Roberto Hamidovic’s sentence of eight years’ imprisonment highlights the existence of organised criminal networks that use minors to commit thefts against tourists and exploit their vulnerability to hinder police action. The case, tried in Paris in September 2026, highlights the complexity of this phenomenon and the challenges it poses for public security, the protection of children, and the prosecution of organised crime.

According to information published by The Guardian, 48-year-old Roberto Hamidovic ran a family network dedicated to robbing tourists in high-traffic areas, such as the Paris metro, Charles de Gaulle airport and Disneyland Paris.

The investigation identified seven family members tried for various crimes, including human trafficking, organised theft, corruption of minors, money laundering, and criminal association. Everyone denied the charges.

The court sentenced Hamidovic to eight years in prison and a fine of EUR 500,000. His wife was sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of 300,000 euros, while other family members were sentenced to prison terms between five and seven years.

The case is part of an investigation that dates back decades. In 2013, Roberto’s uncle, Fehmi Hamidovic, had already been sentenced to seven years in prison for a plot related to human trafficking. According to investigators, Roberto later allegedly assumed control of the criminal structure.

The most serious aspect of the case is the use of minors, mainly girls, some only ten years old, to commit thefts systematically. According to the accusations presented at trial, the children were sent in groups to tourist sites and public transportation, where they took advantage of crowds to steal wallets and other valuables.

Investigators described an organised system in which minors were transported to the points of operation and pressured to hand over the money obtained. If they did not reach the required amounts, they could suffer physical assaults, burns, and sexual abuse.

The network would have obtained very high revenues, while the adults allegedly responsible maintained a luxurious lifestyle and the minors lived in precarious conditions.

Another relevant element is the possible use of the children’s age to hinder police action. Based on the investigation findings, they were instructed to claim that they were under the minimum age of criminal responsibility in France. This practice would have complicated the immediate response of the authorities and would have been used as a mechanism of impunity.

This case illustrates that thefts in tourist areas can be part of broader criminal structures, with a division of roles, mobility between different points of operation, and the exploitation of large gatherings of people.

From a preventive standpoint, areas with high visitor traffic, such as public transport, airports, and theme parks, require monitoring adapted to the risks. Protecting personal belongings, paying attention to crowded environments, and the rapid reporting of incidents are useful measures to reduce opportunities for theft.

However, the response cannot be limited to strengthening surveillance. The detection of minors acting in a coordinated manner, apparently under the supervision of adults, may be an indicator of exploitation and should prompt a specialised intervention. Cooperation between police, social services, the prosecutor’s office, and child protection agencies is essential to identify those responsible and prevent children from remaining subject to the network.

During the trial, it was highlighted that some of the adults accused had also been forced to commit crimes during their childhood. This element poses a fundamental problem: the intergenerational reproduction of crime and child exploitation.

Criminal intervention is necessary when serious crimes are proven, but it must be accompanied by protection measures capable of guaranteeing minors a secure environment, education, and real alternatives to a life of crime. The fact that some children disappeared or fled from reception centres after the arrests shows the difficulty of providing them with effective and lasting protection.

The main lesson of this case is that public safety and the protection of minors are inseparable goals. Combating organised theft networks requires investigating the structures that lead them, tracking economic flows, strengthening international cooperation, and acting on exploitation mechanisms. Only in this way can citizens be protected and, at the same time, can we prevent children from continuing to be used as instruments of organised crime.

_____

Aquest apunt en català / Esta entrada en español / Post en français