About 625 police offers were deployed to arrest pickpockets, robbers, thieves and drug addicts. One third of them were arrested in flagrante delicto.

The police chose the period before Christmas on purpose, because the centre of Amsterdam is then full of shoppers, who form an easy target for pickpockets and robbers.
A reason is also that the number of reported crimes had risen with 25% compared to the same month last year.

The police expects the action will deter criminals for a substantial period.