For the past year a professional pickpocket team was believed to be responsible for countless  thefts/pickpocket incidents in the Seattle area.  The suspects would typically target victims in shopping malls, buses, and  escalators, mainly in Seattle’s  downtown core.  The suspects were described as well-dressed black males in their forties.  The suspects would typically  sandwich their victims between them.  One suspect would suddenly stop in front of their intended victim, causing the victim to bump into them.  The second suspect would pretend to accidentally bump into the victim from behind and apologize while stealing the victim’s wallet.  Most victims didn’t realize what occurred until later, when they discovered their wallets missing and unauthorized charges on their credit cards. 

Information developed during the investigation led detectives to the identities of the suspects.  On March 1st, 2010, detectives from the Robbery Unit located and arrested the two suspects, ages 48 and 58, in Seattle.  They were interviewed by detectives and later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Theft, Investigation of Possession of Stolen Property, and Investigation of Fraud.  Robbery detectives continue to actively investigate this case.