Organized bands of thieves are targeting East Village partiers — but quick-thinking club employees have started fighting back.
Pickpockets using a three-man system called “dipping” have been plaguing clubs, authorities and club employees said.
But workers last week at a trendy East Village bar helped cops take down a crew of the pickpockets.
The thugs were caught on video snatching a cell phone out of a woman’s purse at Bowery Electric last Friday, Deputy Inspector John Cappelmann, commanding officer of the Ninth Precinct, said at a recent community meeting.
“There are organized groups out there working the clubs,” he said.
The video shows one thug unclasp the victim’s purse, while a second reaches in and performs the “dip,” then passes the loot on to a third person, Cappelmann said.
A manager alerted cops and was able to work with the officers to identify the suspects, police said.
“We’re just doing our job trying to keep riff-raff out of the bar,” said the manager of Bowery Electric, on Bowery and East Second Street.
“It’s not like they are drunk and see an opportunity,” said Amy Jamison, who works at the club. “They are professional thieves.”
The next night, eagle-eyed bouncers spotted the dirtbags — wearing the same clothes as the night before — and called the police, cops said.
Cops arrested Alan Fenelon, 25, early Sunday morning on charges of jostling and marijuana possession.
“I’m not taking credit for anything. I did what any business owner would do. We want to stay in business,” the manager said.
Bowery Electric isn’t the only East Village bar fighting pickpockets.
Kevin Lynch, the owner of Solas on East Eighth Street and Second Avenue, said he and his employees twice have helped nab thieves they spotted.
“[We look for] people looking out of place, no drink in hand, both hands free, looking around the room,” Lynch said.
Lynch has beefed up his security team on weekends to combat the scourge.