Police urge UCL community to be vigilant for phone snatchers in Camden and Islington areas

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A Metropolitan Police Service campaign to raise awareness about criminals who use mopeds, motorcycles and bicycles to snatch phones from people on the streets is being launched across Camden and Islington.

Ongoing activity to address the issue by targeting offenders has seen the number of offences decrease within both boroughs in recent months.

Operation Attrition is made up of a dedicated team of officers who patrol daily in cars and on motorcycles and bicycles, and detectives conduct investigations and covert operations to tackle these and other crimes.

The team of officers also includes Sean Penrose, a fourth year UCL MEng student who is sharing his student perspective on the issue with colleagues involved in Operation Attrition.

UCL Security is on board with the awareness raising initiative and has also been doing work with staff and students to highlight the problem of moped-enabled crime particularly in the Bloomsbury area.

Over 180 arrests in Camden and Islington

So far in 2016, the team has made over 180 arrests in Camden and Islington for moped-enabled offences. They have recovered countless stolen mopeds, motorbikes and bicycles, and achieved numerous successful convictions at court.

However, the Met is keen to get the message out to the UCL community about the importance of remaining vigilant when using your phone in the street. A number of phones have been snatched around the Bloomsbury and Gower Street area. These offences can happen at speed with no warning, resulting in a valuable smart phone being taken.

Police have issued the following advice to UCL students and staff:

• use a hands free kit or headphones when making a call in the street, leaving your phone safely in your pocket

• don't text or use apps on the street

• remain alert and aware of your surroundings

You can check out the cartoon crime prevention video featuring the character "Cop Cat" which has also been launched as part of the wider awareness campaign. 

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Further advice and information is also available from the @MPSCamden Twitter feed.

Concerned students and staff can also contact UCL Security for further information. Follow @UCLSecurity on Twitter for security news updates and advice.

Look out for police advertising at Russell Square, Goodge Street and Warren Street stations.

Sean Penrose, Police Officer,  Operation Attrition, Metropolitan Police Service /  Fourth year UCL MEng student