Police issue urgent warning over e-bike phone snatchers as force admits fighting 'losing battle'
Police have warned they are fighting a 'losing battle' to stop phone snatchers who are causing chaos on 70mph e-bikes
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Police have warned they are fighting a "losing battle" to stop phone snatchers who are causing chaos on 70mph e-bikes.
City of London Police fear somebody could soon be killed by a thief on a powerful bike - which weigh up to 13st.
Officers say crooks have been found to be modifying or changing their e-bike motors to make them quicker.
Despite UK law stating that e-bikes must not provide powered assistance over 15.5mph, City of London’s cycle unit has confiscated a machine capable of 70.5mph.
Police have warned they are fighting a 'losing battle' to stop phone snatchers who are causing chaos on 70mph e-bikesGETTY/PA"We do feel like it’s a losing battle," Sgt Stu Ford told The Sun.
"It’s a battle we want to win.
"It’s just so prevalent that we can’t deal with it all the time."
It comes after Sonny Stringer was sentenced to two years’ jail last month after stealing 24 phones in an hour in London on his e-bike.
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The 28-year-old was detained when police caught his back wheel which caused him to fall off his bike.
Inspector Dan Green, part of City of London’s Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team explained that before now, officers would stop the thieves by knocking them off their bikes.
However, due to the bikes high speeds, police cannot "even get close".
He said: "E-bikes are the weapon of choice, capable of doing ridiculous speeds and agile.
Sonny Stringer was sentenced to two years’ jail last month after stealing 24 phones in an hour in London on his e-bike
City of London Police
"Dealing with them has always been a challenge.
"Years ago, we cut snatches by 90 per cent when the Met Police started knocking riders off their bikes.
"Nowadays it’s so difficult to even get close to these guys to use that tactic."