London sees a surge in phone thefts by teens on bikes, alarming residents and tourists near Blackfriars Bridge.
These thieves cycle past people, stealing mobile phones. Don’t think you are immune to this crime. It is really irritating and like modern highway robbery.
They use bikes or mopeds to quickly escape. Their faces are often covered as they grab phones and then flee. The victims feel guilty for using their phones.
This crime has not spread to my county yet. I worry it is just a matter of time. You might think thieves swarm near train stations, but that is not always the case.
However, I saw this crime happen while in London. A host of stolen phones were recovered recently. I was strolling near Blackfriars Bridge around 9 pm.
The street was well-lit with many hotels, restaurants, and bars nearby. I noticed many cyclists; London always has cyclists, everywhere. It was a wet and cold Saturday. Some cyclists were delivery people, and I didn’t pay much attention to them.
I noticed some young people with hoodies up. They tried to snatch a woman’s phone. They missed, then fled as she shouted. Someone nearby chased them, but the thieves escaped quickly. They were probably going to try again near Blackfriars Bridge.
Their faces were covered, so recognition was impossible. They approached from behind, making it impossible to provide a description. They grabbed, then disappeared into the night.
I watched, stunned by their boldness. Luckily, luck saved the woman from being a statistic. It is a difficult crime to prevent and an even harder crime to solve. I hope this crime never comes to Kent.