Street robbery campaign launched

NEWHAM police have launched a campaign to tackle street robbery in the borough.

As part of a crackdown across six London boroughs, officers are reminding residents to take simple steps to keep their valuables safe.

The awareness campaign will include poster ads featuring mobile phones, MP3 players and gold jewellery at bus and train stations.

In the post-holiday period when many people are carrying expensive goods such as smart phones, media players and gold jewellery police officers are urging everyone to be extra careful when and where they take them out.

In addition to the awareness campaign officers will be mounting g extra patrols in hotspots and pro-active investigations.

Detective Inspector Andy Furphy, who is head of the robbery squad in Newham, said iPhone 4s and Blackberrys were the most targeted items in street robberies. Many people had their smart phones snatched just walking down the street while talking.

He is urging everyone to wait until they get indoors before using them or to keep them out of sight.

He said: “What we are saying is be aware of where you are and of what is going on in your surroundings.”

The major hotspots are areas where there is heavy footfall such as side roads near to location such as High Street North in East Ham. Stratford Station and Canning Town station can also become hotspots.

He said everyone with a mobile phone should make sure they know its IMEI number which is unique to each one. If a phone is stolen and recovered, it can be returned to the owner if they have that number. You can find your IMEI number by keying in *#06# on your phone.

He urged anyone sold a stolen phone, or with information on anyone receiving such goods to contact the police on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

The pan-London marketing campaign will run from January 10 - February 13 and will involve radio, online and poster advertising. It is designed to encourage the public to think about when and where they use their valuables. It also highlights how criminals see possessions as cash.