Five City Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and the City Business Partnership have collaborated with the City of London Police to organize complimentary phone marking events, aimed at addressing the increasing prevalence of mobile phone theft.
These subtle and distinctive stickers render stolen phones traceable, assisting police in swiftly identifying and reuniting recovered phones with their legitimate owners and bolstering criminal cases against offenders. Authorities also recommend establishing a medical contact on devices, allowing access to next-of-kin information when the phone is locked, thereby facilitating its return if located.
Initiatives to tackle this concern have proven effective, resulting in a 30% decrease in mobile thefts in the City this year. Nonetheless, even with over 1,000 stolen phones recovered in the past two years, fewer than half have been successfully returned due to challenges in locating their owners.
To promote engagement, a series of pop-up events will take place throughout the City in the upcoming months. For more details, visit the [City of London Police website](https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/police-forces/city-of-london-police/areas/city-of-london/campaigns/campaigns/op-swipe).
The five City BIDs—Eastern City, Fleet Street Quarter, Cheapside, Aldgate Connect, and Culture Mile—together with the City Business Partnership (City River), are business-oriented and financed organizations created to improve designated commercial areas.
Henry Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer for the Eastern City BID, remarked, “Mobile theft is a significant worry for local workers and tourists. We are excited to support this vital initiative. The process only takes five minutes, so we strongly urge people to stop by during their lunch hour. It’s just one of many ongoing projects in partnership with the City of London Police to enhance the safety and security of all who work, visit, and reside in the Square Mile.”
Inspector Dan Green of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police expressed gratitude for the BIDs’ backing, stating, “Marking phones diminishes their temptation for thieves and improves the chances of returning recovered devices to their owners. We are also advising individuals to set up medical ID contacts on their devices to ease the return process.”
He added, “Our strong collaboration with the BIDs and businesses throughout the Square Mile reflects our dedication to decreasing mobile phone theft and safeguarding those who work, live, or visit the City.”
