A suspected phone thief gang targeting London tourists with a social media scam has been arrested by the Met Police for robbery.
Six people were arrested by the force for allegedly using a distraction tactic, where they ask members of the public to open their phones and follow them on social media.
Once unlocked, the phone thieves would snatch the device and scarper.
The arrests are a part of the Met’s phone theft crackdown in crime hotspots where the phone thieves are operating, namely in Southbank, Borough Market and Waterloo.
In an operation on the eve of April 24, plain clothes officers, specialist pursuit drivers and motorbikes were deployed to catch offenders who often use illegally modified e-bikes as part of their escape.
Shortly after midnight, a gang of phone thieves using the social media scam was identified on Borough High Street in Southwark.
Officers moved within minutes to intercept the group and arrest the suspects.
In footage released by the force, the robbers are read their rights as officers place them in handcuffs.
The same night, officers made more than 15 arrests for offences including robbery, theft, and drug-related crimes.
The Met has said tackling phone theft is a priority for the force, having cut offences by 13,000 in the past financial year compared to previous.
The force previously ran Operation Reckoning - a month-long scheme in January to tackle mobile phone theft. It resulted in 248 arrests.
Detective Superintendent Gareth Gilbert, who leads action against phone theft in Southwark and Lambeth, said: “We are cracking down on phone theft, and our tactics are delivering results.
“Across London, neighbourhood crime is down by more than 15 per cent. That’s 40,000 fewer victims spared the stress, cost and disruption of crime.
“In Southwark and Lambeth, what we are doing is working. In just one week, we cut e-bike enabled crime, which is linked to phone theft, by nearly 40 per cent.
“Our message is simple: if you commit these crimes, we will catch you.”
The Met said it has reduced theft from person offences in the capital by 21 per cent, meaning 20,000 fewer victims and since a crackdown launched in January last year, the force has seized 3,000 illegally modified e-bikes and e-scooters.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called on phone manufacturers and tech companies to do more to stop stolen devices being reset and resold, including setting a deadline of June 1 for industry to introduce measures to make stolen phones worthless.
If progress is not made, the Met will ask the government to consider legislative action.
