Taipei: Three men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing from tourists in Taiwan, according to New Taipei police. The suspects were apprehended last week during police patrols on Jiufen Old Street in New Taipei, a location known for attracting tourists, as reported by the Ruifang Police Precinct in a news release on Monday.
According to Focus Taiwan, one of the suspected pickpockets realized that the police were monitoring him and alerted the other two men to escape. However, the police acted swiftly and detained the three men, who are all foreign nationals. One of the suspects was later identified by a victim of pickpocketing who had been assisting the authorities in their investigation. This suspect has been transferred to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues for the other two suspects who were arrested, though the police have not disclosed additional information about them. In response to the incident, New Taipei police have increased patrols following a notice from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in Taipei. The notice advised Japanese tourists to remain vigilant against pickpockets, particularly in popular tourist spots such as night markets, Jiufen, Yongkang Street, and areas near Taipei Zhongshan MRT Station.
