A petition calling for tougher action against moped crime in London has gathered more than 21,000 signatures in the three weeks since it was set up.

A sharp rise in the number of brazen robberies and violent attacks carried out by moped-enabled criminals across the capital has prompted fearful residents to pressure the government.

According to Metropolitan Police figures there were 866 moped-related crimes reported in 2014 and this number had risen to 8,356 in 2016.

From January 2017 to April 2017, 5,562 moped-enabled crimes were reported in London.

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq said: "Moped-related crime has seen a seven-fold increase in London since 2014."

She added: "There have been several incidents recently in my constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn and the surge in these sort of incidents is presenting the MPS with a significant challenge."

Since the start of October there has been 11 shocking "moped crimes" recorded.

On Monday (November 13) and Tuesday (November 14) the Apple store on Regents Street and two luxury clothing stores were the latest sites to be targeted by thieves on mopeds.

The Riders Against Moped Crime (RAMC) petition has so far been signed by 21,767 people and needs 25,000 to be put to UK Parliament and Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Shocking image shows thief on moped in action

RAMC set up the petition and calls for moped theft to be made "a priority for the Met Police and other police forces across the country."

As well as tougher sentencing for moped-enabled criminals it wants police to have increased powers and resources to "to pursue criminals on stolen bikes without fear of the risk to the criminal."

A RAMC spokesman said: "On a national level, the sentencing guidelines for motorcycle theft and crimes committed by these thugs needs to be changed and minimum sentences imposed by the courts to act as an effective deterrent."

Police advise owners to use covers on their bikes

He added: "The courts, police authorities are respectfully requested to act on this now on behalf of the public and on behalf of all those that have fallen victims to this escalating problem."

Time Line

Moped-enabled crimes in October

  1. Smash-and-grab raid

    A fresh appeal to find a moped gang who broke in and snatched designer handbags from a Chelsea store in February was launched on October 31.

    Detectives from Kensington and Chelsea have made six arrests in connection with the investigation.

    A 23-year-old man was subsequently charged with burglary. The other five were released with no further action.

  2. Kensal Green moped gang kick woman from bike

    A woman had her moped snatched from beneath her by a pair of violent thieves in Kensal Green on October 23. No arrests have yet been made.

  3. Kilburn MP calls moped crime meeting

    Hampstead and Kilburn MP, Tulip Siddiq, called a moped-related crime meeting on October 26 with Brent and Camden police after being contacted by a large number of fearful residents.

  4. Moped rider arrested for knifepoint robbery

    The driver of a moped that crashed in Chelsea on October 17 was arrested for offences including a knifepoint robbery.

    The vehicle was involved in a collision with a car in King’s Road.

    The driver was arrested on suspicion of a series of traffic offences and robbery, and was bailed to return to a central London police station on a date in early November.

  5. Knightsbridge smash-and-grab

    CCTV footage released by the Met on October 16 showed four men attempting to carry out a smash-and-grab on a Knightsbridge store before escaping on mopeds.

    The attempted break-in took place outside a shop in Cheval Place on September 22.

    Police are still appealing for information about what happened.

    On September 27 an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and subsequently released on bail.

  6. Teenage moped gang jailed

    Teenagers who snatched more than 100 mobile phones during attacks in London were jailed on October 11.

    They were sentenced to a total of 13 years in detention.

  7. Moped gang caught snatching phones on camera

    Shocking footage issued by Metropolitan Police showed the moment members of a moped gang were caught in the act in the midst of their callous crime spree, during which they stole more than 100 phones from members of the public in just five days - between April 18 and May 5.

    They targeted people on the streets of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington and Camden over the course of three weeks.

You can sign the petition for tougher action against moped crime here.

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android.