Three Bulgarian women were caught red-handed by undercover police officers after stealing a £1,000 designer purse from a shopper outside Selfridges in London’s West End on August 27. The trio—Elena Venkova, 33, Malinka Georgieva, 20, and Elena Mitkova, 26—had a history of theft convictions and were apprehended while targeting multiple shoppers.
Police arrested the group after surveillance footage showed Georgieva snatching the purse, a Tom Ford designer handbag, from a victim’s bag. Though a £6,000 Cartier watch was also inside the bag, it was not taken. Officers quickly detained all three suspects and recovered the stolen purse nearby.
The defendants appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where all pleaded guilty to theft. Magistrate Colin Gregory sentenced Georgieva to 18 weeks, Mitkova to 17 weeks, and Venkova to 16 weeks in prison. The judge highlighted the serious impact of theft from persons in central London and ordered immediate custodial sentences.
Venkova, who had recently returned to the UK on immigration bail, had only been in the country a few days before the theft. The women were all on licence for previous theft offenses at the time of the latest crime.
Defenders for the accused detailed their personal backgrounds, including struggles with reintegration and family situations. Despite their circumstances, the court imposed no financial penalties due to their limited means.
The case underscores ongoing issues with organized pickpocketing gangs targeting tourists and shoppers in central London, causing distress to victims and challenging law enforcement efforts.
