A spate of robberies have been carried out on unsuspecting customers sitting outside cafes and pubs in Dublin city centre who have had their wallets and mobile phones stolen by people involved in "aggressive begging".

Gardaí at Pearse Street have been contacted by the owners of cafes and pubs reporting that their customers have been robbed as they sit outside by people begging for money. One method being used by the thieves involves placing a piece of cardboard, with a written message on it appealing for money, over customers phones and wallets and then attempting to steal the items underneath.

In other cases, one person will distract customers sitting outside while another then tries to grab items on the table. Some of those responsible are members of the Roma community and establishments in Chatham Street, South William Street and St Stephen's Green have been targeted. "It's happening outside coffee shops and pubs. Late at night is a popular time too when people start coming out of nightclubs," said a garda source.

"With a few drinks on them, people are less aware. We do the best we can to clamp down on some of these begging gangs when it happens but it is difficult to police. People have to be as vigilant as they can when approached in an aggressive manner by people begging for money."

Another method involves people selling individual flowers at night-time trying to pickpocket customers.

In 2007, the government became concerned that eastern European crime gangs involved in human trafficking would send huge numbers of members of the Roma community to beg and steal in Ireland. This never took place on a widescale basis.