Phone thieves in London police crosshairs... electric bikes chase them even up stairs

The pursuit of phone thieves in London’s streets is no longer limited to police cars or foot patrols; fast electric bikes have entered the fray, capable of chasing suspects off-road and even up stairs.

The British capital’s police force launched an expanded fleet of electric bikes this week to pursue street criminals, particularly mobile phone thieves, in a move described by one senior police officer as a “turning point.”

Reuters reported that London police are deploying 20 new electric bikes, capable of reaching speeds of 80 kilometers per hour, enabling officers to pursue suspects off-road and even up staircases.

During a patrol on Wednesday, one London police officer praised the effectiveness of using electric bikes and drones in combating crime.

Police say the bikes have proven especially useful in tackling mobile phone thefts, with statistics showing a decline in such crimes over the 12 months ending in May, from around 68,000 cases to 54,000.

Crime rates in Britain, particularly in London, have drawn repeated comments from right-wing politicians and public figures, including US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, owner of X. Trump had previously claimed there were areas in London where police were “banned” from entering.

Although crime rates have generally risen amid cuts to police funding, the latest figures show a decline in crimes including theft, robbery, and armed robbery in London during the year ending in June.

Last month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized those he said were “trying to smear London’s image” online and from outside the UK.