Taipei: Police in Taipei and New Taipei have intensified their efforts to prevent thefts after several incidents of pickpocketing involving Japanese tourists at popular scenic spots across both cities this year.

According to Focus Taiwan, from January 1 to August 10, New Taipei reported a total of 8,034 ordinary theft cases, out of which five involved Japanese nationals. Three of these incidents took place in Jiufen, a well-known mountain town famous for its teahouses and souvenir shops, while the other two occurred near Shifen Waterfall and Lehua Night Market. The total reported financial loss amounted to approximately NT$105,806 (US$3,536).

This announcement came in response to a notice published by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association on its website, advising Japanese tourists in Taiwan to be vigilant against pickpockets. The advisory specifically mentioned night markets, Jiufen, Yongkang Street, and areas near Taipei Metro’s Zhongshan Station as locations where tourists should exercise extra caution.

In response to these incidents, the New Taipei Criminal Investigation Corps has collaborated with the Ruifang police precinct to review security camera footage periodically in areas susceptible to theft. The police have also coordinated with local businesses to optimize the angles of their security cameras and have installed additional surveillance equipment at key locations, such as the area in front of the A-Mei Teahouse on Jiufen Old Street and Shengping Theater, to enhance monitoring capabilities.

Moreover, multilingual signs warning tourists against openly displaying valuables and urging vigilance against theft have been placed in popular tourist areas. Local businesses have been encouraged to report any suspicious activities to authorities.

In Taipei, the police department’s Criminal Investigation Division reported handling 11 cases of pickpocketing involving Japanese tourists in night markets and other areas as of early August. Some of these incidents occurred in the Yongkang Shopping District and on buses.

Efforts to combat theft include enhanced monitoring of surveillance footage to identify suspects and collaborating with local businesses to promote anti-theft awareness. Police have advised the public to keep valuables such as wallets and mobile phones secure and in places that are difficult for thieves to access, particularly when visiting night markets, tourist shopping districts, or using public transportation. They also urged people to be cautious of strangers who seem unusually close or intentionally bump into them.