Published: January 19, 2012
by SUSANNAH BUTTER

FIVE builders came to my rescue yesterday morning (Wednesday) when a man tried to steal my mobile phone while I was out reporting for the New Journal.

They pinned him down and made him drop the iPhone before police came to the scene and arrested the man.

Officers suggested he was wanted on multiple charges of robbery. I had been sitting on a bench opposite a church making a call when the man ran around the corner, out of some bushes, and grabbed the phone out of my hand. Panic and adrenalin kicked in quickly.

Although I am not very fit, I sprinted down Gloucester Avenue after him screaming: “Help! You’ve got to catch him, please, he’s got my phone.”

The street was quiet but I made as much noise as I could while running and people came out of their houses to help.

My mobile phone is important for work and losing it would mean having to chase up valuable contacts. It’s also not insured and I’m only three months into an 18-month contract. Poking out of my bag was an SLR camera, but the thief was not interested in that.

I’ve heard that it is not a good idea to chase after criminals but followed my instinct, worrying about what I’d do if I caught up with him. Thankfully the residents of Gloucester Avenue and the builders working there were wonderful.

Theft of iPhones and iPads in Camden is high and police launched a prevention campaign on December 28.

In that month alone there were 98 personal robberies in Camden and 2,672 in London.