Moped thief caught on CCTV snatching pedestrian’s phone close to major police station

Victim seen running after the thief who managed to ride away

A man on a moped snatched a phone from a pedestrian's hand as he was standing on a busy pavement close to a major police station in the heart of the City of London.

The pedestrian was standing on the edge of the curb Liverpool Street station when the moped approached.

The thief then snatched his device and rode off. The incident took place around 200 yards from Bishopsgate police station.

CCTV footage which captured the incident on 12 December, showed the victim running after the thieves but the moped sped off down the busy Bishopsgate.

A second unsuccessful attempt was made to snatch a phone, was made the same night around half-a-mile away in the Spitalfields area.

Between 5 and 9 of December, there were 11 phone snatches reported to City of London Police with five taking place on the same night of 9 December.

Last year, between December 2016 and February 2017, City of London Police received more than 100 reports of phone thefts worth thousands-of-pounds.

Police say the footage serves as a reminder that phone thieves riding mopeds and motorbikes operate across parts of the capital.

Phone snatchers take advantage of people who often have their focus elsewhere while they walk around with their phones out, police say.

Detective Constable Hannah Knight from the said: "If you use your phone when you're out in the street, be aware of what's going on around you.

"We are working hard to identify and catch those responsible but urge you to take some simple steps to help prevent your phone being stolen while you're out in the City."

SWNS