Magnetic posters on vans help combat phone crime

Magnetic versions of posters highlighting the risks of mobile phone thefts are being put on police vans by Sussex Police as part of Operation Tealeaf in Brighton.

Sergeant Dave Bennett, who leads on Operation Tealeaf, said: “The posters were distributed towards the end of 2012 to all the main bars and clubs but we now have magnetic versions that can be put on any police van that is patrolling the city day or night. Although the posters are fun to look at, they do push home the right message and officers have had lots of positive comments from people. After all, you wouldn’t leave £500 on the side of a table in a pub or club, so why leave a £500 phone in the same way.

“We recognise that mobile phone theft has been a problem in the city for a while and we are taking positive steps, along with our partners, to deal with it and I am pleased to say it is now starting to have an impact. For example, in the regency area of Brighton there were 479 reported mobile phone thefts between January and March 2012, but for the same period this year it dropped to 263. But this is still too high a number and we will continue to try and drive down the number of thefts and make in particular the student population aware who are quite often victims of mobile phone thefts.”

As part of the force’s Operation Marble (policing of the night-time economy) two officers are now specifically assigned to Operation Tealeaf.

High-visibility policing in venues is alternated with plain-clothed work. Officers walk through venues identifying areas of concern to door staff and management and point out persons of interest.

Operation Tealeaf posters have been handed to most venues in the Brighton Cumulative Impact Zone – areas with a high concentration of pubs and clubs. A trap mobile phone has also proved successful in licensed premises in the town centre.