FOI 10833

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0010833/26

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 28^th May 2026. Please find below the response to your request:

Could you please provide me with the number of offences of "robbery of personal property" where the item stolen is recorded as a mobile phone for each of the last three years (2023. 2024 and 2025).

Reply

Caveat:

Whilst there is a separate field for recording stolen items this is not mandatory, not routinely completed and cannot be relied upon. Therefore, a keyword search of the incident summaries has been completed and the returns reviewed to discount any false positives (this includes discounting any attempt robberies as no items were stolen). Ie the suspect asked for the victim’s phone, the victim did not have a phone so instead a demand was made for cash.

Included in the count are any offences where the victim’s phone has been damaged, i.e. phone was taken from the victim and then smashed on the wall or floor prior to the suspect leaving as reasonable to suggest that the victim has been deprived of their item, therefore meeting the definition of theft.