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This is the moment a plain-clothes officer halts a telephone thief in his tracks as over 1,000 Londoners are poised to have their devices returned.
Authorities apprehended 230 alleged phone thieves within just one week, and recovered 1,000 cell phones during their operations.
In footage made public by the Metropolitan Police, a plain-clothes officer is observed identifying a phone thief, wearing a dark blue backward baseball cap and a black jacket in Oxford Circus.
The criminal had targeted an elderly person in this bustling tourist area, but an officer noticed the crime and swiftly subdued him in front of astonished onlookers.
Additional footage depicts moped riders seizing devices from the hands of pedestrians strolling along sidewalks and waiting by bus stops.
Law enforcement also conducted raids on second-hand phone retailers and utilized helicopters to locate the culprits.
The incidence of snatch thefts has surged by 150% in London during the past year, with a phone being stolen in the city every six minutes.
The Home Secretary is set to convene a summit with law enforcement officials today in a bid to address the rampant thefts affecting London.
Commander Owain Richards, who spearheads the Metropolitan Police’s strategy against phone theft, stated:
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’We are witnessing phone thefts at an alarming frequency, driven by organized criminals profiting immensely from the ease of reselling stolen devices both locally and internationally.
’By enhancing our initiatives, we are apprehending more offenders and safeguarding citizens from becoming victims of phone theft in the city. Nonetheless, we require support from partners and the industry to elevate our efforts.
‘This is the reason we are collaborating with various agencies and the government to combat the organized crime fuelling this market and urging technology companies to render stolen devices inoperable.’
Approximately 78,000 individuals experienced theft of their phones or bags on British streets within the year leading to March 2024.
This marks an increase of over 150% compared to the 31,000 reported ‘snatch thefts’ in the prior 12-month period, based on data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
Statistics further reveal that four out of five police investigations were concluded prior to identifying a suspect, and merely 0.8% of ‘theft from the person’ claims resulted in a charge.
The government has committed to intensify efforts against this menace, with the Home Office stating it plans to work more collaboratively with tech companies and police leadership.
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