Police in Hounslow have issued warnings about phone snatchers on mopeds in the borough, urging mobile users to protect their phones from potential theft.
Posting to Twitter, Heston Ctrl Police warned residents of phone snatchers targeting people in the borough, particularly around the Hounslow Tube stations.
Offering advice, they said: "Phone snatchers on bikes are targeting people around Hounslow tube stations.
"Check your maps before you exit".
Using #LoveYourPhone, Hounslow Police also posted on Twitter to alert those in the borough.
Theft and handling is top of the pile when it comes to recorded crimes in Hounslow, with 12,536 since the start of this year, 1,652 more than second on the list, violence against a person.
According to the Metropolitan Police, criminals target busy locations such as Tube stations, shopping centres and concert venues, using mopeds or bicycles, sometimes mounting the pavement to grab a phone.
Speaking to getwestlondon, Superintendent Mark Payne from Hounslow Police said: "I think people should be able to use their mobile phones in public, it's part of life, you know, we've all got them, we all carry them and you should be able to walk down the street and use your mobile phone because that's the society we live in these days."
He explained the thieves practice recognising phones and stealing them on mopeds to make the theft as slick and as easy as possible.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Be aware of your surroundings
Superintendent Mark Payne advises: "You need to be aware of your surroundings, if you're very near the curb or corners of roads then those are places where thieves particularly like to target and just have a look around you before you use your mobile phone."
The Metropolitan Police has issued further advice on how to be one step ahead of thieves, including looking out for mopeds before making a call, refraining from texting whilst walking and going hands free where possible.
Use security features on your phone
Ensure all security measures on your phone are switched on and use the keypad lock so thieves cannot immediately access your handset.
Know your phone
"Take a note of your IMEI number," says Superintendent Mark Payne.
"Make sure you've got that laid down somewhere, because we do recover a lot of mobile phones when we raid people's premises and we can't always attribute them back to the owner."
The IMEI number can usually be found on the back of the phone, alternatively you can dial *#06# from your phone to find to your number.
Finally, phone owners can register their mobiles at www.immobilise.com, which will help police recover stolen property and also help combat the sale of stolen goods.
On average police recover more than 2,500 items registered to the website each month.
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