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50,000 Crimes Are Committed By 'Scooter Gangs' In London Each Year

50,000 Crimes Are Committed By 'Scooter Gangs' In London Each Year

It's an alarming new crime wave.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

A new worrying crime wave is hitting the streets of London, registering up to 50,000 offences in the last year, according to police.

Gangs using stolen scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and bikes are committing thousands of snatch offences across Britain's capital.

The scale of the crimes hit a new high as police revealed an alarming new tactic, in which a gang sprayed a fire extinguisher into the face of a motorcyclist, in a bid to hijack his motor.

The dramatic footage was caught on the helmet camera of the 58-year-old victim and shows him surrounded by seven suspects on four mopeds, as we was forced to stop in a road in East London.

In this incident the group were unsuccessful in their theft and fled the scene.

Credit: Metropolitan Police

Today, detectives have appealed for information on the gang, who are also wanted in connection with a further seven offences in the Barking and Dagenham area. The appeal came from Operation Venice, the Metropolitan's campaign against moped crimes, who said there had been an explosion in 'two-wheeled crime' across the capital.

Detectives say they are dealing with at least 500 known offenders, with suspects moving between using stolen mopeds and pedal cycles to snatch mobile phones.

Many of the offenders have 20-plus crimes to their name, and one 15-year-old was only jailed after being arrested 80 times.

Police have encouraged locals to lock up their bikes and take care of their possessions as figures show around 1,5000 scooters or motorbikes are being stolen each month. A further 2,500 crimes are being committed with the use of a pedal bike or motorcycle. It's up 41 percent over the 2015-16 period.

Credit: YouTube

Commander Julian Bennett, who is in charge of Operation Venice, said: "This is coming up to 50,000 crimes a year so this is a significant issue.

"This is a serious crime because of the risk to everyone involved, including the riders, pedestrians and the victims of the snatch. This is completely unacceptable."

Credit: PA

The rise, it is thought, could be linked to rising travelling costs as people look to find a cheaper alternative with their inexpensive scooters.

Superintendent Mark Payne said: "They take the key out and think it is OK to walk away from but the average thief can steal a scooter in 30-40 seconds.

"If people take more care and use locks to secure their machines there will not be as many stolen scooters around so there will be less crime."

Credit: City Of London Police

The Police have admitted there are difficulties in securing evidence against gangs who hide their faces, largely because the Met have to follow strict policy guidelines before committing to a high speed chase through London.

The guidelines were stepped up after 18-year-old Henry Hicks was killed in a chase back in December 2014. Four police officers are facing misconduct charges after an inquest jury rejected their account that Hicks was not aware he was being followed.

Source: Evening Standard

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Police