‘He was bold and brazen, it was broad daylight...’
VICTIM TELLS HOW THIEF ON MOPED STOLE HER PHONE IN CITY CENTRE
THIEVES on mopeds have again struck in the city centre.
One firm has deployed security guards outside its premises to protect and warn staff leaving work.
In the latest incidents two people were robbed of their phones on Monday in Ancoats and Dale Street in the Northern Quarter.
The victim, 30, who asked not to be named, had a £1,000 Apple iPhone 11 snatched from her hand on Dale Street.
She told the M.E.N: “I had just returned to Manchester Piccadilly station from a trip to London. I was walking along Dale Street intending to go to Shudehill car park where my car was.
“This lad on a scramble-type bike went past me. Then he doubled back, mounted the pavement, and came up behind me snatching my phone out of my hand.
“I had my earphones in listening to music and texting. I sensed a group of lads running towards me – they were builders who could see what was about to happen – but before they got to me he had snatched the phone.
“He was very bold and brazen. It was broad daylight and Dale Street was busy with people, but he didn’t care. It was so quick I could not get a look at him for a description. The bike did not have a number plate.
“But the builders said he was wearing a green crash helmet, grey hoody, and was very thin, aged about 20.
“I was robbed at about 3.55pm, near to boohoo’s offices. On the same day, but in the morning, my colleague’s friend was robbed of their phone in Ancoats. In that incident the thief was also wearing a green crash helmet.”
After the robbery, fashion giant boohoo warned staff in an email to be vigilant and its security officers kept a watch in the street as staff left work.
The M.E.N. reported last month that police had issued a warning after thieves on mopeds committed a spate of robberies around the city centre with victims in Ancoats and Cheetham Hill.