Police focusing on cracking smaller crimes such as illegal use of e-bikes has resulted in wider criminal networks being ­disrupted. The approach appears to be paying off with phone thefts down View 3 Images Cops are using the tactics which took down Al Copone (Image: Bettmann Archive)

Cops have cut mobile phone thefts by 30% – by deploying ' Al Capone tactics'. They focussed on cracking smaller crimes such as illegal use of an e-bike to ­disrupt wider criminal networks. ‌

The approach appears to be paying off with phone theft down by a third in the first quarter of the year. In the past three months alone officers have seized more than 3,000 stolen handsets worth up to £4 million. ‌

US cops used a similar method to snare gangster, bootlegger and racketeer Capone in t

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