NCJ Number
195338
Date Published
2001
Length
99 pages
Annotation
This document reports on robberies in the United Kingdom involving mobile phones.
Abstract
The sources of information used were the British Crime Survey (BCS), police records, and interviews with offenders. Results show that the number of phones currently being stolen is unknown. There are no consolidated figures from either phone operators or insurers. Existing surveys provide figures with sampling error and no coverage of commercial targets. The BCS provides an estimate of phone thefts against those aged 16 or older. It suggests there were about 470,000 phone thefts (including attempts) in 2000 originating from a number of different offenses, robbery among them. Adults are as likely to fall victim when a phone is left in a car, when their house is broken into, or when they leave a phone unattended somewhere else. The chances of phones being stolen in either a robbery or a theft from the person are no higher. Thefts from the person are akin to robbery: they involve stealth theft without any direct force or threat of force, in which case robbery would apply. A large school survey asked 15,000 11-15 year olds whether they had a phone stolen in the last year. Results suggest there were 550,000 phone thefts against this age group between mid-2000 and mid-2001. The overwhelming majority of offenders were male, and they were younger than other robbers were. The overwhelming majority of phone robbers were Black. More than two-thirds of phone robbery incidents involved offenders working with others. Slightly more female offenders worked with others than males. About four out of five victims were male, although London had more female victims. Those under 18 constituted nearly half of all victims, with the peak age of 15 and 16. The majority of victims were white. In 23 percent of incidents overall victims were using their phones or had it on display when it was targeted. 30 figures, 27 tables, 16 references, appendix