Phone snatching: How to avoid it

iphone - Moped and bike enabled crime occurs in all areas of London. Unfortunately, Bloomsbury remains an attractive area for thieves and we have seen a rise in these offences since lockdown. Criminals who use mopeds and bikes tend to operate in areas with a high pedestrian footfall. Not only does Bloomsbury have a lot of people coming from Kings Cross/St Pancras/Euston heading to the West End and vice versa, there is also huge footfall of tourists and students. UCL has seen increased reports of electric bicycles being used to perpetrate these snatch thefts, sometimes in groups, with some criminals dressing as Deliveroo or other well-known delivery company riders, so victims do not suspect them as they cycle close to them on pavements. Top tips to keep your phone safe:. Be aware of your surroundings when using your phone outdoors : Try to avoid using your phone in public.