Thieves target smartphones

Auckland City Central Police are concerned about the large numbers of smartphones going missing at the hands of thieves.

At the present point in time, approximately 40 smartphones go missing every week from the central city alone.  Smartphones are frequently targeted by property crime offenders as items of high value that are easy to steal and relatively easy to dispose of.  Members of the public are reminded of the importance of taking care of their possessions and to be aware of the possibility that offenders are looking for opportunities to take items such as smartphones when they observe them in public places.

In some cases recently, Police have observed a trend of offenders stealing cellphones and then contacting their owners demanding money for the return of the phone. In the last week, Auckland City Central Police have been involved in two cases where this occurred.  On both occasions Police were able to intercept the offender who had demanded cash from the victim in return for their stolen property. In both cases the offenders were arrested and charged with offences relating to the theft of the phone.

Auckland City Central area commander, Inspector Andrew Coster says, "The recent increase in smartphones being stolen demonstrates the massive demand for these items. Technology can assist in the recovery of stolen phones, as recent apprehensions demonstrate. However, prevention is better than cure and, by taking appropriate care, people can guard against their property going missing."