People leaving bars and nightclubs in Boston should be wary of people asking to borrow their cell phones to make a call or take their photo.

A series of recent cell phone thefts has led the Boston Police Department to warn people of the sneaky ways that thieves have duped people in recent weeks.

The thefts have happened in Back Bay, Fenway, Seaport and downtown areas, typically between 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Some tactics include stealing phones during or after ride shares, offering unsolicited rides, and using physical or verbal threats — sometimes leading to violent incidents — according to police.

In past cases, suspects have pickpocketed people and even “shoulder surfed,” which is when someone observes and steals a cell phone password.

At other times, thieves have asked to borrow pe

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