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Here’s the latest on mobile phone theft in your area. Dear Residents,
We would like to make you aware of an increase in reports of mobile phone thefts across the area involving offenders using electric bikes (e-bikes).
These incidents typically occur when victims are using their phones in public places, particularly near roads, pavements, transport hubs, and busy shopping areas. Offenders approach quickly on e-bikes and snatch mobile phones from victims' hands before making off at speed.
To help reduce the risk of becoming a victim, please consider the following advice:
Remain vigilant when using your mobile phone in public.
Avoid walking near the edge of the pavement whilst using your phone.
Keep your phone secure and be aware of your surroundings.
Avoid displaying high-value items unnecessarily.
Consider using hands-free devices when making calls.
Ensure your phone's security features, tracking services, and backups are activated.
If possible, step inside a shop, café, or other secure location when using your device for extended periods.
If you witness suspicious behaviour involving individuals on e-bikes or have information about those responsible, please report it to police. In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, dial 999. For non-emergency reporting, contact police via 101 or online.
By remaining alert and taking simple precautions, we can work together to reduce opportunities for offenders and help keep our community safe.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
 We’ve put hundreds more officers on the frontlines of community crime-fighting teams, upping visible patrols in the right ‘hot spots’ so we can deter and catch criminals. These officers are working hard to bear down on mobile phone crime in London, arresting phone thieves on the street, shutting down vendors trading stolen devices and dismantling international criminal gangs. We have now almost halved phone theft in Westminster, where it was most concentrated, following an intensive crackdown which has seen hundreds of arrests and thousands of phones recovered. After campaigning by the Met, Apple has also made a global change to its security system that better ensures stolen phones cannot be reused or resold – disrupting a highly organised international business model worth millions. But we know there is more to do. That’s why we’re stepping up our use of technology, increasing our operations and working with phone companies to make it less appealing for criminals to commit these crimes in the first place. You can report an incident of theft online at https://www.met.police.uk. | 
