Mobile phone thefts double as police battle e-bike gangs

Data obtained by The Independent shows 84,000 devices stolen in 12 months to July with London at epicentre

- ALEX ROSS

Masked phone-snatching gangs using 70mph e-bikes are fuelling a surge in mobile thefts with more than 225 stolen on average every day across the UK, The Independent can reveal.

Data obtained through freedom of information requests shows there were at least 83,900 phone theft offences recorded in the 12 months to July last year – almost double the 45,800 five years previously.

At the epicentre of the crime wave is London, where thefts more than doubled to 65,600 last year over the five-year period. Police told The Independent they are facing a running battle with powerful criminal gangs sending e-bike bandits into busy pedestrian areas to snatch £1,500 mobiles from unsuspecting victims.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed a crackdown, saying it was “totally unacceptable” for people to feel unsafe walking the streets, and on Thursday she announced police forces will get extra powers to tackle phone thieves.

Chairing a summit on smartphone theft, Ms Cooper also said targeted police action would be stepped up and called on tech companies including Apple, Google and Samsung to improve mobile device security measures. She said: “Over the last few years, mobile phone thefts have shot up – often driven by organised crime – leaving our streets feeling less safe. That has to change.”