Boston and London report contrasting mobile phone theft trends

Boston police warned of a recent surge in downtown cellphone robberies, describing multiple incidents across Downtown Crossing, South Station and Tremont Street. Stolen phones were allegedly used for fraudulent transactions, credit‑card fraud and cash withdrawals. Arrests included a juvenile female suspect and 25‑year‑old Dae‑Quan Jatae Davis, who faced unarmed robbery and additional fraud‑related warrants.

In London, the Metropolitan Police announced that mobile‑phone thefts have been halved over the past year, attributing the decline to a stronger neighbourhood policing presence. Reported offenses fell from 250,000 to 215,000 city‑wide, with the biggest drop in Westminster. Police also highlighted earlier cases involving stolen‑phone trafficking networks that shipped thousands of devices to China, leading to convictions of individuals such as Amir Muhammad Khadikhel.