Seventeen arrested following crackdown on mobile phone theft

Seventeen people have been arrested following GMP’s largest ever crackdown on mobile phone theft.

Warrants were executed at addresses and businesses across Greater Manchester on Thursday 12 December.

Seventeen people have been arrested in relation to a number offences including handing stolen goods, burglary and money laundering. They are currently in police custody.

£60,000 cash and 77 stolen mobile phones have also been seized.

Earlier this year, GMP launched Operation Network in response to an increase in mobile phone theft.

In the last year (December 2012 – November 2013) there were 5,591 thefts from person and in 72 per cent (4,326) of these a mobile phone was stolen. This has risen by 12 per cent when compared to two years ago.

Thieves are targeting smartphone owners – in 2012/13 63 per cent (2,743) of phones stolen were iPhones and 20 per cent (854) were Samsung.

A team of officers has been working to trace offenders and identify stolen goods markets but today marks the biggest ever operation carried out by GMP to specifically target the growing concern of mobile phone theft.

Police suspect many of them are being exported abroad and are working closely with Manchester Airport to identify offenders.

Superintendent Craig Thompson from Greater Manchester Police said: “Mobile phone theft has become a real concern in recent months and as the popularity of smartphones rises so too do the number of offences.

“Today marks the biggest ever operation carried out by GMP to specifically target the growing concern of mobile phone theft and I hope it sends out a message to offenders that we will not tolerate their crimes.

“This is far from targeting low level offenders. With handsets fetching as much as £1,000 each abroad, organised crime groups are jumping on the bandwagon and using the profits from their crimes to fund further and more serious crime at the expense of local communities.

“In some instances offenders are using intimidating, threatening and downright unacceptable behaviour to steal phones and we will not allow these individuals to roam our streets causing misery.”

Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Jim Battle said: “Mobile phones play such an important part of people’s lives these days and it’s no surprise thieves are waiting in the wings to take advantage.

“I’m pleased the police take this type of crime seriously and this operation shows mobile phone thieves their days are numbered.”

Neighbourhood officers will be out in communities throughout the day talking to residents about keeping their mobile phone secure and events encouraging phone owners to register their handsets on immobilise.com will take place.

Superintendent Craig Thompson added: “We appreciate the advantages of having a mobile phone and we do not want to put people off owning one but we would like people to take greater care, especially when they are out in public.

“With most handsets costing £400-£500 each, residents should treat their handset as they would a large wad of cash. Don’t leave it lying on a coffee table or flaunt it in a pub or club, keep it out of view and don’t advertise to thieves.”

Police are also urging residents to make a note of their IMEI number which they will now need to report a phone as stolen. To find this out key *#06# into the phone’s keypad.

Anyone with information about mobile phone theft or the sale of stolen goods should contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.