England goalkeeper Joe Hart 'robbed by moped thieves'

Scooter related crime has risen over recent months in the capital

Joe Hart is said to have escaped injury (Getty)

England goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly been robbed of his personal possessions by a gang on scooters

Currently on loan from Manchester City at West Ham United, the player is thought to have lost his watch, wallet and mobile phone.

He is believed to be one of the most high profile victims of the moped crime wave ongoing in London.

Hart is believed to have been leaving West Ham’s training ground near Romford last week, when the criminals struck at a petrol station.

An eyewitness told The Sun: “There were three robbers on two bikes and they surrounded him as he got into his car and took his phone.

“I think they also got a watch and a wallet.”

Another person told the newspaper: “Joe wasn’t hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He’s a big powerful guy and it took some nerve to rob him.

“If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England it can happen to anyone.”

Concerns have been mounting over the rise in moped crime in the capital.

Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick was forced to deny the force had a “no pursuit” policy on moped criminals.

But she said officers needed stronger powers to protect them from legal action in the case of injury to suspected criminals.

Many police officers have cited the 2014 death of Henry Hicks as a turning point in policing moped crime.

Hicks, 18, was fatally injured when his scooter collided with traffic in Islington, north London, as he was followed by two unmarked patrol cars.

Yesterday, four police officers were cleared of gross misconduct over the death.