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Metropolitan Police Arrest Hundreds in London Phone Theft Crackdown
Over 370 suspects arrested in London’s largest phone theft crackdown; offences fell 12.3% last year due to use of drones, e-bikes, and facial recognition, police said.
- Metropolitan Police said more than 200 arrests were made in the past four weeks as specialist teams using drones, facial recognition and e‑bikes seized about 770 devices.
- Investigations found organised networks smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones overseas and adults recruiting children and teenagers as young as 14 in a 'Fagin-style' scheme last year.
- Scotland Yard said a year-long blitz reduced offences by 12.3 per cent to 71,391 last year, meaning 10,000 fewer victims, while officers recovered more than 1,000 handsets and 200 laptops.
- Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley urged courts to stop releasing repeat offenders on bail, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan proposed £4.5 million to tackle phone theft, and police demanded phone manufacturers and telecoms companies make it harder to reset or resell stolen phones.
- An off-duty officer arrested a prolific phone thief on February 9, uncovering 39 stolen devices, while one property held a 300-handset stash and celebrity victims highlight the crime's reach.
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9 Articles
9 Articles
Sky News UKReposted by 
Great Yorkshire Radio
Great Yorkshire RadioHundreds arrested for phone theft in London - as Met chief calls on courts to stop releasing offenders
While Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley praised the results of the crackdown on phone theft, he added that courts must "play their part by preventing repeat offenders being bailed only to go out and offend again".
·United Kingdom
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Stop releasing phone thieves who reoffend, Met police chief urges courts
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also called on phone manufacturers to make it harder for criminals to reset and re-sell stolen phones
·London, United Kingdom
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London police have made 248 arrests in the past four weeks in the fight against phone theft, authorities report.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources9
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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