Lisbon's 'King of Trams' arrested, ending theft spree
The Portuguese police have captured the 62-year-old "King of Trams," a well-known pickpocket operating in Lisbon's public transport system. For years, the man has been stealing from passengers on popular routes.
As announced by the main police headquarters in Lisbon, this man was well-known to law enforcement, including the local police. His activities were concentrated on tram lines 28, 12, and 15, which are particularly popular among tourists visiting Portugal's capital.
The King of Trams and his past
The "King of Trams" is just one of the nicknames for the older man who has specialised in theft on Lisbon trams for decades. The police have established that he is, in fact, the same person as Ziutek from Porto.
This man has been convicted multiple times for tram thefts and was considered a member of the so-called pensioners' gang.
Despite a previous four-year prison sentence for 20 thefts, the King of Trams continued to operate on popular tram lines. The police did not explain why this man could continue his activities despite the sentence.
The Portuguese pensioners' gang
In May 2023, the police arrested 86-year-old Anibal, who was also associated with the pensioners' gang. Anibal was caught red-handed during a tram theft. Previously, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he attempted to steal a phone from a bus passenger, but his clumsy actions led to his capture.
The arrest of the King of Trams is another step in the fight against pickpocketing in Lisbon. The police emphasise that "pickpockets are increasingly caught due to their aggressiveness and because their thefts are too visible to witnesses." They also stress that tourists, in particular, should be cautious with their personal belongings - purses, wallets, documents, phones, and other electronic devices.
