Since February, reports of theft have increased in public spaces and on buses, usually in daylight hours. Balham, Bedford, Tooting and Nightingale wards have been particularly targeted. Items stolen include mobile phones and wallets, which victims often fail to realise are missing until sometime after the offence. The Safer Neighbourhoods Teams for these areas are working with the Met Safer Transport Team and Wandsworth council to tackle this issue. Toan Chung, Neighbourhoods Police Sergeant for Tooting sector said: “We are aware of the public concern in relation to the spate of pick pocket thefts. We want to reassure you that we have increased our patrols of hot spot areas, we are conducting plain clothed patrols in the areas affected and are stopping and searching where grounds exist.