Rampant pickpockets are becoming a serious nuisance for market vendors and customers in Sariwon, North Hwanghae province. Fewer people are visiting markets because of the presence of petty thieves, cutting into vendors’ profits.
“Gangs of thieves have been roaming through alleys and marketplaces in Sariwon and targeting people’s valuables. Once a gang has identified a target, they follow them around until they have a chance to make off with their possessions,” a source in North Hwanghae province told Daily NK recently.
Pickpockets once wore shabby clothes, but nowadays they make a point of dressing smartly. That makes them much harder to identify from appearance alone, the source explained.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to even see the threat before it’s too late.
In Sariwon, not only market customers but even the vendors themselves are often victims of pickpockets.
Locals complain about the frequency of theft. “Being cautious doesn’t help,” one said. “They’ll get you in the blink of an eye,” another remarked. “I didn’t even know when or where I was robbed,” a third said.
Sophisticated techniques, reluctant shoppers
Pickpockets’ modus operandi is to target individuals carrying valuables or likely to have money on their person. After approaching a likely target, one gang member will bump into them, hoping to make them drop their items. A confederate will take that opportunity to nab their items or wallet.
Since the target is typically surrounded by pickpockets at the moment of contact, they are almost certain to lose their valuables in these encounters, the source said.
“Pickpockets are good at looking completely innocuous, and their movements are so polished that people are often unaware their valuables are gone until later. Pickpockets use razors to slit open clothing and purses. Imagine the frustration of having to get a slash mended on top of losing valuables to a pickpocket,” the source said.
With so many pickpockets on the prowl, there is growing reluctance to frequent markets at all.
“People who are worried about pickpockets are visiting stores instead of busy markets. Stores are a harder nut to crack because anybody loitering around instead of making purchases will look suspicious and be asked to leave. That’s leading North Koreans to view stores as being safer places,” the source said.
The source quoted a 60-something resident of Sariwon who offered the following reason for moving her shopping to stores: “I used to do my shopping at the market with vendors I know well. But after getting my purse stolen two times, I got scared of even visiting the market.”
Vendors are also victims of pickpockets, both directly and indirectly. Along with being literally targeted by pickpockets, they are also losing money as fewer customers patronize their stalls.
“Pickpockets pose as customers and ask various questions. While vendors are distracted, confederates make off with the goods,” the source said.
“As pickpockets’ techniques grow more sophisticated, markets are becoming places where both vendors and customers have to be constantly on guard. That’s worsening the shopping experience and driving away customers.”
“While there have been pickpockets ever since the Arduous March, the ones on the street nowadays are a different breed. These are trying times whether you’re a vendor or a shopper,” the source added.
January 21, 2026 at 05:55AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)