A gang of 12 people, including Bulgarians, Romanians and citizens of the former Yugoslav republics have been busted for forcing children to steal in Southern France and Switzerland.
Nine of the people were arrested for illegal stay and will be extradited from France.
The gang, which operated in Strasbourg and some southern French cities, is suspected of over 1,000 robberies in private homes. Local police reported that the robbers were able to carry out at least 5 robberies a day. The Swiss police registered up to 30 thefts for 24 hours.
The children, aged up to 15, were transported by the adults to different cities where they were forced to carry out the robberies.
Just a few days ago an international children trafficking ring, mainly targeting young Bulgarians, was busted in Trieste, Italy. Gangsters forced the young victims into thefts and prostitution.