Three remote areas in Madhya Pradesh, India, have gained notoriety for their so-called “thief schools,” where seasoned criminals train children, some as young as 12, in the art of pickpocketing and theft.
The villages of Kadia, Gulkhedi, and Hulkhedi have become infamous for being breeding grounds for young criminals, with parents paying tuition fees ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 rupees ($2,400 to $3,600) to have their children trained in the “dark arts.”
These “schools” teach skills such as pickpocketing, bag-snatching in crowded places, theft, bank account fraud, evading the police, and even how to endure torture if caught.
After a meeting with gang leaders and payment of the required tuition fee, parents send their children to these schools for a year to hone their criminal skills and prepare for a life of crime.
Upon graduation, the family of the student receives a payment of 300,000 to 500,000 rupees ($3,600 to $6,000) from the gang leaders as compensation for their service.
Despite being aware of these activities, authorities have been unable to dismantle the schools due to strong community protection of the gangs in these areas.
According to police records, over 2,000 individuals from these villages have had more than 8,000 cases registered against them in police stations across India.