Residents have complained rampant phone and bag thefts that they say are not being properly investigated by police, reports Marco Marcelline
Local gangs stealing phones, bags, and bikes on a near daily basis are acting with “impunity”, Leyton residents have said.
The rampant thefts have fuelled a sense of frustration with the Metropolitan Police, who locals say don’t act to stop or find thieves.
Atanas Angelov, who lives with his partner in Leyton, said the theft of two of his bikes and the lack of police follow up has shattered any confidence he previously had in the Met.
Atanas said one of his bikes was stolen the very first time he left it outside overnight in Dunedin Road. “The second was taken from the underground storage area in our apartment building. The thieves had a master key.”
He quickly shared CCTV footage he had of the second bike theft with cops but says they never arrested anyone nor kept him updated on their investigation.
Phone snatching has however caused the biggest concern among Leyton residents, with some victims having been physically assaulted by masked assailants during the snatching attempts.
The robbers typically wear balaclavas and hoodies to conceal their identities, making it harder for police to identify and find them.
The stolen phones are often quickly sold for cash, sometimes exported overseas, or used to access sensitive data for fraud.
Leyton resident Jessica Alagappan, who started an online petition calling for more police action on the issue, told the Echo: “I haven’t had my phone snatched but I’m scared everyday; I’m always looking over my shoulder and I try not to have my phone out anytime that I’m out now.
“The thieves are young men and they’re always on bikes, either push or electric. They surround people and look at them closely to see if their phones are out. I’ve seen them especially target women walking by themselves and I’ve witnessed them going close to bus stops where people often have their phones out.”
According to Jessica and other residents who shared their experiences, the thieves have recently started to operate in groups of five or even seven at a time, which has created further concern among locals.
Recalling one phone snatching she saw, Jessica said: “Some months ago, I saw two boys on bikes swerve into a woman and steal her phone. She was in shock and couldn’t speak much English so I called the police for her. The police officer came and said he couldn’t help because the thieves weren’t identifiable.”
One resident, who asked to stay anonymous, said their mum was left “crying and shaking” after her phone was stolen from her pocket in April.
The Echo understands that the thieves follow a route passing busy bus stops and train stations from 7am to 9am nearly every day. Streets and stations repeatedly mentioned by residents include Leyton Midland Station, Leyton Underground Station, Church Road, Lea Bridge Road, and Markhouse Road.
Frustrated by the lack of deterrence, Jessica has called for more radical action from the police to tackle the issue. Aside from increasing the number of police officers on the street, she suggests an increase in plain-clothed officers carrying GPS devices disguised as phones that track gang member movements.
Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey previously said he wanted more community support officers in the local area and a reduction in officers being taken out of the borough to police major events in central London on weekends.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We understand the impact that robbery can have on victims. It’s an invasive and often violent crime and we recognise that there is still much more to do to tackle it as we make London safer.
“We are targeting resources to hotspot areas, including Leyton, with increased patrols and plain clothes officers which deter criminals and make officers more readily available to local people.
“We encourage people to report as soon as they can where they have been a victim of a robbery or theft, so officers can attend the scene and investigate swiftly.”
Are you a resident who has witnessed or experienced a phone snatch? Get in touch: [email protected]
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