Concert pickpocket who turned himself into 'human deposit box' by cramming 53 phones inside full-length swimsuit hidden under his clothes is jailed for three years

Alin Marin stole phones swiped while jostling with revellers at Royal Blood gig
Police were also mingling with crowd at Arena Birmingham in covert operation
Romanian, 22, had secreted 53 phones inside compression suit he was wearing
Admitted theft and jailed for three years at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday

Published: 10:19 GMT, 19 December 2017 | Updated: 12:11 GMT, 19 December 2017

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Alin Marin, 22, had secreted 53 phones inside a full-length swimsuit he was wearing

A pickpocket who stole more than 50 phones from concertgoers in one night was found to have concealed them inside a full-length swimsuit.

Alin Marin, 22, turned himself into a 'human deposit box' for phones swiped while jostling with revellers in the mosh pit during a Royal Blood concert.

But police were also mingling with the crowd at Arena Birmingham in a covert operation prompted by intelligence that thieves had targeted fans of the band at performances earlier this year.

Romanian national Marin, of no fixed address, had secreted 53 phones inside a compression suit he was wearing beneath his clothing on November 18.

He was arrested in Broad Street shortly after leaving the gig – and the phones recovered from a nearby car park.

Marin was charged with theft and was jailed for three years at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday after admitting the offence.

Birmingham city centre Police Sergeant Julia Slater from West Midlands Police said: 'This was organised pickpocketing.

'Marin went equipped to steal phones and took advantage of revellers enjoying themselves in the standing area.

'Many of the phones were taken from front jeans pockets, which people believe is a safer place to carry valuables, but due to the jostling in the mosh pit they simply didn't realise they'd been targeted.

The phones taken by Marin were recovered from a nearby car park following the gig

Marin swiped phones while jostling with revellers during a Royal Blood concert (file picture)

Marin was charged with theft and was jailed for three years after admitting the offence

'He slipped phones inside the swimsuit and effectively turned himself into a deposit box for the phones, allowing him to carry tens of phones concealed around his body.'

Sergeant Slater urged other gig-goers to be vigilant when attending busy venues.

'It's an unfortunate reality that large crowds at concerts can make rich pickings for career criminals,' she added.

'We're on to these offenders but you can also reduce your chances of falling victim to such crimes by remaining extra vigilant; look out for suspicious behaviour and only take the valuables with you that you really need.'

The force urged people to record details of their phones and other valuables on the Immobilise national property register.