Gardaí are urging smartphone users to avoid falling victim to “bike bandits”.
The thievesfollow people using phones on the street at a distance. When the person is engrossed in a call, the thief passes at speed and grabs it from their hand. The thief travels a good distance in the seconds it takes the phone owner to realise what has happened and melts into traffic. Later, the phone is sold on the street or to a shop.
Garda advise people with expensive smartphones to stop walking when making calls and if possible to speak with their back to a wall or shopfront. Texting while walking is also not advisable.