Latest news with #crimeWave
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment e-bike phone thief dangerously veers across traffic to grab mobile from stunned pedestrian victim
This is the shocking moment a thief on an e-bike dangerously veers across traffic to snatch a mobile phone from a stunned pedestrian. The dramatic scene unfolded in Westminster where the cyclist, wearing all black clothes, overtook some cars on the road before suddenly swerving to the left. The video shows the cyclist clearly turning their attention towards a pedestrian walking on the pavement. The man wearing running clothes was on his phone as the thief brazenly mounted onto the pavement and quickly snatched the phone from him. The man wearing shorts is seemingly in disbelief at what happened and is seen running his hands through his hair as the cyclist quickly disappears as it makes a run. Another pedestrian seems to be partially trying to stop the thief by raising his leg to try to block him, but this proves completely ineffective. This is yet another example of the rise of phone thefts in the capital, a hotel empire boss warning the issue has become an 'epidemic' scaring away tourists. Greg Hegarty has become the latest leading business figure to raise the alert about rampant crime in the UK capital - with pressure on mayor Sadiq Khan to crack down. Mr Hegarty, co-chief executive of PPHE Hotels which has 51 venues across Europe, told of having to hike spending on security in a bid to reassure potential visitors. His concerns come as figures have shown a surge in phone snatching across London, with victims as young as four being targeted. The £50million-a-year crimewave spreading across the country involves thugs speeding on scooters and bikes taking expensive phones from innocent citizens. And now Mr Hegarty says visitors are being put off coming to London, a city that accounted for nearly a quarter of the UK's travel and tourism spending in 2023. The hotel chief said: 'If I'm looking at the South Bank of London, and Oxford Street, you can't carry a mobile phone in the street any more. 'You have got tourists now who are becoming less and less confident in coming or going to certain areas of London.' As reported yesterday, another moment was caught on video of a phone snatcher being knocked off his bike by furious Londoners before losing a shoe that police later used to catch him. Spencer Duarte, of Saffron Walden, was tackled off his e-bike by members of the public after he stole a phone from an innocent victim's hand in Ludgate Hill, London, on August 7 last year. Dramatic video footage showed the moment a quick-thinking pedestrian leapt into the street and intercepted the robber, who fell into the road while on his bike. Duarte, who initially stood up and was able to get back on his bike, was then chased down by two more members of the public. Cornered on the side of the pavement, he was pulled from his bike a second time as he attempted to flee. The phone thief, dressed in a fluorescent top and helmet, then proceeded to run across the road away from the furious Londoners. In a last-minute attempt at halting the robber, another four pedestrians reached out to try and grab hold of Duarte, who darted at speed between the different men before making a successful exit down the road. During the ensuing struggle, Duarte lost a shoe, which police detectives later used to catch him for his crimes as a result of the DNA it held. The 28-year-old, who was spotted and arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on September 9, admitted to one count of theft at Inner London Crown Court on Monday. He also accepted that he had items in his rucksack going equipped to steal. Duarte is due to be sentenced on September 12. Dubbed the 'Cinderella phone snatcher', Andrew Walker, physical forensics manager of the City of London Police, described how Duarte was ultimately caught as a result of his trainer being left at the scene. He said: 'We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the national DNA database. 'This search generated a 'hit' to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. 'The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.' Jake Dean, Police Constable of the City of London Police, said: 'Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty. 'Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice. 'Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and our key priority has been to reduce the number of phones stolen and relentlessly target those criminals responsible.'
CTV News
04-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Police investigating brazen daytime jewelry robbery
Ottawa Watch Police continue to investigate a brazen jewelry store robbery last week, the latest in a series of similar incidents. CTV's Peter Szperling reports.
