THEFTS of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets have reached even higher levels than the peak which led Prime Minister Tony Blair to personally launch Labour's street crime crackdown, a survey indicated today.

Devices such as exclusive 3G phones, MP3 players and mobile email receivers are fuelling a dramatic new surge in street robberies and other thefts.

A Press Association survey of crime data across England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed theft of electronic gadgets rose 9% year-on-year.

There was a 5.5% increase compared with 2001/02 across 17 police forces which responded to requests under the Freedom of Information Act, up from 56,414 to 59,433.

There were more than 1,000 more such crimes last year than the previous peak in 2002/03, the survey showed.

In London, there was a 13% rise in the 12 months to the end of October compared with the previous year.

The Metropolitan Police said 32,992 mobiles and 1,688 gadgets such as MP3 players and mobile email devices were stolen.

In comparison with 2001/02, the capital's total for last year was up by just over 4% (34,234 versus 32,869).

London's total was the highest number on record and 19% up on its low point of about 29,000 such crimes in 2003/04.

Theft of MP3s such as iPods and other expensive devices such as Blackberrys rose from 446 to 1,242 in the capital year-on-year, a staggering 178% leap.

Other forces reporting a significant jump in thefts of electronics and phones included:

:: Kent - which saw 2001/02's total of 317 thefts rocket to 977 in the most recent 12 months, a rise of 208%;

:: Bedfordshire - a rise from 894 in 2001/02 to 1,257, a 41% increase;

:: Humberside - up 22% year-on-year with 1,237 thefts, and 34% up on 2001/02.

Some forces appeared to be achieving good results on keeping thefts down.

Cleveland's total of 184 thefts was far below the 2002 high of 398.

And West Yorkshire's total of 3,049 was nearly 1,300 below the 2002/03 figure - although the force was not included in overall totals because it could not provide 2001/02 results.

Figures published by the Home Office in July showed that in 2006/06, police recorded 98,204 robberies - of all kinds, not just electronics - an 8% rise compared with 90,747 the previous year.

It was the first rise since Mr Blair introduced the street crime initiative in 2001.

Also in July, separate data from the British Crime Survey (BCS) said robbery rose by 22% to 311,000 in the year, its highest level for four years.

The rise was blamed on street thefts of electronic equipment, and today's findings appear to back up that claim. Tweet