Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
An alleged crime syndicate sexually abused and forced dozens of children to steal over $28,000 a day from guests visiting a Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Paris Couple Accused of Running Crime Syndicate Involving Sex Trafficking Children, Stealing Goods
Seven members of one family have been sentenced to years in prison after an investigation exposed a network that forced children and young women to steal from tourists at Disneyland Paris and other busy destinations around the French capital. The case puts a disturbing reality behind what visitors might otherwise dismiss as ordinary pickpocketing: investigators said minors were deliberately deployed to crowded tourist areas as part of an organized operation.
The Disneyland Paris child pickpockets were not operating exclusively at the Disney resort. Investigators said groups were also sent to the Paris Métro, Charles de Gaulle Airport, and the RER station serving Marne-la-Vallée, demonstrating how widely the operation targeted tourists moving through the Paris region.
Seven Family Members Sentenced in Disneyland Paris Child Pickpocket Case
The Paris criminal court sentenced family patriarch Roberto Hamidovic, 48, to eight years in prison and imposed a €500,000 fine. His wife, Lejla Hamidovic, received six years and a €300,000 fine, while two sons, a nephew, and two female relatives received prison sentences ranging from five to seven years, according to reports on the verdict.
The case involved allegations including human trafficking, organized theft, corruption of minors, money laundering, and criminal association. Prosecutors described a system in which children—many belonging to the family itself—and young women were compelled to steal under threats of physical and sexual violence.
That distinction matters. This wasn’t simply a case involving minors independently stealing from vacationers. The evidence presented in court described children being exploited as part of a structured criminal operation controlled by adults.
How the Network Targeted Disneyland Paris Tourists
Investigators said groups of six to nine young people were transported to tourist-heavy locations, including Disneyland Paris, where foreign visitors were among their targets. The resort’s evening entertainment was particularly attractive to the operation because large numbers of guests gathered together, according to reporting on the investigation.
That crowd dynamic remains relevant for guests. We have recently covered Disneyland Paris reaching full capacity during busy periods as well as changes to Disneyland Paris parade entertainment, both reminders of how dense crowds can form around entrances, entertainment routes, and major gathering areas.
Police said the network generated an average of approximately €25,000 per day from thefts across its targeted locations. That figure applies to the wider operation described by investigators—not solely thefts committed inside Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris Already Operates Extensive Security Measures
The convictions do not mean Disneyland Paris operates without security screening. Disneyland Paris says it maintains a long-term partnership with French authorities and uses both visible and undisclosed security measures, including bag checks and security personnel.
The resort’s published rules also state that CCTV operates onsite, armed security guards are present throughout the resort, and theft can result in police being contacted, a complaint being filed, or a visitor being removed. Disney additionally warns guests that it cannot accept responsibility for theft or loss of personal belongings inside the parks and advises against leaving valuables in strollers.
Security infrastructure around the property has also evolved. We previously reported on the construction of a new Disney Village security screening area and later documented the new checkpoint nearing completion.
There is no verified evidence in the sources reviewed that Disneyland Paris has announced additional security changes specifically because of the Hamidovic case.
Crowds Create Opportunities for Pickpockets
The methods described during the case are familiar to authorities responsible for tourist safety. France’s Ministry of the Interior advises visitors to exercise particular caution in crowds and warns against keeping phones, cash, or valuables in easily accessible pockets.
For Disney guests, that can mean paying closer attention during the moments when attention naturally shifts elsewhere: watching entertainment, taking photographs, moving through packed walkways, or leaving the parks alongside thousands of other visitors.
Those conditions can become especially pronounced during high-attendance periods. Recent Inside the Magic coverage documented another Disneyland Paris capacity warning in September and previously reported changes to park hours and nighttime entertainment scheduling.
None of this means visitors should expect to encounter pickpockets during a Disneyland Paris vacation. It does mean the court case offers a concrete reason to treat basic precautions around phones, wallets, purses, and other valuables seriously.
What Happens After the Disneyland Paris Case
The sentences close a major chapter in the prosecution of this branch of the network, but reporting surrounding the investigation describes a wider international operation extending beyond Disneyland Paris and beyond France.
For Disneyland Paris guests, the practical takeaway is narrower. The resort continues operating its existing security system, and no park closure, access restriction, or new guest procedure tied specifically to these convictions has been announced in the sources reviewed.
The case instead exposes how organized theft can hide behind an apparently routine tourist problem. At Disneyland Paris, investigators say some of the people moving through those crowds were children themselves being exploited—and the adults behind that operation are now facing years behind bars.
