Increase in taxi mobile phone thefts

Police have issued a statement to students warning against using mobile phones as collateral in paying for taxis.

The statement said the victims, mostly students, are getting taxis home without any cash.  Then when they reach their destination they go inside to get money to pay, leaving their phone with the taxi driver as collateral. In a number of incidents recently, when the individual returns to pay the taxi driver they find that they have left and their phone has been stolen. Although police always make inquiries, victims are often not sure which taxi firm they used and so it is difficult to trace the phone.

Newcastle East Neighbourhood Inspector Neil Brotherton said: “We have had a number of these reports now and it’s really frustrating as they could have been easily avoided. Mobile phones are incredibly expensive and important to people so why people would risk a £500 plus phone for a £10 taxi fare is difficult to understand.” Police advice is to make sure you have plans to get home when you go out, always keep emergency cash on you and try to share taxis with friends if possible.

They also want to remind students of the emergency taxi scheme run by Newcastle University.