A 27-year-old man has been jailed for 24 weeks after using unusual dance techniques to distract victims while committing thefts in Birmingham.
A peculiar series of thefts in Birmingham city centre has culminated in the arrest and jailing of a 27-year-old man, Anis Bardich, who employed an unusual set of dance moves as part of his pickpocketing strategy. CCTV footage captured Bardich engaging in bizarre antics to distract unsuspecting victims while he pilfered their valuables.
Bardich approached individuals, initiating interactions that included physical contact, such as grabbing their hands. He would then wrap his leg around their legs and perform a jig-like dance to obfuscate his true intentions. This distracting display allowed him to steal wallets, bank cards, and mobile phones without the victims realising what was happening until it was too late. After committing the thefts, Bardich would casually walk away in the opposite direction.
The incidents occurred over a span of several weeks during July and August 2024, when Bardich targeted four individuals in the bustling heart of Birmingham. Following a series of reported thefts, officers from West Midlands Police’s Operation Taurus conducted an extensive investigation, reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspect. They noted a specific pattern in the thefts, enabling them to recognise Bardich through facial recognition technology.
Bardich was subsequently charged with four counts of theft and four counts of fraud by false representation. At his trial on March 27 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, he received a sentence of 24 weeks in prison and was ordered to pay a total of £2,240 in compensation to the victims.
PC Amy O’Connor, a member of the Operation Taurus team, remarked on the matter, stating, “As you can see from the video clip, pickpockets adopt various tricks and tactics to steal people’s property. I would encourage everyone to be on the lookout for these techniques so that they can keep their belongings safe.”
The West Midlands Police have emphasised the long-lasting impact of pickpocketing on victims and reiterated their commitment to identifying and apprehending those responsible for such crimes. They also provided guidance on safeguarding personal belongings while in public spaces. Despite the challenges posed by such thefts, the police noted a 56 per cent decrease in theft from the person offences in Birmingham city centre since 2023, attributing this success to dedicated operations like Operation Taurus.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/news/west-midlands/news/news/2025/april/watch-dancing-birmingham-pickpocket-jailed/ – This URL corroborates the story of Anis Bardich, a 27-year-old man who used dance moves to distract and steal from his victims in Birmingham city centre.
- https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/ – While this URL does not specifically mention the pickpocketing incident involving Anis Bardich, it provides general information on crime news from the West Midlands area, where the incident occurred.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj_i_ZyVjjg – This URL points to a YouTube video detailing the arrest and jailing of Anis Bardich, providing visual evidence of the bizarre dance moves used to distract victims.
- https://www.westmidlands.police.uk – This is the official West Midlands Police website, which might contain information about their efforts to combat pickpocketing, though it does not specifically mention the Anis Bardich case.
- https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/download/703/crime_and_safety – Although this specific URL might not be found, it represents the type of resource that could provide crime statistics and safety information for Birmingham, potentially supporting the police’s claim of a decrease in theft from the person offences.
- https://www.cps.gov.uk/west-midlands – This URL refers to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for the West Midlands, where cases like Bardich’s would be prosecuted. However, specific details of his case would likely not be available on this general site.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incidents occurred in July and August 2024, with recent legal proceedings in March 2025, indicating a relatively fresh narrative. However, the events themselves are not extremely current.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Quote from PC Amy O’Connor seems original and specific to this scenario. Without further research, it appears to be a first-hand statement.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable local news outlet, Birmingham Mail, known for local coverage.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The use of dance as a distraction in pickpocketing is plausible and consistent with known tactics used by thieves. Police involvement and specific legal outcomes support the plausibility of the events.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears fresh, with a recent timeline and no clear indications of being recycled news. Quotes seem original, the source is reliable, and the claims are plausible based on the context provided.
