From UK Daily Mail (dailymail.co.uk)
A family of Bulgarian pickpockets stole more than GBP 100,000 from commuters in London to their fund property ventures at home.
Five family members and a friend pilfered from passengers travelling on the tube and bus network across the capital.
Using a 'pickpocket map' of places where it was easy to steal from people, police said they targeted vulnerable people such as the elderly and tourists.
The gang operated from a three-bedroom terraced house in east London, with up to 10 thieves pooling their loot from pickpocketing and then transferring the profits out of the UK.
In a raid on the GBP 1,000-a-month home in Manor House, police found a London Underground map highlighting 'pickpocketing hotspots' including Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd's Bush.
Days earlier, two women - Elene Filipova, 23 and her sister Silviya Filipova, 24, who have a string of previous convictions for pickpocketing offences - were spotted by undercover police dipping into pockets and handbags on London Underground.
After the raid on the property, six people were arrested in December including the two sisters and their husbands Georgi Nikolov, 23, and Georgi Petkov, 18.
A brother to the two women, Zlatko Nikolov, 18, and a woman friend Nedka Stanova, 20, were also arrested.
Yesterday, a court heart that the family gang was led by the father, Nicolay Filipov, 48.
He was arrested last year after an investigation into insurance fraud but then fled the country.
John Keal, prosecuting, told Southwark Crown Court that the six Bulgarian nationals had been sending themoney back to their homeland.
'The money was obtained through pickpocketing in and around the London area and sent back via Western Union Money Transfer,' he said.
'Police attention was first drawn to the property in respect of issues relating to Tesco insurance. Nicolay Filipov, the father, was arrested.
'That led to investigations with Western Union, which showed that he sent £14,472 by money transfer.
'He is believed to have returned to Bulgaria'.
Police linked similar transfers of between GBP 1,140 and GBP 7,160 to the other six members of the gang, and uncovered a total of at least GBP 100,000 that was sent over the previous two years.
They believe the profits have been invested in property.
The court heard all six, who have been in custody for six months, are now 'desperate' to return to their homeland.
They each admitted transferring criminal property. Georgi Nikolov further admitted possessing criminal property.
Nikolov and Petkov were handed 12 months' jail each, the Filipova sisters and their brother each received nine months in jail, while Stanova got six months.
They are expected to be released from prison within days because of the time served on remand. It will mean they can return home to Bulgaria to enjoy the fruits of their crime wave.
DC Jerry Meek, of British Transport Police, said outside court: 'There are groups who come over to this country purely to engage in crime like this as a way of earning a living.
'They often target vulnerable people such as the elderly and tourists using distraction techniques.
'The transport system is generally safe, but people should be aware of these offences taking place and it can be, as in this case, very organised'.
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