Milan's Police Chief and Safety Experts Warn of Rising Pickpocket Gangs in Central Districts

Milan's top law enforcement and urban safety specialists have sounded an alarm over coordinated pickpocketing operations in the city's most visited areas, revealing troubling patterns that suggest professional criminal networks are intensifying their focus on the Lombardy capital.

Speaking at a public security forum last week, senior figures from the Questura di Milano emphasised that organised gangs—many operating across borders—have shifted tactics to exploit peak summer tourism season. Data presented showed a 34% increase in reported theft incidents on the Red Line metro between Duomo and Cadorna stations compared to the same period last year, with most victims international visitors.

Professor Marco Alberti from the Università Cattolica's criminology department, who advises city authorities, outlined the mechanics of these operations. "What we're seeing is highly structured," he explained during a recent media briefing. "Small teams coordinate across Piazza del Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and crowded train platforms. They exploit congestion and distraction systematically."

The Navigli neighbourhood—a major nightlife and tourist destination—has emerged as a particular flashpoint. Local business associations reported approximately 200 theft complaints in May alone, prompting increased plainclothes police deployment along Via Ascanio Sforza and the canal-side promenades.

Officials have outlined a three-pronged response: enhanced CCTV coverage expansion in the Duomo precinct, coordination with transport operator ATM Milan to deploy additional security personnel on metro lines, and cross-border intelligence sharing with Interpol and Swiss authorities, suggesting gang members may be based in Ticino.

Massimiliano Berlusconi, head of Milano Centrale railway station security operations, noted that the main concourse—handling 350,000 daily passengers—remains a high-risk zone. "We've increased visible security presence by 40% and installed new detection equipment at entrances," he stated in recent comments to transport officials.

The city's assessor for security has committed €2.8 million in funding for enhanced surveillance infrastructure through 2027, though some experts argue the root causes—poverty and organised crime networks—require longer-term social intervention alongside enforcement.

Residents and business owners in central Milan are urged to report suspicious activity via the dedicated 112 emergency line or the Questura's non-emergency number. Visitors are advised to avoid carrying excessive cash and to remain vigilant in crowded transport and commercial areas.

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