A delivery driver attempting to combat London’s growing pickpocketing crisis has warned of potential civil unrest because of “soft laws” and a lack of enforcement by Metropolitan Police officers.
Diego Galdino, 32, has begun taking the law into his own hands to stop petty thieves from terrorising the capital’s streets.
Armed with spray paint and a GoPro camera, the Brazilian national roams around the city’s streets exposing would-be pickpockets to millions of people on social media.
Mr Galdino moved to Britain from his native Brazil in 2019, before working as a food courier for delivery services such as Uber Eats.
His father Luis was a police officer in the southern state of Paraná, which he claims gave him and his family the same “instincts”.
In an interview with The Standard, Mr Galdino argues that London has become a "paradise" for pickpockets since the coronavirus pandemic.
“I remember the first time I came here and I was completely relieved about my safety,” Mr Galdino said. “In Brazil you feel so scared in the streets. When I came here, I was completely free of that feeling.
“But in the last few years, seeing these things happen all the time, my perception has completely changed. I really do believe London is a paradise (for pickpockets).”
Earlier this year, Mr Galdino was encouraged by his friends to start documenting his experience after noticing crimes taking place around him during his deliveries.
He began filming thieves being caught red-handed in tourist hotspots such as Oxford Street and Buckingham Palace, before uploading the footage online under the handle “pickpocketlondon”.
Mr Galdino has since amassed nearly 270,000 followers on Instagram and two million views on TikTok.
“I started my social media with no expectations,” Mr Galdino said. “The numbers are not one thing that affects my ego, but it is something that keeps me motivated.”
Mr Galdino said he has grown “frustrated” by the growing number of unsolved crimes, including one case where “$10,000 dollars” was stolen, and the lack of patrols around the city.
As a result, Mr Galdino has turned to spraying pickpockets with paint to deter them from committing future offences.
But Mr Galdino said he is not worried about the threat of violence, saying: “I am not scared or afraid, you know. Of course, I care about my security. I am not going to expose myself in risky (situations) or a fight just to get views.
“It is not going to make me stop. I see children from school coming out every single day and I think in my mind, ‘How are these kids going to grow up seeing these videos (of shoplifting)? And see they don’t get any punishment?’”
Between March 2023 and 2024, Scotland Yard received more than 79,000 reports of pickpockets, according to the Office for National Statistics.
However, a study by the Policy Exchange think-tank found that only one in 170 snatch thefts, such as watches or phones being stolen in public, were solved by the the force.
Westminster was the worst area for pickpockets in the UK between March 2023 and 2024, with 133 reports per 100,000 people.
The borough also topped the list of areas which have seen the biggest increase in pickpocketing cases, with a three-year change of more than 700 per cent.
When asked about people’s perception of crime in London, Mr Galdino said: “The law is so soft here and police don’t investigate properly. (The police) forgot about the city and forgot about safety.
“I think soon they’re going to lose the country if people don’t start challenging the police, MPs and politicians. They’re going to lose control soon.”
He added: “The police in Brazil are so strong. Even a security guard is so strong. (When) they stop you for a search, you look down.
“I see a lot of police officers in the UK and they just wear their uniforms to wait for a pay-check. They don't even have the vocation to be an officer.”
A Met spokesperson said: “We urge Londoners and tourists to stay alert in crowded places and report any suspicious behaviour or pickpockets to police.
“Over the summer the capital’s town centres and high streets have seen an enhanced police presence as part of our work to build on reductions in theft, robbery and antisocial behaviour. This has included the West End’s policing team growing by over 50 per cent so they can relentlessly target prolific offenders as well as being visible and approachable to protect the public and deter criminals.
“We’ve already made with a 12.2 per cent reduction in theft from the person in the last six months, compared to the same time period last year.”
