Police dragnet catches pickpockets

Undercover police in Romania staged their own dragnet to nab a pickpocket team preying on women.

The male cops decked themselves out in wigs, make-up and dresses and rode the trams in Timisoara, Romania, to fool the offenders.

"Part of the problem was that they knew some of us by sight," said detective Cristian Pantar.

"But they didn't recognise us in women's clothes so they thought they were safe. But they were wrong.

"They would never steal anything if there were men around because they wondered if one of them might be an undercover officer or might see them and try to stop them. They thought women were easy targets.

"But we got them as they stole a wallet from a woman's handbag. They were shocked when they found out who we were. We're all very happy to have nailed them because we have been after them for a long time."