POLICE say they are getting on top of London’s mobile phone robberies – after nearly 250 arrests over a four week crackdown.

There are now few people left in the capital who doesn’t know somebody who has had their device snatched out of their hands by thieves on bikes or mopeds.

But the Met said this week it has fought back with drones in the sky and chases on e-bikes.

More than 750 stolen phones have been retrieved.

The Met’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley sounded both upbeat and frustrated as the statistics were released this week.

“Policing alone cannot solve this problem,” he said.

“Manufacturers and tech companies must do more to stop criminals being able to reset, reuse or resell stolen phones. We also need the courts to play their part by preventing repeat offenders being bailed only to go out and offend again, undermining the hard work officers are doing to keep communities safe.”