LBC’s Benji Hyer went to investigate the new signs designed to reduce phone thefts on one of London’s busiest streets. #lbc #oxfordstreet #news #London

A mobile phone is snatched every 15 minutes in this part of London alone. It’s a major problem. Criminals riding up on ebikes or mopeds and literally nicking devices out of people’s hands. Oxford Street, Europe’s busiest shopping road, is a hot spot for these sorts of crimes. And it’s here where purple signs have been laid out along the pavement as part of the mind the grab campaign, urging pedestrians to step away from the curb and think twice about producing their phone out in public. This is just a pilot scheme, but if it works, well, it could become the new normal.

27 Comments

  1. How about instead of defacing every city street with purple plastic, you just throw these thieves into jail for life. I guarantee it will stop very quickly.

  2. Imagine if e-bikes weren't so prevalent and easily buyable and usable without any license or registration as they are now. Never mind phone theft; those things are accidents waiting to happen!

  3. Last couple of days 11-12th Sep I walked in Oxford St from Oxford Circus to Selfridges and parts near Tottenham court Road and there wasn't any green 'Mind the Grab' markings anywhere on the pavements. I also rode the bus passing along Piccadilly to Haymarket and again there wasn't any markings.

  4. And out of all the footage you used, that purple line would have prevented sweet FA. How about a force of people to uphold the law so there is an actually deterrent to the crime in the first place? Maybe they police the law? Just a suggestion

  5. Is anyone else sad with what the UK has become?

    Crazy rising cost everywhere – rental, property, food, transport, and so on. Then, crime is at all-time high that it is unsafe to be alone or out at night. Immigrants everywhere contributing crime too.

    And just when you thought that's bad enough, the government is having budget issues and are scaling back public services, which made crime even worse.

    I miss the old London…. 1970-2000s… I would always watch Mr Bean to reminisce the old times….

  6. Or, crazy idea I know, put more police officers on the streets

    I know it's difficult because the ultra rich really need their tax breaks, but maybe we should increase public spending to help with the issues that the public have 😂😂😂😂

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