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Cases of phone theft in London have increased rapidly. In the video, the bike rider is seen running away by snatching the phone from the hand of the woman in broad daylight.
According to the BBC report, the UK police have exposed an international mobile phone smuggling gang, alleging that he sent 40,000 stolen mobile phones from Britain to China last year.
Metropolitan police say this is the biggest ever operation against phone theft in Britain. In this, 18 people were arrested and more than 2,000 stolen phones were recovered.
Among the arrested people, 2 Afghans and one Indian citizen have been identified. Police claim that this gang was responsible for sending about 50% of the total phones stolen in London abroad.
The police arrested the thieves running away with the phone. This incident is on 9 September.
The stolen iPhone found in a warehouse near the airport
The investigation began when a victim tracked his stolen iPhone on Christmas last year and found his location in a warehouse near Heathro Airport.
When the security personnel investigated there, the phone was found in a compartment with 894 more phones. Investigation revealed that almost all the phones were stolen and they were being sent to Hong Kong.
The police then stopped the further consignment and identified two suspects from forensic investigation. The police came to know that they used to smuggle the phone by wrapping it in foil in the car so that the stolen goods were not caught.
Both accused are 30 -year -old Afghan citizen. He is accused of keeping stolen goods and conspiracy to hide criminal property. A 29 -year -old Indian citizen is also involved in the smuggling gang.
After the arrest of two Afghan citizens, several phones were found in the car, some of which were wrapped in foil.
80,588 phones stolen in 2024 in London
According to Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, the gang was involved in sending stolen phones abroad in London. Gavin said that the cases of phone theft in London have increased rapidly.
In the year 2020, 28,609 phones were stolen, which increased to 80,588 in 2024. That is, in four years, this number has been almost three times. Three-fourths of all the phones stolen in Britain are stolen in London.
Incidents of snatching phones are common in tourism areas such as West and West and Westminster in London. According to reports, the increasing demand for second hand phones is a major reason for theft.
Police Minister Sarah Jones said that now some criminals are leaving the drug trafficking and going towards the theft, because it makes a lot of profit. Jones said that a phone can be sold in hundreds of pounds, so criminals are considering it as easy and beneficial business.
Two people on the moped tried to snatch the phone from the hand of a woman.
The gang used to target Apple phone
According to senior officials, this gang especially targeted the Apple phone, as they are sold abroad at a higher price.
In London, the stealers used to get 300 pounds per phone, while the same phones were sold in China for up to 4,000 pounds. Such phones are popular in China as they help using internet to avoid government sensorship.
Police Commander Andrew Federstone said, ‘This is the biggest action against mobile theft in Britain so far. We have targeted everyone from the stealers on the road to the international network sending thousands of phones abroad.
However, several victims have criticized the police not to take immediate action on the incidents of theft. Many people complain that even when they explain the location of their phone with services like “Find My iPhone”, the police do not help.
Stolen phones found in a box in a warehouse near Heathro Airport.
Police put video tickling video on tickets
The Metropolitan Police has put several video tickets and other social media platforms of officers dealing with phone snatchers in recent months.
Police say that so far this year, there has been a 13% decrease in personal robbery in London and 14% in theft. Police say more than 80 officers are joining the West End Team to focus on crimes like phone robbery.
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