Cambridge: Mobile Phone Thefts

8 May 2012, 12:27 | Updated: 8 May 2012, 12:43

The number of mobile phones being stolen in Cambridge has dropped by more than half, according to Police figures.

Police started focussing on thefts after 104 mobiles were stolen, mainly from people in pubs and clubs in Cambridge, between November 2011 and February 2012.

Extra officers were sent out to Cambridge city centre on Friday and Saturday nights to remind people to keep an eye on their phones, and bar staff were given training on how to spot a thief by the Cambridge Business Against Crime group.

A number of thefts were reported to have happened when men distracted women on dance floors before stealing their phones from bags.

Following this campaign, 43 mobile phone thefts were reported to Police in Cambridge during the last three months.

Inspector Ian Lyons said: "It is encouraging to see that the number of mobile phone thefts has dropped since we started the campaign and shows that people have been taking extra care of their valuables.

Staff at bars and pubs in the city have also been a great help by giving advice to customers and looking out for potential offenders, which has resulted in several arrests."

Last month three people who travelled to Cambridge from Wolverhampton and were caught on CCTV stealing mobile phones were arrested, charged and subsequently fined.