THIS is the moment have-a-go heroes thwarted a suspected phone snatcher after he fell off an e-bike.
Pubgoers tackled the thief after he brazenly grabbed a phone in Ludgate Hill, Central London.
The woman’s phone is now with the police[/caption]
There is a distinctive Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York sticker on it[/caption]
The footage, caught on October 15 at 11.25pm, showed one of the shameless thieves, 23 from Southwark, darting towards St Paul’s Churchyard on an electric bike.
With the stolen phone still switched on, the audacious robber sped on to the road before taking a tumble as he came off the pavement.
Luckily, the quick-thinking crowd immediately took it upon themselves to tackle the crook in the street, descending on him and grabbing the upturned bike.
He managed to maneuver himself to the other side of the road but was unable to make a getaway as the public and police officers had him pinned.
The other thief unfortunately escaped on his bike.
As a police car arrived a chuffed gentlemen raised his hands triumphantly as onlookers applauded.
A second police vehicle turned up while onlookers continued to watch the scene unfold.
The clip, released on X by the City of London Police on October 17, was posted with the caption: “A suspected phone snatcher was arrested seconds after a phone was stolen near St Paul’s, thanks to assistance from members of the public and a nearby proactive City of London Police patrol.
“If you come to the City to steal phones, we will arrest you and bring you to justice.”
Also displayed was a picture of the stolen iPhone in an attempt to reunite the device with its owner.
The post read: “We’ve recovered a phone from the suspect that we believe may have been stolen. It is an iPhone with a sticker from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on it.
“If it is your phone, or you have any details of who the phone might belong to, call 020 7601 2222 ref 616958.”
In September this year, the government pledged to crack down on phone thefts after the crime increased by more than 150 per cent in the last year.
Across England and wales there are more than 200 snatch thefts a day over the last 12 months, according to Crime Survey data.
This has lead to the rise of sales for wrist straps and body lanyards for phone safety.
The Ludgate Hill phone swiper has since been bailed pending further investigations.
Currently the force is in the process of tracking down and arresting the outstanding suspect.
