April 14, 2006
Muggers prey on children to steal mobile phones
More than 50 children are being mugged every day in London, mostly for mobile phones, reports The Telegraph.
"Figures show that school-age robberies are soaring again after funding for a Government crackdown on street crime was stopped. The figures for robberies of juveniles are the worst for three years and have risen by nearly 50 per cent since 2002.
The figures show a 44 per cent rise in muggings of under-10s in the past three years and a 47 per cent rise in the same period among 10 to 17 year olds.
Many muggers are also young. Despite fears about the theft of iPods, they were involved in only four per cent of muggings. Mobile phones were involved in nearly half.
... The Met Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, is working with the phone industry to ensure that stolen handsets are "blocked" and rendered virtually worthless. Such negotiations, which were taking place three years ago, have again become a pressing issue."
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