E-bike phone snatcher tracked by police helicopter moments after swiping device

New footage has shown the infinitesimal an e-bike telephone snatcher being traced and tracked down by constabulary moments aft helium snatched a woman’s phone retired of her manus astatine a autobus stop.

The melodramatic video shows the thief dilatory approaching the autobus halt connected his e-bike, earlier reaching over, grabbing the woman’s telephone and speeding away.

The footage, captured from a chopper and released by the Metropolitan Police, past shows the thief riding distant from the country ‘showing nary respect for immoderate pedestrians.’

Eventually, officers negociate to drawback the fishy and detain him astatine a section younker centre adjacent New North Road, Islington.

The thief had reportedly stolen aggregate phones earlier his arrest.

Earlier successful the video, an serviceman said: ‘We were approached by a subordinate of the nationalist who saw him propulsion a bum container benignant container whilst travelling down Holton Road.

‘We person got it successful our possession, it has aggregate stolen phones wrong wrapped successful tin foil.’

Between 2022 and 2023, the Met recorded 41,705 incidents of mobile telephone theft.

Phone thefts are much communal successful immoderate areas of London than others, however.

Westminster is acold and distant the biggest telephone theft hotspot successful the capital, with much than a 3rd of incidents recorded by constabulary occurring successful the fashionable tourer area.

Following Westminster, yet rather a mode behind, are Camden and Southwark.

The Met’s person connected telephone robbery and theft, Detective Superintendent Saj Hussain, said: ‘We recognize the interaction robbery tin person connected victims and we besides recognise that determination is inactive overmuch to bash to tackle the occupation arsenic we marque London safer.

‘Met officers are targeting resources successful hotspot areas with accrued patrols and plain apparel officers – and this effect makes wide this attack is having a affirmative impact.

‘We promote radical to study arsenic soon arsenic they tin whenever they person been the unfortunate of a robbery oregon theft truthful officers tin be the country and analyse swiftly.’

Get successful interaction with our quality squad by emailing america astatine webnews@metro.co.uk.

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