Police helicopter helps cops chase moped phone theft suspects

Police were called at 12.48pm on Friday to reports of two men on a moped attempting to snatch phones from members of the public in Hackney.

Officers began to pursue the men in Bethnal Green.

A helicopter from the National Police Air Service tracked the moped as it was driven at speed through east London; the men made their way from Bethnal Green onto East India Dock Road, then to Tower Hill,where they crossed over Tower Bridge.

They arrived in Bermondsey where, according to a Met statement, "officers managed to forensically tag them with a solution so as to link them to the incident".

Following a minor collision with a van, the men came off their moden and attempted to make off on foot, but were chased and arrested by police.

The males have been taken to a south London police station where they are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and driving offences.

Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer said: "The Met is working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who use scooters, mopeds and motorbikes for theft and robbery offences.

"Thanks to the professionalism of our officers, and the support of our colleagues in the National Police Air Service, we have safely arrested two people for a number of offences.

"This incident shows the Met's determination to stop offenders who think they can use vehicles to commit crimes with impunity."