The United Kingdom is grappling with a significant rise in phone and bag snatching incidents, with an alarming 200 cases being reported daily. Recent statistics paint a troubling picture, with approximately 78,000 people falling victim to these thefts in the past year alone. Authorities attribute this spike to the growing demand for second-hand smartphones, which has fuelled the illegal market for stolen devices.
To address the crisis, the Home Office is taking steps by organising a summit with leading technology companies and manufacturers. The goal of this summit is to explore innovative ways to curb the illegal trade in stolen goods, particularly smartphones, which have become a prime target for thieves. The latest Crime Survey reveals that thefts of this nature have reached their highest level in a decade as compared to the average rates from 2012 to 2013.
Police Minister Dame Diana Johnson said that the government is determined to do whatever’s necessary to protect people entitled to walk the streets without the threat of robbery. “As part of our Safer Streets mission, this new government is determined to crack down on snatch theft, knife-enabled robbery and other crimes that make people feel unsafe in our communities,” she said, as per Metro News. “Phone companies must ensure that any stolen phones can be quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale on the second-hand market.”
Commander Richard Smith, who leads the National Police Chiefs’ Council on personal robbery, explained that these crimes can deeply affect victims. He shared that thieves often target helpless people, including children and use violence, which makes the experience even more frightening. Smith ensures that the police are focused on catching repeat offenders and also working to prevent young people from becoming involved in such crimes.
According to Smith, the police are focusing on 1,250 problem areas known for personal robberies. They even increased their presence and arrested many people planning to commit these crimes. However, simply making arrests isn’t enough to solve the issue. Smith adds that tech companies and manufacturers should also help by making it harder for thieves to sell stolen phones and other devices.
Despite the increase in thefts, the majority of the cases were closed before police identified the suspect and only 0.8% complaints led to a charge. Meanwhile, through Operation Opal, police are set to begin an important investigation to track down phone thieves and understand where stolen phones go. The gathered data will help create a clear picture of the stolen phone market, so that the authorities could take additional steps to address the issue.
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