“thieves are dark-haired women in their 20s or 30s with “Eastern European accents”
Yes, Gypsies. This is what they do, this is how they survive. No other skill except an almost magical way of robbing people.
Had a port visit to Naples, Italy. My buddy and I get some money exchanged at the Camino (money exchange ) . out in town. Group of 8-10 “street urchins” of various ages probably from 4-15 and a Adult ring leader. They swarmed my friend, I kept walking, telling him, “Don’t stop, keep going !” Nope, he learned the hard way. One of them managed to put their hand in his front pocket and relieve him of the $50 in Lira that he had just exchanged.