrest the gang of pickpockets
Georgieva appeared to suffer from a seizure following her arrest and was seen lying on the floor next to a crossing as officers swarmed around her
Footage released on social media showed more than a dozen police officers arresting the thieves before they are driven away in vans
The victim also had a £6,000 Cartier watch in her bag but that was not taken.
Venkova was on immigration bail and had only been in the country for a few days before the theft.
The defendants all had convicions for theft and were on licence at the time of the latest offence, the court heard.
Venkova, Georgieva and Mitkova appeared in court assisted by a Bulgarian interpreter, flanked by three prison guards.
Robert Katz, defending Georgieva, said she had ‘struggled’ since being released from prison earlier this year for theft and was surviving on benefits.
He added: ‘She has lived here since her childhood but came from Bulgaria. She has a child who lives with the father in Bulgaria.’
Zabeta Kavalieros, defending Venkova, said arrived in the country from Bulgaria a few days before the theft and was on immigration bail at the time.
Ms Kavaileros said: ‘Miss Venkova returned to Bulgaria after she was jailed for theft in England in 2023, but came back to the UK recently.
The thieves stole a Tom Ford designer purse worth £1,000 and a £6,000 Cartier watch from shoppers outside Selfridges, Oxford Street (File image)
‘She has an ex-partner and two children, aged four and six, who reside in this country. Her stay was intended to be a short one.
‘She only came to the country with a few hundred pounds in cash. She succumbed to temptations.
‘She is on immigration bail at the moment. She is subject to certain immigration conditions and is looking to resolve those issues with immigration.’
Theresa Hendricks, defending Mitkova, said she lives with her husband and a friend and works for a ‘distribution company’, but also has family in Bulgaria.
Ms Hendricks said Mitkova had spent three months in custody last year for theft.
The defendants had laughed and chatted to Georgieva’s mother in the public gallery before they were sentenced.
Magistrate Colin Gregory told them: ‘This offence of theft from a person is a serious problem in central London. It causes great distress to the victims. In each case we are going to impose immediate custodial sentences.’
Georgieva was jailed for 18 weeks, Mitkova received 17 weeks and Venkova was locked up for 16 week.
Mr Gregory told the thieves: ‘We are not imposing any financial penalties.. The usual surcharge is not being imposed because you are all of limited means.
‘The Crown have applied for costs but in the circumstances of your imprisonment we are not awarding that.’
