As many as 48 mobile phones are being snatched in one single day in Hackney, by thieves on mopeds and bicycles.

Hackney Council and the police have issues a new warning as figures for the crime continue to rise.

Criminals - who typically work in pairs on stolen mopeds - cruise around to target people using their mobile phones in public places.

They often mount pavements to grab the phones, putting both the victim and passers-by in danger.

Hoxton and Shoreditch are hotspots for the crime.

But police are urging vigilance at all times - particularly at bus stops, outside train stations, pubs and clubs, and when wearing headphones.

The council’s safety chief, Cllr Caroline Selman, said: “This crime is on the rise across London generally, and in Hackney, we’re seeing up to 48 thefts a day – or two an hour – by criminals on both mopeds and bicycles.

“Victims can be left shaken by the experience on top of suffering the inconvenience of losing a valuable possession.”