Uma Kumaran, Labor MP for Stratford and Bow, told the BBC that her constituency has a problem with mobile phone theft and robbery.
“My own cell phone was stolen once,” she said. “It can happen in seconds. I have my phone in my hand and it’s in my pocket for a minute, and within 30 seconds someone walks past me and takes it away. .
“Now your entire life is on your phone. You could classify it as a low-level misdemeanor, but for the victim…suddenly your entire life is taken away.” I feel like I was hurt.”
The BBC filmed with a special police unit tasked with arresting mobile phone snatchers and witnessed several arrests. One of the suspects had wrapped his expensive mobile phone in aluminum foil to block the device’s signal and avoid being tracked.
A month after Niall reported his phone stolen, British Transport Police announced that the investigation had been closed due to “no CCTV evidence”.
British Transport Police said in a statement that they had received a report of the theft.
“Officers conducted an investigation and after exhausting all available investigation, the case is closed pending further information.”
Monzo told the BBC that he had repaid around £14,000 of the stolen money to Niall, but that the £7,000 fraudulent loan had not yet been written off by HSBC.
“HSBC don’t seem to understand that they don’t have £7,000 to give me back. They still can’t explain how they got the loan in my name. They haven’t been helpful at all.”
HSBC has been contacted for comment.
