The Metropolitan Police have launched a significant crackdown on phone snatching in London, resulting in the arrest of 230 individuals and the recovery of over 1,000 phones within just a week.
Additionally, a gang that was found guilty of dealing with more than 5,000 stolen phones has received a collective sentence of 18 years in prison.
London police crackdown on phone snatching
BBC News reports that the police combined phone tracking with the deployment of undercover officers in hotspots to apprehend the thieves.
A focused attack on the “industrial-scale” crime of mobile phone snatching in London has led to 230 arrests by the Metropolitan Police in the last week. To combat the “scourge of mobile phone crime,” the force announced that it had confiscated over 1,000 handsets.
The police indicated that efforts had been intensified to address the £50 million-per-year market in stolen phones across the city, targeting perpetrators involved in thefts, handling, and the illegal supply chain.
Smartphone thieves often employ the tactic of riding stolen scooters and e-bikes while looking for individuals using their phones outdoors. They then approach victims from behind on sidewalks to snatch the devices.
Initially, safety concerns forced police to stop pursuits of scooter riders when the potential risks to the riders appeared too great. However, after public complaints, the policy was revised, allowing officers to pursue suspects and use “tactical contact” to dismount them from their vehicles.
For illustrative examples, you can view the following:
Since Apple introduced Activation Lock in 2013, there has been a notable decline in iPhone thefts in several cities, although the effectiveness varied as devices could still be taken for parts.
The subsequent introduction of parts pairing provided additional deterrence, though it sparked controversy due to complications arising from DIY repairs. Apple later addressed this by implementing a method of “blessing” replacement parts to ensure proper functionality.
Image: Metropolitan Police
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