It will be a relief to many to know that the crime rate in major cities in the UK is decreasing. However, there is still plenty of crime on the streets; unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly violent. Among the latest trends in this type of violent crime is the growth of what has come to be known as Moped Gangs. This short guide is concerned with such moped gangs, how and where they operate and, more to the point, what everyone can do in order to stay safe.
In 2018, according to the Metropolitan Police, thefts using motorcycles become the crime of choice for young offenders. Most thieves involved in this type of crime are teenage boys operating in the streets near where they live.
These young offenders use mopeds because they are relatively easy to both procure and ride. There is ample room for an accomplice as a passenger on the vehicle, and it’s small enough to bypass traffic. Mopeds are also fast enough for their nefarious purpose and can easily outwit pedestrians and the authorities alike, as well as anyone else who tries to apprehend them. There are plenty around any city to steal, and once they are stolen they are readily lost without trace as far as their owners are concerned, sometimes for a long time.
The people who use these kinds of tactics for crime are generally armed with knives or machetes, and their stolen bikes can be used to transport and carry bolt cutters and battery powered angle grinders. Some riders will carry acid or other corrosive substances with them to fight off anyone who tries to oppose them or tries to catch them. They tend to ride in pairs, designating one as the ‘driver’ and the accomplice as the lookout with a keen eye for an opportunist snatch or quick raid on an unsuspecting victim. This passenger is also the one who, having his hands free, does the snatching and grabbing of whatever is the prize of the moment. Sometimes they travel in groups of up to three bikes and once their crime has been committed they will find it easy to split up immediately and head off in different directions, in which case they are difficult to identify and catch.
There are no rules or regulations in this game, and they pay no attention whatsoever to the laws of the public highways; they will go down no-entry roads, drive through red lights, drive on the pavement and ride their vehicles regardless of the prevailing weather.
These criminals find it easy to attack their victims wherever they might be, and they can grab anything that is not secured. They have a preference for stealing high-value smartphones and expensive designer handbags, as well as similar items with an expensive price tag.
The favourite time for such moped gangs to strike is near the evening rush hour or during similarly busy periods when the opportunity for chaos and anonymity are at their peak; these very busy streets offer plenty of victims to choose from and it’s very easy for the perpetrators to make their escape in such conditions on their mopeds.
In order for these criminals to complete a successful attack, the situation must meet three criteria.
- The opportunity of an easy victim;
- Positioning which allows quick access to both attack and escape;
- Good timing;
Opportunist thieves who use mopeds choose people who are in what is known as ‘condition white’. Condition white is a security term which is widely used to describe people who are unprepared and totally unaware of their surroundings, thereby completely at the mercy of anything that may be about to happen to them. It is crucial that you learn to avoid this condition at all times.
There is a general agreement among security professionals of what a person (or ‘mark’) in condition white is perceived to look like: the head is down, eyes averted, oblivious to what is going on around them. The person in condition white may be daydreaming, talking or texting on their phone, or otherwise engaged in conversation; he or she could be listening to music (especially while wearing headphones). The message here is clear: stay out of condition white: for if you are not alert to what is happening immediately around you, you are vulnerable and unprepared for whatever might happen next. You must never allow yourself to be out in public in condition white.
The thieves tend to favour targeting people in one of three locations:
Pedestrian crossings – these are good spots from the point of view of the attacker because here people tend to be looking down; using a pedestrian crossing is a passive activity and some people will have their guard down, so may be using their phones, or possibly be listening to music with their headphones. Anything that is not securely wrapped around the shoulders or back, such as a bag loosely on the wrist, is very easy to snatch at this point.
Bus stops – people standing at bus stops are just waiting; to fill the vacuum of inactivity they may be using their phones, completely oblivious to the fact that they are now in condition white and unaware of their surroundings. The thieves will ride straight alongside and past them, grab their phone and off they go. By the time the victim’s brain acknowledges what has happened, their very mobile muggers are already at the next set of traffic lights, waiting to get clean away. But now their adrenalin is up, and if they see another potential victim close to their path they will attack again. In this way they may attack three to four times in the space of only 40 or 50 metres.
The pavement – as long as you are distracted on the pavement you are not safe; if you are seen as vulnerable the thieves will usually attack from behind and grab anything they can and off they go.
The perfect opportunity for a thief to attack is just before the light turns green. Imagine you are standing at a pedestrian crossing, anxiously waiting your turn to cross. As soon as you see the green light, you step forward and start to cross. You don’t expect any vehicles coming towards you because you have the green light in your favour and you know that you have full rights to cross; yet here is the perfect opportunity to let your guard down, when you feel at your most secure. You may be scrolling on your phone to select the next playlist and then, in a split second, someone on a moped grabs the phone and off he goes. By the time you realise what has happened they are already at the next set of traffic lights.
If you are at the bus stop or walking on the pavement the optimum time for a thief to attack is when you are not paying attention, when you are unaware of your surroundings and you are distracted.
How to protect yourself against Moped Gangs
Now that you know how moped gangs work it is very easy to protect yourself.
The most important thing is to increase your awareness by paying attention. Our brain is not capable of multitasking, so in order to pay attention you have to put away your phone. If you wear headphones you should lower the volume so that you can hear what’s happening around you. Start looking for things that stand out or seem a bit odd or out of place. If you see two young guys on a moped zig-zagging between the cars so they can be first at the traffic lights, then it’s a pretty good indication that you need to pay attention. If you see three scooters in a group with two teenagers on each scooter you should be careful and take preventive measures. Put your phone in your pocket and make sure your bag is secured over your shoulders. If you are at a pedestrian crossing, when the light turns green look around you and see if any of the mopeds start to drive off. If they do then it could indicate that they’re crossing a red light and are about to attack..
Perception is everything. Walk with confidence; whatever you do, don’t look like an easy victim. Remove the element of surprise by making small eye contact with the attacker just enough to make them aware that you’ve noticed them. Remember that they’re looking for an easy victim, not someone who is aware of them.
If they head aggressively towards you, move to a safer area and let people know about what potential danger awaits; scream if you have to: just make people aware.
If you’re at a bus stop stay in the shelter if there is one. If the shelter is crowded and you don’t have any space then position yourself to the sides, preferably opposing the traffic flow in the street. Then your predator won’t be able to reach out and grab your valuables.
If you have to use your phone, only use it when you’re stationary and in a safe place where you can observe your surroundings.
If you have to talk on the phone use a small headset and keep the phone away from view.
If you have a handbag, make sure it’s securely around your shoulder. If any potential thieves see that it takes too much effort to grab the bag they will leave it because they don’t want to hang around in the same location where other passers-by can make thing difficult for them.
Don’t be a hero. Now that you know that these thieves are teenagers you might be tempted to fight back, but don’t.
It is very difficult to defend yourself against a knife and it is impossible to defend yourself against an acid attack. A drop of hydrofluoric acid can burn through your clothing and you can faint from the immense pain it causes.
If you are attacked, try to stay calm. Ask the people around you to call the police and to take pictures or videos of the attackers. You should also try to take a mental picture with as many details as possible about the attackers (colour of their clothing, colour of their skin, height, body shape, scars and tattoos, license plate of their vehicles, their accents, etc.)
