‘Organised gang’ of women use their own CHILDREN to target wealthy shoppers outside Harrods for money
POLICE were called after the beggars, believed to be Romanian, were spotted harassing members of the public
A GROUP of female beggars are said to be encouraging their children to target shoppers outside Harrods for money.
Police were called to Paddington station in London after the ‘organised gang’ were spotted harassing members of the public.
The large group appeared to use their youngsters to approach wealthy customers outside the luxury department store on Thursday evening.
British Transport Police later stopped them after they spent three hours on the street begging.
A witness, who did not want to be named, told Mail Online three women - believed to be Romanian - were stopped by cops before another fled the station with the children.
He said: “They are using the minors to approach men leaving Harrods and asking for money."
related stories
The onlooker added: "The children are well trained as they target only wealthy looking men and the women supervise the children from a few steps away.
“They spent three hours begging before ending up in Paddington station.”
He said the women were with children thought to be as young as three, holding their hands out for money.
The onlooker said one group was made up of five women and four children, and 'knew their demographic', while other groups were operating around other areas in London on the same evening.
He said: “They are professionals who make a lot of money. I have been watching them for a while now.
“They take the children out late at night and encourage them to beg, targeting wealthy male shoppers coming out of Harrods.
“It is disgusting, these children should be in bed at that time of night.”
One commuter took to social media earlier in the week to report the problem.
Mark Skelton tweeted the British Transport Police and Great Western Railway saying: '[on the] 16.25 Slough to Paddington (left 16.29) you have a large group of east Europeans begging and harassing passengers.”
Knightsbridge residents have already expressed concern over plans for Harrods to serve late night dinners because they fear the area will experience a rise in crime.
The luxury central London store wants to extend the opening hours of its restaurant until after midnight.
Harrods has applied to Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council for an extension but locals want it blocked in case it 'attracts undesirables', the Mail Online reports.
British Transport Police have been approached for comment.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368