Victims have been targeted at popular city night time spots like Hurst Street in the Gay Village and Thorpe Street in Digbeth
‘Befriending thieves’ have been targeting victims at popular Birmingham nightspots like Hurst Street in the Gay Village (pictured) stealing phones after conning victims into thinking they wanted to be mates(Image: Google)
A man who is suspected of preying on victims at popular Birmingham nightspots pretending to be their friend and then stealing from them is to face court.
The conman/thief would target victims enjoying themselves in the city – at places like Hurst Street in the Gay Village and Thorpe Street in Digbeth.
The alleged offences are said to all have taken place in the early hours between 2am and 7am.
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Thieves have been known to chat to people and then ask for their phones, supposedly so they can put their number in.
But then they would run off stealing the phone.
More than 20 people are believed to have fallen victim to the ‘friendly’ frausters in past 18 months, acting alone and sometimes in groups.
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Now one of those suspected thieves has been arrested and charged.
At around 5am on Thursday (June 19) during a pre-planned operation, officers from Operation Fearless arrested a 24-year-old man as part of the investigation in Thorpe Street, Digbeth.
The 24-year-old has now been charged with five thefts from people, and two counts of fraud and was remanded in custody to appear before city magistrates today (Friday, June 20).
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A spokesperson for West Midlands Police issuing advice on staying safe on nights out said: “A night out should be fun, but it’s important to take precautions to stay safe. Here are some simple steps you can take:
“Plan your night out in advance – let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back
“Stick with your friends and avoid walking around alone and in unlit areas, especially at night. Share your phone’s location with people you trust
“Don’t leave drinks unattended and be wary of accepting a drink from a stranger, whether it’s an alcoholic one or not
“Keep your valuables out of sight and avoid carrying unnecessary items
“Always use licensed taxis and avoid unlicensed cabs”