London’s robbery hotspots are revealed in a new interactive map as it is revealed an average of nearly 100 crimes are happening every day in the capital.
Latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics show Westminster saw around 10 per day, many carried out by violent phone and luxury watch rippers on mopeds.
Victims include TV personality Selina Scott, who was viciously attacked and robbed by a gang near a Waterstones bookshop in Piccadilly in June.
Some 80,297 robberies were recorded across England and Wales in the 12 months to June, 33,752 of them London. That compares to 35,169 in the capital last year, which the ONS says is a drop of four per cent.
City of London Police, however, saw a 11 per cent rise, from 162 to 180 year-on-year.
Westminster (3,612) had the highest number, followed by densely populated Lambeth (1,980), Southwark (1,971), Newham (1,743), Camden (1,639), and Hackney (1,562).
Kingston upon Thames (201), had the fewest number of robbery offences, followed by Richmond-upon-Thames (273), Sutton (276), Bexley (317) and Merton (375).
In June, broadcaster Selina Scott, 74, was targeted by an offender who hit her on the back of the leg and stole her purse.
She blamed London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan for the incident and received an apology from Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley after saying she could not find an officer to report the crime to.
The nearby West End Central Police Station was closed four years ago.
The day after the mugging officers failed to go to her home for a planned appointment because there was no available car.
In an Interview with the Telegraph, Scott said: “I actually blame the mayor of London.
“More than I blame the police, actually, because the mayor of London took on the job to keep the people of London safe, the police come under him.”
Sir Mark admitted on LBC Radio that the force could have given her a better service.
“I can feel for her. She’s obviously very upset. She’s a 70-odd-year-old lady who had a very frightening experience,” he said.
“The officers weren’t able to give the service that we would expect on that day. I’m sorry about that.”
Scott said she had to walk miles home after the attack as the gang had taken her money.
A spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: “Nothing is more important to the Mayor than keeping Londoners safe.
“Thanks to the Mayor’s record investment in the police and London’s Violence Reduction Unit, robbery rates in London have fallen by 13 per cent compared to the same period last year.
“Robbery rates in the UK are largely driven by mobile phone crime and shoplifting, which the Met is targeting with largescale operations that are disrupting organised criminal groups through significant arrests and the seizing of thousands of illegal goods.
“Specialist teams and visible neighbourhood policing in areas like the West End have been boosted by 50 per cent and an additional 90 police officers are now working in new or enhanced town centre teams in hotspot areas.
“These officers are prioritising robbery, shoplifting and phone thefts. We will continue to build on the progress being made to make London safer for everyone.”
Illegal migrant Ahmed Djidi, 26, targeted Tim Hortons boss Axel Schwan for his £65,000 Patek Philippe watch in Mayfair.
Dramatic CCTV shows the businessman giving chase to the Algerian who brazenly stole the timepiece in New Bond Street on June 30 of last year.
Mr Schwan was with his wife when Djidi and two others quietly snuck up behind him and one of them yanked the watch from his arm with “some degree of force”, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Although Djidi didn’t snatch the item himself, he was part of the gang by keeping a watchful eye out for a “valuable wrist” they could steal from.
On October 8, Djidi, of Carlisle Avenue, Acton, was sentenced to 22 months for robbery.
