UPDATED: A pick-pocket who allegedly stole over £400 in cash from a woman in Warrington was arrested upon stepping off a train in Sheffield thanks to a swift collaborative response.
Elenka Georgieva, of Shoreham Street, Sheffield, was arrested at 12.55am on Wednesday 12 February at Sheffield Train Station by colleagues from the British Transport Police.
The 32-year-old has since been charged with one count of theft from a person and has been remanded in custody.
Georgieva is next set to appear at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 14 February.
The charges relate to an incident that occurred in Warrington town centre at around 1.06pm on Wednesday 12 February.
Inspector Lee Hillyard, of Warrington’s Neighbourhood Team, said:”This arrest is thanks to countless hours spent by the Warrington Town Centre beat team studying a series of similar offences involving those entering the area and preying on vulnerable people whilst they are distracted.
“The swift response by our Town Centre and Proactive Teams, with assistance from colleagues at BTP, means we have been able to retrieve a considerable amount of money that was stolen, that might have otherwise not been traced.
“This really can happen to anyone, anywhere, and thieves can have very sophisticated ways of distracting you before stealing your belongings. Some people may not even realise it has happened to them until much later.
“If you are approached by anyone you do not know, feel like you are being followed or simply if you feel you have been the victim of a distraction theft, report it straight to a neighbourhood officer or contact us on 101.”
