ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Baghdad's Karkh Police Command announced Friday the arrest of a male suspect accused of using what he described as “mental distraction techniques,” often mistaken for hypnosis, to steal money from currency exchange offices and commercial shops.

In a statement received by The New Region, the police said officers from the al-Hurriya Police Department apprehended the suspect after he allegedly used quick hand movements and deceptive gestures to confuse victims and take their money.

The statement emphasized that “there is no real case of hypnosis in such incidents,” noting that the acts were “fraudulent schemes relying on psychological distraction and sleight of hand.”

Police said the arrest followed intelligence gathering and close surveillance of the suspect’s movements. “A well-planned ambush led to catching him in the act,” the statement added, confirming that legal procedures were underway and that the suspect has been referred to judicial authorities.

The command urged citizens to “remain cautious and immediately report any similar cases through the 911 hotline.”

Authorities also released a video purporting to show the suspect deceiving the owner of a currency exchange shop during one of the theft attempts.