Ward Sergeant's Update

On Met Engage, across Belsize and Gospel Oak, mobile phone theft has been identified as one of the main issues raised by residents through the Local Matters Survey.  So, I thought this week we would focus on all things mobile.

My second mobile phone was the classic Nokia 3210, which back in 1999 cost around £150 which is roughly £337 in today’s money. Fast forward twenty-seven years and a brand new, all singing, all dancing smartphone, can easily set you back around £1,000

That’s a significant difference in value, which unfortunately makes mobile phones an increasingly attractive target for thieves. A £1,000 mobile phone stolen from a victim can often be sold by the offender to a handler for as little as £200–£350, making it a quick and profitable crime.

The handler will typically do one of three things: strip the device for parts, exploit it for data and financial information, or export it overseas. They will then take their share, which is usually around £250 per device.

The primary aim is to export stolen devices overseas, to regions such as the Middle East, North Africa and East Asia.  In these locations, UK network blacklists can be bypassed and carrier-tracking measures are often less effective. 

These organised criminal networks then sell the devices on, with internet-enabled smartphones being particularly valuable to buyers seeking to bypass local restrictions, sometimes achieving prices of several thousands of pounds per device.

So what can you do, to protect your device

Several years ago, I arrested a phone theft offender.  During a conversation with him about how people could avoid becoming victims of phone theft, he said something that has stayed with me ever since: “Would you walk around the streets holding a bag in your hand, waving it about?”  (For those unfamiliar with Cockney rhyming slang, a “bag” refers to a “bag of sand,” meaning a grand - £1,000).

As law abiding members of the public, we should be able to walk the streets, without fear of becoming a victim of theft.  However, in the world we live in today, it is important that we take reasonable steps to protect our valuables or mobile phone. 

My top tips are:

The two links below contain a wealth of information to help you keep your mobile phone safe.

Here’s what your Safer Neighbourhood Team has been up to this week

The team and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and we look forward to seeing some of you whilst we are out and about next week.

All the best

Mark