Theft levels rise over last year

21/10/11

By Yamurai Zendera

The chief constable of the Association of Chief Police Officers has said a recent rise in robberies can be partly explained by a demand for mobile phones on the black market.

Jon Murphy was speaking as the number of thefts from outside homes, gardens and sheds rose by 13 per cent over the last year.

These types of crimes have tended to remain steady over the last six years.

The figures have been provided by the British Crime Survey, which found a total of 1,314,000 incidents were reported in the 12 months to June, compared with just 1,167,000 between July 2009 and June 2010.

Mr Murphy said: "We believe the increase in robbery is in part driven by demand for mobile phone handsets, which can fetch more than double their worth on the black market abroad.

"Worryingly, a large proportion of phone owners still do not have passcodes on their phones, leaving them vulnerable to possible ID theft and fraud."

The survey interviewed people in more than 45,000 households. It also showed an increase in lower-level theft offences such as pick-pocketing, shoplifting and thefts from homes by workmen.