The former leader of a London council today revealed how she was left bleeding from a hand injury after moped muggers tried to snatch her phone.
Sarah Hayward described how the would-be thieves “gouged a lump of skin out of my thumb” when one made an unsuccessful grab for the phone as she walked in Castle Street, Kentish Town.
The Labour councillor, who stood down as Camden Council leader in April, had been checking her emails following lunch with a colleague when a scooter without number plates mounted the pavement behind her.
She said: “Fortunately I was holding the phone with both hands as I wrote. They gouged a lump of skin out of my thumb, and when they didn’t get it they rode off.
“I was a little bit shaken. I’ve seen stuff like this before but I was quite surprised to see it on such a residential street.
“I think they probably targeted that street because there are no cameras there and they knew I wasn’t going to get a number plate, so they can basically act with impunity.”
There were 1,680 moped-enabled mobile phone snatches in Camden in the 12 months to April, according to latest police figures.
Cllr Hayward, who represents King’s Cross ward, said she was initially hesitant to contact the police because her phone had not been stolen.
But she was convinced by the foreman of nearby building site, who witnessed the incident.
She said: “The thought process that went through my head was that I didn’t want to waste police time. But it’s important to help build up a picture of where this is happening.
“I’ve never felt nervous walking around with my gadgets in my hand. But the last couple of days I have been a lot more observant.
“We should all be able to walk around safely and not worry about someone nicking our possessions.
“It’s their fault, not mine.”
Police are investigating the incident, which took place on Thursday.
