Old Street hot spot for mobile mugging

Commuters are being mugged outside Old Street station every day for their smartphones, and few stand any chance of getting them back.

More than 400 thefts were reported on Old Street and City Road – the two roads that intersect the underground station – in the 12 months to November this year, more than one a day.

The phones were recovered in just four of these instances, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show.

Thieves seem to target victims at bus stops and underground stations in particular, as they can strike before people arriving in the area can find their bearings.

“[The problem] seems to be around busy transport areas,” said Rochelle d’Cruz, Media and Communications Manager for Islington Metropolitan Police Service.

“For a lot of people, the first thing they do is check their phone when they come off the underground because the phone will ping. Two to three seconds is all it takes and it can be snatched.

“Even when we have the footage, the majority of [culprits] are in hoodies so you can’t see their face. We’re trying to get people to only check their phone once they’re inside somewhere.”

The data shows a worrying trend in Islington; phone thefts are up 400 per cent in the borough overall from last April, with 24 mobiles stolen last weekend and 96 in the last two weeks near Old Street.

However, the muggings aren’t just taking place outside stations. As well as Old Street, where 240 thefts were reported, and City Road, where 166 incidents took place, Goswell Road – close to City University – saw 72 thefts in the last 12 months.

Gerry Campbell, Borough Commander for Islington Police, admitted that phone thefts are a major problem in the area.

He said: “I’m really concerned about the problem. There’s a lot more work to do. We need the continued support of the public to tell us where the phones are going to, who’s committing the crime and for people to be aware of their surrounding before they use their phones.

“This is one of my top priorities, which I’m absolutely committed to resolving.”

While there are numerous methods employed by smartphone thieves, police are responding to a number of recent incidents where robbers have been on bikes.

Last Friday, Islington Met tweeted: #Police are out patrolling on foot, cars, motorbikes and cycles. Operations in place to catch these thieves on bikes snatching #Smartphone

Simon Bajkowski

+ postsBio

This author does not have any more posts.