UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he was a victim off moped mugging in London

Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid has revealed that he was a victim of a moped mugging in north London, amidst growing street crimes in the UK's capital.

The incident happened shortly before the Pakistani-origin Conservative Party politician was given the key Cabinet post in April.

Javid said he reached for his phone to call a taxi outside Euston station when the thieves rode on to the pavement and grabbed it and zoomed off, he said, leaving him "angry and upset".

He said he is now working on a review to give police more power to pursue moped thieves.

"Before I knew what was happening, it (the phone) had gone," said 48-year-old Javid, who was promoted from his Cabinet post of Communities, Local Government and Housing minister to Home Secretary, becoming responsible for the UK's policing and security.

"I was angry and upset but thought myself lucky not to have been stabbed or beaten up like many other victims who fall prey to these vicious criminals," Javid told the Sun newspaper.

His revelation comes days after comedian Michael McIntyre was robbed by men on a moped in north-west London.

Home Office proposals announced last month aim to give police drivers more legal protection and aim to smash the "myth" that officers cannot pursue riders who are not wearing helmets.

It followed concerns among officers that they risk prosecution for careless or dangerous driving if they chase criminals at high speed, particularly those on mopeds and motorcycles.

Javid told the newspaper: "It's ridiculous. Police should be allowed to get on with the job.

"If someone commits a crime and police want to pursue them, they should have much more freedom to."
"Nowadays people are phone zombies. They are on their phone walking along the street, bumping into people, not knowing where they are going."