mobile phone owners who attend live music events need to be more vigilant, said British Police. They believe music lovers are vulnerable to criminal gangs who are after top-of-the-range handsets. Detectives have seen a rise in mobile pick pocketing, especially at indoor and outdoor music concerts. A major concern is that at these types of events people believe they have lost their phone, potentially masking the true extent of the problem.

"We are concerned that organised thieves are targeting concerts to steal phones from genuine fans" said Detective Superintendent Nev Nolan, head of Mobile Phone Crime Unit. (NMPCU) "A lot of people like to use their mobile phones to film or take photographs of the concert, but will then return the phone to an insecure bag or pocket, where thieves are able to snatch it."

Arrests have been made across the country in connection with mobile phone pick pockets. Detectives have made nine arrests in London alone in the past two weeks. Other arrests had been made across the country. Officers are working with venues to put up posters warning concertgoers to take care of their phones.

However, there are concerns that hundreds of people may be wrongly accused, but may end up forking out for the fine.

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