A Chilean pickpocket who preyed on Tube commuters was caught carrying a contactless card reader in the first case of its kind.
Daniel Maldonado Paulson, 35, had only been in the UK for two weeks when he carried out his “ghost tapping” crime spree at South Kensington London Underground station.
Plain-clothes British Transport Police spotted Maldonado Paulson scouting the Piccadilly line for victims at 7.30pm on February 7.
They swooped when the thief displayed behaviour typical of a professional pickpocket and stopped him on the platform.
As police escorted him up the escalator, Maldonado Paulson attempted to flee but was subsequently arrested and handcuffed.
He was found to have Sophie Halford’s £1,300 phone which had been reported stolen just 20 minutes earlier and an electronic card reading device.
BTP said it was the only case they had seen of a pickpocket carrying such equipment.
The handset was returned to Ms Halford just two hours after Maldonado Paulson took it.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 13, Maldonado Paulson pleaded guilty to two counts of handling stolen goods and resisting arrest by PC Alison Levi.
The defendant, of Alvey Street, Southwark, was jailed for six months.
BTP Detective Constable Alison Levi said: “While professional pickpockets might have their eyes on potential victims, rest assured we have our eyes trained on them, waiting for them to make a move and ready to step in.”
“We have expert, highly skilled officers with years of experience operating across the network, with eyes everywhere. They are always watching and ready to swoop just like in the case of Maldonado Paulson.
“If you spot someone acting suspiciously as you travel, please report it to us by texting 61016.”
