Correct order: POQRS.
P: This is the introductory part of the sentence. It sets the scene by describing the state of the bus.
O: This explains why the bus was overcrowded. "As it was the last one of the evening" provides a reason and naturally follows the statement in P.
Q: The phrase "and this" refers to the overcrowding mentioned in P. It indicates a consequence of the overcrowding, leading into the rest of the sentence.
R: This phrase identifies who gained the opportunity mentioned in Q.
S: This completes the sentence by explaining what the pickpockets did with the opportunity, logically following R.
Hence, option (c) is the answer.