It’s working well in Britain, so why not try it here?
That’s what Vancouver’s Police chief is saying about plans to curb the number of cell phone robberies — not thefts — in this city.
“When you’re holding your cell phone in your hand, that’s like waving 500 dollars cash in front of people that may come up to you and grab it out of your hand and take it.”
Chief Jim Chu says police in the United Kingdom have reduced the black market re-sale of phones by working with wireless providers to block the signals of devices reported stolen… and that may be the cure for Vancouver’s growing problem.
“It’s about a 40 per cent increase year to date from last year. A very common place for it to occur is near a transit hub. Of course, downtown are the main transit hubs.”
Chu adds the UK has already recorded a 35 per cent drop in this type of robbery.
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