Birmingham streets where most phones are robbed named
The streets where people are most likely to have their phones stolen in Birmingham have been named. Hundreds of people have been victims of theft in the city since the start of last year.
Unsurprisingly, the main hotspots are in the city centre on streets regularly filled with drinkers, workers and shoppers. The exclusive data obtained by BirminghamLive comes amid increasing concern among police chiefs about criminals targeting phones.
Thefts happen most often on Broad Street. Iconic for its nightlife and a place where revellers go to have a good time, it also attracts thieves aware victims are likely to be more vulnerable coming out of pubs and clubs.
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There have been over 400 reported phone thefts on Broad Street since the start of 2023. High Street is another hotspot, with 322 thefts reported in almost two years, while 151 incidents happened on Hurst Street in the Gay Village.
People weren't just targeted in the city centre. Coventry Road, Stratford Road and Soho Road also featured high on the list.
Phone theft locations in Birmingham since the start of 2023
Broad Street - 413
High Street - 322
Hurst Street - 151
Coventry Road - 84
Stratford Road - 79
Soho Road - 78
New Street - 71
Dudley Road - 53
Corporation Street - 52
Smallbrook Queensway - 50
Edgbaston Street - 40
Colmore Row - 39
Hagley Road - 38
Bristol Road South - 38
Lower Trinity Street - 36
Bromsgrove Street - 36
Warwick Road - 33
Details were released by West Midlands Police following a freedom of information request. These are just incidents which were reported to police. It's likely others weren't. Police also said the location was unknown for 79 thefts.
Rising phone thefts over recent years have prompted warnings to be extra vigilant when walking around in public, especially in busy areas like Birmingham city centre where attacks are more likely. People naturally become distracted when looking at their phones and are not always aware of what's going on around them, even more so if they are using headphones or earphones. These people could become easy prey for criminals.