Undercover police officers in London have employed an unconventional approach to apprehend two men involved in scamming tourists, by donning costumes reminiscent of Batman and Robin. The operation took place on February 15, with Inspector Darren Watson and Police Constable Abdi Osman taking on the roles of the iconic superhero duo to blend in and execute their plan without being recognised.

The officers' strategy was necessitated by the growing familiarity that known offenders, Eugen Stocia, 32, and Constica-Gherorghe Barbu, 53, had with their regular patrols in the area. Inspector Watson, who oversees neighbourhood policing in Lambeth North West, explained the rationale behind this creative tactic, stating, “We know that two repeat offenders have been operating on Westminster Bridge and have come to recognise me and my team from our patrols.” Realising that traditional methods would likely fail due to this familiarity, Watson recalled the superhero costumes he had, thinking they might prove beneficial in their efforts to catch the scammers.

The pair had been targeting tourists on Westminster Bridge through deceptive games known as the “three-cups challenge” or the “shell game”. These games are often employed by scammers to trick unsuspecting tourists into betting money with the promise of winning a larger sum, often resulting in significant financial losses.

Following their arrest on the bridge, Barbu was convicted for providing facilities to gamble on February 17 at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and was subsequently fined £925. Stocia, on the other hand, was convicted in absentia of the same offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 10, after failing to appear before the court. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a warrant for Stocia’s arrest is currently active, indicating ongoing efforts to hold him accountable for his actions.

Inspector Watson expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the operation, saying, “Although dressing up may not be the most conventional policing method, we were thrilled to see that in this case it worked perfectly and the team were able to get some great results, taking these people off the street and protecting tourists and Londoners from being fleeced.” The use of such tactics highlights the range of methods law enforcement may consider in addressing crime and safeguarding communities.

Source: Noah Wire Services