10:21am Friday 21st January 2005
By Lawrence Marzouk
Gangs of muggers are travelling up the Northern Line from outside Barnet to target the streets of Hendon, Finchley and Edgware, police warned this week.
Barnet police are now asking residents to re-evalute their perception of the borough as a relatively safe area' of London, and take more precautions, especially around Tube stations where crimes have been concentrated.
Street crime grew by nearly 50 per cent across Barnet between October and November last year, with the majority of crimes taking place in Hendon, Finchley and Edgware.
More muggings, took place in Barnet that month than in Camden, Haringey, or Enfield.
In April last year, the deputy borough commander Superintendent Sean Walters warned that Burnt Oak, Woodside Park and Golders Green Tube stations had become crime hotspots.
This week, the revelation that another three Tube stops have seen a sharp rise in street crime has raised fears that the Northern Line has become a focus for muggers.
In October last year, five Tube users leaving East Finchley, Finchley Central and West Finchley Tube station, were robbed of their mobile phones in three attacks, two of which involved knives.
The violent attacks took place over three hours, and police suspect the same gang made their way up the Northern Line's High Barnet branch.
Back-to-back operations are now being run in the three new areas to stem the rise before the situation escalates, but police are also issuing advice to residents to avoid putting themselves at risk.
"Many of those arrested appear to be young, coming from outside of the borough, and travelling on the Tubeline," a police spokeswoman said.
Supt Walters said: "Barnet has traditionally been seen as a relatively safe area of London and generally people feel safe walking on the streets. Now people need to be made aware that they perhaps need to take a bit more care of themselves and their property.
"We are looking for information about these offences. If anyone has any information I am asking them to contact any of the detectives here on 020 8200 1212."
How to stay safe Wear your bag across your body, with the opening facing towards you, and your coat over your bag Keep any expensive jewellry, watches, or chains out of sightKeep wallets in inside pocketsDon't keep keys in the same place as anything with your address on itBe aware of what is going on around you, and avoid poorly placesIf you think someone is following you, head for a place with lots of people and lights
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