Met Police seize 2,500 illegal vehicles in phone snatcher crackdown
- The Metropolitan Police are intensifying their crackdown on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters across London, deploying new ‘rolling roads’ testing kits to identify non-compliant vehicles.
- This initiative, part of Operation Lexand, aims to curb their use in criminal activities, particularly phone theft, and address public safety concerns.
- So far in 2026, over 2,500 illegal electric two-wheelers have been seized, surpassing the total for the entirety of 2025, with a recent operation near Tottenham Court Road resulting in 29 e-bike and seven e-scooter seizures.
- The force uses portable Dynostar and Wenger test kits to quickly measure if vehicles exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5mph, impounding those that are too fast or lack proper licensing and insurance.
- The Met reports significant results, including a nearly halved rate of phone theft in the West End and a 14 per cent decrease in neighbourhood offences across London.
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