GETTY FILE PICTURE The pick-pocketing teenagers have been dubbed the 'klau-kids'

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The pick-pocketing teenagers – dubbed the 'klau-kids' by German media – have also shown off designer sunglasses, cameras and cash on Facebook. There are thought to be up to 150 operating in Berlin alone, most of them from from eastern Europe and North Africa. Many are waiting for their asylum claims to be processed amid the biggest migration crisis since the Second World War.

But the crimes are unlikely to affect their applications because they are considered to be minors under German law, according to reports. Bodo Pflazgraf of Germany's police union said it is "incomprehensible" that serial offenders are not detained. But legal official Martin Steltner said it is difficult to have a credible witness to back up claims made against alleged thieves. According to Breitbart, he said: "Legally, we need to have strong suspicion. That is why prosecuting pickpockets is often very difficult."

GETTY Angela Merkel has opened Germany's borders to Syrian refugees

Last month Chancellor Angela Merkel opened German's borders to an unlimited number of people fleeing war-torn Syria. She said "the right to political asylum has no limits on the number of asylum seekers". But just days later officials imposed temporary border controls after struggling to deal with the influx of refugees. Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's vice-chancellor, admitted the country was at “the limits of its capabilities". Authorities expect up to 1.5million refugees to arrive this year, up from the previous estimate of 800,000.