Filipino pickpocket hunters reveal story behind viral Rome metro fight

ROME, Italy – Mervin Dayagro, 45, better known online as "Mervin_d_hunter," and Jordan Tamayo, 43, are Filipino workers in Rome who have gained recognition as pickpocket hunters. They are behind the viral video showing a confrontation with suspected pickpockets inside one of the Italian capital's metro trains on July 13, 2026.

Although they have been living and working in Rome for almost a year, Dayagro and Tamayo have built a strong following on social media by documenting the activities of suspected pickpockets across the city.

Through their videos, they warn commuters and tourists about the presence of alleged repeat offenders, expose common pickpocketing schemes in Rome's metro stations and popular tourist areas, and encourage the public to remain vigilant. Their content has attracted thousands of followers online.

According to Dayagro, the confrontation began when they encountered again two suspected pickpockets whom they had been monitoring for some time. He said the two individuals appeared to be between 18 and 20 years old.

"They know who I am, so that day they also wanted to film us," Dayagro told GMA News.

On the day of the incident, Dayagro and Tamayo were accompanied by several foreign vloggers who are also known for raising public awareness about pickpocketing in Rome.

Dayagro said the confrontation was preceded by a series of provocations outside the station. According to him, one of the two suspected pickpockets exposed his genitals in front of their group.

As tensions escalated and both sides exchanged provocations, the situation eventually turned into a fistfight inside the train. Dayagro said they acted in self-defense.

Photo: Pia Gonzalez-Abucay

In an interview with GMA News, Dayagro said he became a pickpocket hunter after witnessing two elderly people being robbed about eight months ago.

"At that time, all I could do was feel sorry for the victims," he said.

The incident inspired him to do whatever he could to help prevent others from falling victim to pickpockets.

Since then, he has studied the methods commonly used by suspected pickpockets, familiarized himself with their modus operandi, and monitored the places and times where they usually target victims.

His experiences and observations have become the focus of his vlogs, which aim to raise public awareness and help prevent more people from becoming victims.

"After that, I made it a point to identify the pickpockets. I studied their methods, learned their routines, and observed the places and times they usually strike. I spent almost 24 hours a day in the metro stations," he said.

Tamayo, meanwhile, claimed that before the confrontation, the suspected pickpockets showed them videos featuring knives, which he believed was an attempt to intimidate them. He added that this was followed by what appeared to be direct challenges from the suspects.

Despite the risks involved, both Dayagro and Tamayo admitted that they fear for their safety while carrying out their activities. Nevertheless, they said their commitment to protecting the public outweighs those fears.

They remain determined to warn commuters and tourists, pursue suspected pickpockets, and discourage them from victimizing others whenever possible.

"We won't stop going after you! As long as we're here, we will never stop doing what we're doing!" Dayagro and Tamayo said.

As seen in Dayagro's social media videos, his methods of driving away pickpockets go beyond warning the public and documenting their activities. He is also seen spraying them with colored paint or cooking oil, confronting them, and chasing them away from commuters and tourists whom he believes are potential victims.

Pickpocketing remains one of the most common crimes affecting tourists and commuters in Rome. According to Italian crime data cited by Corriere Roma, more than 33,000 pickpocketing incidents were reported in the Italian capital in 2024.

The figure refers to reported incidents, not the total number of victims. Because many victims do not file police reports, the actual number of people affected is believed to be higher, although no official estimate exists.

More recently, Italian daily Il Messaggero reported an incident in which suspected pickpockets allegedly used pepper spray against tourists during an attempted theft, highlighting the increasingly aggressive tactics reportedly being employed by some offenders.

To address the persistent problem of pickpocketing, the Italian government has implemented several measures, particularly in Rome and other major tourist destinations.

These include deploying specialized anti-pickpocket police units in metro stations and on public transport to identify, monitor, and arrest organized pickpocket gangs. Rome's law enforcement agencies—including the Polizia di Stato, Carabinieri, and Polizia Locale—also conduct regular anti-pickpocket operations.

While Italian police routinely arrest suspected pickpockets, many are released pending trial. Some are repeat offenders who have been arrested multiple times over the years but return to stealing after being released.

Despite these efforts, pickpocketing remains a significant challenge due to the large number of tourists who visit Rome each year and the city's often-crowded public transport system.

To strengthen enforcement, the Ministry of the Interior has announced additional anti-pickpocket initiatives in Rome, including specialized metro police units and increased patrols at transport hubs and popular tourist areas. —VBL, GMA News